The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-06
The WOOD SCHEDULE.
Democrats Differ as 10 the Policy Of
Placing a Tariff on Lumber.
BACON OF GEORGIA FAvORs THE TAX
Insists Tint Twenty Per Cent. fs Not n
Protective Dnty-vest Opposes Any
Tariff on Lumber - New Senators
Take Part in The DfscusstOn-Clay
on tho Sugar Trust.
Washington June S, 1897.

Washington June S, 1897.
When the Senate laid aside the tariff
bill tonight it had reached the sugar
schedule, which has been the subject
or 80 much interest and conflict. Dur
ing the day many Of. the paragraphs Of
the wood schedule had been agreed to,
put that restoring lumber to the dutla-
Die LIST at 50 per l GOO proved the great
es: stumbling block encountered since
the debate began. 1t led to an ex tended
debate, during which a wide divergence
or views was developed on the Demo-
cratic side Of the chamber. Mr.. Bacon,
mlttee rate, saying 1t was essential to
the lumber industry Of the South He
also spoke In favor Of @ revenue tariff
SO adjusted as to give equal benefits to
all industries
Mr.; Bacon and Mr. Vest clashed sew
era1 times OH tariff doctrine. Mr.. Vest
expressed his regret that a Democra tic
Senator would aid in restoring TO the
dutiable list one OF the three products
lumber, salt and wool-whch The Wis On
p.ll put on the free list. MI Clay, Of
Georgia, also spoke at length on the tar
iT BILL criticisng the sugar schedule
and other features Of the bill. When
the paragraph Sawed boards, panks,
etc) was reached Mr., Vest said he
would move to place the articles Of this
pafaSfapn on the Tree llSs.
Mr.. Jones, of Arkansas spoke againS t
an additional tax on lumber, referring
TO the heavy burden It imposed on the
people of the West He said the rates OF
the bill were the result Of q de- e.m.ned
and systematic effort by the lumbe! men,
and IN this connection he read a letter
from the National Lumber convention
issued from an Office in Washing ton,
urging that petitions to Senators and
members be prepared, bearing the names
OF workingmen. This, Mr.. Jones de-
clared, was the means by Which the
high rates were being urged
Mr. Vest said there was not single
item In the bin 50 utterly indefensble as
that increasing the rate on white pine.
taking 1t from the free list and plac-
Ing It at 81 yer 1000 feet.
White pine was justly called the king
OF contferouS woods and Yet the clear
intent Of the trainers OF this bill was 10
make the rates absolutely prohibito!y
On this wood. 1t was due to some eX-
tent to q combination between the lum-
Der interests of the West and the
South, and he had been confronted by
this combination during his last can
vass.
Mr.. Vest declared that the proposed
rate was in the interest or the "lum-
Der oaronS, who have accumulated mil
lions upon millions" a the expense of
the people. In fervid tones Mr.. Vest
poor, to whom every penny was al
most dollar and every dollar almost
a drop or blood. II was, he said, the
most lndefensible item OF the bill; with
out justification or pallia:ion.
Mt Jones warned his Southern asso-
elates against the argument that the
lumber Interests Of the South would be
benefited by the exclusion Of Canadian
lumber.
Mr.. McLaurin. Of South Carol!n. who
entered the Senate recently, made his
initial speech in critlcisIng the rates of
the wood schedules, saying thev were
not designed to benefit any Southern
industry and that If there was anything
OF the kind. 1t was merely incidental
Mr.. Vest moved an amendment eS-
cepting white pine from the operation of
the para graph.
IN, Mr. Bacon opposed Mr.. Vests motion.
The latter. he said. had pointed ont
rates increased 100 per cent, while In
THIS schedule the average ad valorem
was below 20 per cent. That being the
case Mr.. Bacon asserted that MI. Vests
statement that this was the most un-
5ustifiable feature OF the bill was not
warranted. II regard 1t as the mos
reasonable feature Of the whole rbill,'
declared Mr.. Bacon. Il regard the
schedule as q proper one, irrespective of
the party from which it comes"
MI. Bacon went ton to state that he
was Hol q pToteCtlOnlSt. But the stern
necessities Of the government require a
tariff and high tariff. He was not
speaking for a protective tariff, but he
believed when 1t became necessary to
impose revenue duties then 1t was es-
sent.al to make the rates uniform as far
as practica bic. If the Southern lumber
interests asked him to support a rat
simply for the sake OF protection he
would not do 1t. But when they asked
mat the revenue duties be in proportion
10 the revenue duties on other articles
ne regarded that as just and would sup
port It. Less than 20 per cent was not
protective duty, he asserted. In front
or his home ran trains freighted with
southern lumber for the Northwest, and
this Industry would be struck down
without this legitimate tariff. He had
received telegram, he said, saying
that every man, woman and child was
looking to the success Of the lumber
schedule.
!. MT. Bacon argued against the imposl-
lion or taxes on finished products while
the raw products were left on the free
list. Why, he asked Mr. Vest, should the
drops Of blood. to which the Missouri
senator had referred. be drawn for the
peneht of the producer Of the finished
product and not the raw?
III n 49,, t.,-f.A