The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-25
PORTLAND, MAINE, FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE %. 1897

questionsl considered were watches and
watch jewels, and upon these the finance
committee was reversed, the House rates
pelng accepted on watches and watch
jewels being made free. The caucus was
heid In the marble room of the Senate
and was well attended. While the de-
custom was spirited at times, the meeting
was without especial incident. The
greater part OF the time was given to the
pfoPositlon TO Tx duty on hides. Sena-
tor Loege led the contest against the act
ion OF the finance committee in taking
hides from the free list and was second
ed by Senators Hoar, Platt, Spooner
and others, while Senators Nelson, Ali
son, Warren and Gear spoke for the
duty.
Mr.. Lodge contended that the duty, If
imposed, would not be of any conseq uence
as revenue Item and that it would add
nothing to the farmer ON his cattle,
while it would have the effect of greatly
injuring the industry Of leather manu-
facturers, which had grown to immense
proportions under the system of free
hides He said that the exports of leather
goods amounted to $50, 100000 per annum
and asserted that if stiff duty should
be imposed the industry would be greatly
checked.
In reply the Western senators claimed a
direct benefit to the farmer from the
duty and asserted that he was as much
entitled to the protection it would give
as were the manufacturers to the assis-
tance they would receive from other du-
ties.
The vote was on the general proposit-
ion to impose duty without regard to
rates. The fixing of these, it was under
stood, should be left to the finance COM
mittee, but the expressions were SO gen
eral in favor of the ad valorem rather
the specific system that the committee
will probably feel itself willing to in
struct to substitute this system for the
1-2 cent pound rate originally agreed
upon. There was also a general ex-
preston against any increase upon India
tanned goat and sheepskins, which the
manufacturers regard as substantial
victory. sfs
| The debate on the tobacco schedule
was confined to brief speeches by Sena-
tors Hawley and Fairbanks. The finance
committee had originally fixed the rate
on unstemmed wrapper tobacco. at
House rate of SO per pound. The repre-
sentatiyes of the leaf growers Immediate
| ly began contention for the restoration
of the House rate, which was resisted
by the smaller manufacturers, particular
| ly of the western states. The finance
committee yielded to the growers to the
extent of advancing the rate to ST. Is.
Senator Hawley tonight represented the
growers in their efforts to secure a 90 rate
and Senator Fairbanks the manufactur-
ers in their attempt to hold the original
finance committees figures. The confer
ence decided without division to stand
by the compromise rate of $1.75.
| There was only one vote raised in op-
position to tho proposition to return to
the House schedule of watches and in adj
dition to admit watch jewels free of duty.
The finance committee fixed a uniform
rate of 40 per cent on watches, while the
| House provided a compound duty. 1t is
| this compound system that the Senate re-
| tains.
The questions of reciprocity, trusts,
| Hawaii, sugar, beer, tea, and internal
revenue were not discussed.