The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-25
THE TARIFF.
Senator AldriCh'S
Statement.
Explains the Senate Com
mittee Amendments.
Special Attention Given the
Sugar Schedule.
WIZ Duties Imposed by Dingley
Measure Were Changed.
hA nA AZ
WIZ Duties Imposed by Dingley
Measure Were Changed.
The Bill WIN Now BE Kept Before
Senate Until IL Is Disposed or.

Washington, May 25. The long deferred
debate on the tariff bill was expected TO
open In the Senate today. 1t served to
attract a considerable crowd, although the
galleries were not overtaxed during the
early hours of the session. Mr. Pascoe of
Florida presented the credentials of the
new senator from Florida, stephen II.
Mallory, and the latter was duly sworn in.
Senator Aldrich then called up the tariff
bill which he reported from the finance
committee some time ago and proceeded
to make an exhaustive argument.
MIR. Aidrich's Opening.
In opening his speech Senator Aldrich
said:. Mr.. President-The business of the
entire country is in a state of suspension
awaiting the action of the Senate upon
the bill under consideration. | believe
that the anxiety TO secure action upon
this important measure at the earliest
possible day is shared by every member
of the Senate / can say for the senators
sitting on this side of the cha Der that
no time Will be spent in the academic
discussion of the principles of protection.
1t is my purpose Co Keep the bill contlnu-
ally before the Senate TO the exclusion of
all other legislative business until it is
finally disposed of, and in this / shall ex
pect the hearty cooperation of senators
on both sides of the chamber In discus
sion of the bill, the members of the ma
jority of the committee will content them
selves with such brief explanations as
may be found necessary of the various
as they are reached.
The committee believe that in the re-
ductions they have suggested from the
rates imposed in thc.House bill they have
not gone in any instance below the pro-
tective point and if the bill should become
"A law in the form presented by them
every American industry would be enabled
Co meet foreign competition on equal
terms, that is the equality can be secured
hy tariff legislation. The rates suggested
by the committees amendments are con-
below those imposed by the
House bill and in most instances below
those contained In the act of 1890. In sug-
gesting these reductions the members of
the majority Of the committee reaffirm
and emphasize, their position as friends
OF the protective policy. The ultimate
purpose of this policy is TO secure, SO far
as this is possible by wise and conserva-
tive legislation the steady growth and
development of all interests agricultural,
and commercial.
The senator. after an exhaustive and
able argument proceeded to the consdera-
tion of the sugar schedule.
Senator AIdrich's Statement
After a few Introductory remarks Mr..
Aldrich said The annual consumption
of sugar in the United States Is about
Z, 600, 900 gross tons, OF 2240 pounds each,
with value based on foreign prices APP
$40. 600 600. IL the high du-
ties proposed in either the House or Sen
ate bills should be adopted, the annual
cost of sugar to consumers would be more
than Sl60, 600, 600. OF the consumption of
500, 40, 600 tons or two per cent were beet
sugars, produced in the United States,
and 2i3, 600 or twelve per cent, were do
nestle cane sugars, and 151 600 tons. or
eight per cent, We're sugars admitted
from the Hawaiian Islands, free of duty
under our treaty with the Hawaiian gov
The ZOO 600 tons Of sugar con-
sumed in the United States constitute
nearly 30 per cent of the total consump-
tion of the world. The pressing necessity
for securing greatly increased revenues
seem TO render return to the Republican
policy of free sugar adopted in 1890 an
The demand for revenue
and the belief that every reason
able effort should bo made To encourage
the production of beet sugars in the
United States led majority of the finance
committee TO recommend the high rates
upon sugar which are contained in the
bill now before the Senate.
The House Schedule.
The bill, rs IL came TO us, from the
III ouse of Representatives contains pro-
visions which lovy. "a special duty, based
upon the polariscopic test upon imported
sugar. varying from one cent per pound at
20 degrees, 10 rs cents per pound on all
sugars above No rs Dutch standard in
color and refined sugars. The effect Of
these rates. as applied To the total impor-
tations, az the port of New York for the
month of January, 1897, Is shown by n
table which has been prepared by the Gus
suggested show range of ad valorem
equiyalcnt TO from 1852 To li3 per cent.
A careful examination OF the tables Will
show that the scale OF rates adopted bears
very unequally upon all low grade sugars.
The characters and extent OF this discrim-
ination led your committee To believe that
the schedule should be modified. The com
mittee determined, after careful exami-
nation of the whole subject 10 recommend
rates which would b. In their effect as
hinh at least as the House bill, but which
would be levied in manner that would
make the ad valorem equivalent more
uniform.
Effect of High Specific Rates.
We believe that the imposition OF the
high specific rates upon low grade sugars
rcsrtnY 81 degrees or below would have
the effect to exclude them from the
markets of the United States. The total
nmount OF these low grade sugars pro-
iuccd. is as | have stated, unimportant as
compared with the total sugar crop but
their continued importation into the
United States Is very important when
viewed from the standpoint Of our trade
and commerce with other countries.
To exclude from the American market
all the low grade cane sugars from the
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