The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-05-12
LATEST NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
A SENATE SURPRISE.
The Amended Tariff Bill Reported From
Committee.

The finance committee Tuesday unex-
pectedly gave out the revised tariff bill for
publication to prevent its being sent out
piecemeal. In n general way the bill is n
surprise, especially to those who looked for
the maintenance OF the Dingey rates of high
protection.
Except with regard TO the duty on lumber
which was f,ed ut s2 per 200 feet. and lend
ut i cents per pound, fruits at proportion
ately higher rates, and hides at ~ cents u
pound and a few other items fixed in order
to secure the support of Senator Jones ana
few other senators whose votes are neces-
sary to its passage, the hill shows great re-
duction all along tho line.
In the first place the retroactive clause
making the rate collectible April is stricken
ont Of the bill.
The provision emphasizing that nothing In
the bill shall be regarded as abrogatlng the
Hawaiian treaty IL stricken from the bill.
This practically abrogates the treaty. This
was done on the argument that all the Uni
ted states gets in exchange for Pearl harbor
is the small amount of duties that will be
collected on sugar, which is not regarded as
n fair exchange There IL an increase OF a
cents n barrel on beer which II Is thought
will bring In Sl0. 600 900 OF revenue.
A new paragraph is inserted, fixing until
January I, 1900, n tax on beer, larger beer,
nle, porter nnd similar fermented liquors OF
S1.4i per barrel After January /, 1900. the
tax IL to be u per barrel.
The discount on stamps is also removed.
which It is estimated will add S25,0O0 900
more.
The sugar schedule now roads: Sugars not
above No. 10. Dutch standard, In color, tank
bottoms, syrup OF cane juice and OF beet
juice. melnda. concentrated melada, con.
crete, and concentrated molasses testing by
the polariscope above 81. and not above 3S
degrees. seyenty-nine hundredths OF 1 per
cent. per pound, aud for every additional de-
gree shown by the polariscopic test, two
hundredths OF cent per pound and frac-
tions OF u degree in proportion. Sugar
above No. 16, Dutch standard, and sugar
that has gone through process Of refining,
one aud sixteen hundredths of cent per
pound. and In addition thereto on all the
foregoing, 80 per cent nd valorem.
Sugars not above 10 Dutch standard, tank
bottoms, syrups of cane Juice and beet juice.
melada, concentrated melada, concrete and
concen rated moasses, testing by the polaris-
| cope. not more than 81 degrees, 10 per cent
al valorem. Molasses testing above 40 and
not more than SO degrees, four cents per gal
lon; testing Sc degrees and not above 10 de-
| grees. eight cents per gallon.
Machinery purchased abroad for the
manufacture Of beet sugar is admitted free
lery, in which the rates ssss rs tssp5rli6fateiy
! lign, due perhaps to the strength OF the New
England men In the COMMITTEES
One OF the most important provisions In
| the bill Is that general clause providing that
duties on all articles imported from nil coun-
tries which pay bounty shall pay an ad Z.
ditional duty equal to the amount OF such
bounty. This applies to all schedules,
although inserted In the sugar schedule. 1t
will be made II general principle of the Re-
! publican policy.
In the wool schedule, the rates on fine
grades OF wool nre low. and raised on fine
! carpet woods. This was n concession to the
far western senators, and illustrates the idea
! OF con cession that has been carried out In ull
the schedules In order TO get support for the
bill in the senate. First-class woods arc
placed at cents per pound, instead Of II
cents, and secondclass at cents, instead Of
| ~. Third-class woods Of n value Of 10 cents
pound pay a duty OF cents per pound. In
stead OF 80 per cent. ad valorem. About 10
cents per pound, cents per pound.
| Works OF art are free, including books, ex-
cept such articles OF art M are imported fOr
the purpose Of general utility.
! Personal luggage is also free, except such
articles as are used for personal adornment.
Diamonds will pay duty Of 10 per cent
very important new provision In the hi
IL that which admits fish free OF duty. This
| provision IL inserted as q stimulus to the
fishing industry Of the great lakes.