The San Francisco call., 1897-07-03
Teller and White Show
a Disposition to Be
Inquisitive.
They Want to Know About
Spirits, Beer, Tea and
the Trusts.
Satisfactory Answers Being Given,
Work on the Tariff Bill Is
Resumed.

WASHINGTON, D. e., July 2-When
the tariff billwa taken up in the Senate
to-day White of California. in behalf OF
The minority of the Finance Com mittee,
asked Allison as to the programme on tea,
beer, the anti-tr amendment and other
important questions.
Allison responded that an amendm ent
relating 10 the increase of the revenue to
be derived from the bill would be brought
in later in the day. As to other questions
a little more time wes desired.
Teller of Colorado inquired what the
committee or caucus contem plated doing
on the question OF decreasing the tax on
distilled spirits, in view of the letter writ
ten by the secretary of the Treasury.
Allison answered that the whole ques.
ton of distilled spirits had been gone
over. Personally he believed lower tax
would be productive of greater revenue.
but he thought it unwise to 60 into the
comnlex question in connection with this
tariff bill.
Teller said the letter OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury indicated desire for leeis-
Iation on this subject. Then the Senator
added: Before tnis bill is disposed OF l
will discuss what should be done in de-
L
that the committee is giving away 81, 2,0O0,-
600 month, 10 the detriment of consum-
ers who bear the tax burdens and to the
detriment of honest dealers in distilled
spirits"
Consideration of the bill then proceeded.
The paragraph relating 10 nickel was
changed making the rates on nickel ore 3
cents per pound on the nickel contained
therein; nickel natter, cents per pound !;
yaf riP oil arp
per pound.
This brought the Senate to the retalia-
tory clause, SO called, providing that
whenever any country pays bounty on
any article, then on importation of that
article into the United States there shall
be levied in addition 10 the duties other
wise imposed bv this act an additional
duty equal to the net amount of such
bounty or grant, however the same be paid
or bestowed.
GRAY of Delaware spoke against the
amendment, saying he regarded ii as open
ing the way to disregard OF our treaty
obligations with at least two European
countries-Germany and Austria Hun
gary. He read the protest of Baron Won
Thlelmann, the German EN- bassador, and
Baron Won Hengel Muller, the Austrian
Minister. against the proposed discrimi-
natory duty.
Caffery OF Louisiana differed with Mr..
Gray, arguing that no breach of interna-
tional obligations was involved, and that
retaliation of this chara cter was in the
nature of self-preservation to which any
country could resort wnen its industries
were threatened by the payment of for
eign export bounties.
The Senate agreed to the retaliatory
section-33 ayes 10 19 noes.
A reciprocity amendment was then Of
ferred as an additional section. and modi-
fed SO as to require the ''advice and con-
sent OF the Senate 10 commercial treaties.
Mills suggested that the Senate and
President could not contract away the
revenue of the Government with out the
consent of the House"
Morgan declared himself in favor OF the
reciprocity provision as an improvement
on a bill which contained ''enough to as
tonish and almost horrify him." and
which was IAN open declaration of war
against the commerce of the world"