The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-03-19
TARIFF BILL DEBATED.
Lively T ak by Ways and Means
Committee Members.
DEMOCRATS OBJECT TO SCHEDULES
They Deny. However. Any Intent to De-
lay the BiII-Declare They Want 1t
Passed to See Whether 1t Will or Not
Restore Prosperity

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Demo
cratic members of the ways and means
committee received their first official IN
formation on the new tariff bill when
the bill was considered at a secret ses-
sion of the 1ull committee. Chairman
Dinglev announced that he desired TO
report the bill to the house when II
meets aU noon tomorrow. Mr.. McMllln
dem, Tenn.) complained that TINS
plan would not give the Democrats
sufficient time to analyZe the measure
and prepare a report. The Democrats
cOntended that they had treated the
Republican members more generously
in the matter of time when the Wilson
bill was framed Half an hour was
consumed III sparring over this point
and no definite conclusion was reached.
Three hours were spent in analysis OF
the bill by sections, the Republican
members of the committee who had
been most active in the preparation of
the various sch edules explaining the
changes made from existing rates and
comparing the proposed duties with the
Mckinley act.
Chairman Dingley and Mr.. Payne of
New York discussed the chemical
schedule, Mr.. Doliver of Iowa. the
agricultural schedule; Mr.. Tawney of
Minnesota, lumber Mr.. Payne, sug ar,
and Mr.. Dalzell, glass, earthenware
and metals Mr. Wheeler of Alabama
and Mr.. McMillin took the leading part
in the discussion for the Democrats
Concerning the sugar schedule Mr..
Payne asserted that 1t was practically
return TO the law of 1898. He repre-
sented that the proposed rates would
be equivalent TO an ad valOrem duty of
- per cent on 30 per cent OF all the
sugar imported. He said that the
schedule contained no concealed differ
ential between raw and refined sugar
such as the Wilson bill had
While the revenue which sugar would
yield had not been actually calculated
1t would bring from SIC, 900, 900 TO
SIS, 600, 900 more into the treasury than
under the Wilson law. Mr. Robertson,
of Louisiana, a Democrat, gave an
opinion that $50. .OOO,0 900 could be ex-
pected from this sugar schedule.
In the consideration of the agrlcul-
tural schedule Mr.. DOlliver explained
that the cOuntervailing duty on fish TO
offset bOunties paid by foreign govern
ments was directed against France. The
Democrats objected to the imposition of
fish. which are now on the free list
They also contended that the proposed
rates on seeds are double the Mckinley
duties. The southern members took an
interest In the rice paragraphs. 1t was
explained that the increased rate on
broken rice had been levied to discOur-
age the growing practice of breaking
rice, which Is brought in for the use of
breweries before its importation to Sc
IL.
The duty of 3 cents pound on chickOry
root, which Is now on the free list, and
which is used as an adulteratiOn of
coffee, Mr.. DOlliver explained. was for
the benefit of the middle west, where
chickory growing is a new industry.
When the glass schedule was reached
Mr. Wheeler criticised the increase in
duties on the cast polished plate glass,
16x24, from to 9 cents, and on 24x30,
from 10 to 13 cents, the increase being
over the Mckinley rates Mr.. Dalzen
said that it had been demonstrated that
the Mckinley duties on plates these
sizes were not protective, but to offset
these increases the rates on plates of
higher grades had been reduced.
The imposition of a duty on cotton
ties, now on the free list, was also Op-
posed by the Democrats. MIR. Wheeler
said the American manufacturers were
dDle not Only 10 supply Unb nome mar
ket, but TO fill the large orders for India
without any protection on the article.
1t was COntended by the Democrats
that the additional duty of one-fourth
cent on all articles of steel, finished
cold, would prove very far reaching Ill
its scope. The average rate of cutlery
was stated to be about 40 per cent.
The Democrats opposed also the pro-
posed duty of 81 thousand on white
- L l. Al
rate. They also criticized the para
graph placing telegraph and telephone
poles and railroad ties of cedar and all
other woods under 20-per cent duty
The other woods are not now dutiable,
and the opponents of the new bill as
serted that they constitute the most ex-
tensive class. The Democratic mem
bers of the committee will offer amend
ments TO the bill in the committee meet
ings as matter of form. Their amend
ments will, of course, be rejected by the
Republicans.
In its second session of the day the
committee finished the review of the
bill, but did not go so much into de-
TAIL in the last schedules. Mr. Evans
of Kentucky explained the spirits and
wines schedule. The Democrats oD-
posed the advance on brandies from
81 so to 81 90 on the ground that it en-
couraged the placing on the market of
spurious goods, limitations of standard
brands.
Mr. Russell of Connecticut explained
that the cotton schedule was practically
the Wilson rates reduced from ad
valorem to specific. 1t was remarked
by Democratic member that Senator
Aldrlch of Rhode Island and not Mr.
Wilson, was the author of the cotton
schedule, which the senate Incorporated
in the Wilson bill. Mr.. PAYNE said that
the hemp, flax and jute schedule was
practically that of the Mckinley act,
with the blanket clause on hemp, fax
and ramle increased from 30 TO 90 per
cent The Democrats criticised the
restoration of duties on cotton bagging,
which is now on the free list. The
other schedules were gone through in
formally. The Democrats criticised
the transfer of many articles from the
free list to the sundries schedule with
duties, but were disposed to acuuiesce
in the action of the Republicans in
placing a duty of 81 ton on peat moss,
at the instance of Mr. Dolliver to en-
courage an infant industry.
The committee adjourned until to-
morrow morning, but the Democratic
members had a conference today to out
line their policy.
Mr.. Bailey of Texas, the recent Demo-
cratic candidate for speaker. said in the
committee that the Democrats were
anxious TO hasten rather than delay the
passage of the bill, both to stop the pos
sible rush of imports into the country
and TO give the Republicans an oppor-
tunity TO demonstrate that a high tariff
could relieve the country of financial
depression.
PLEAD FOR HER SON.