Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-03

written by the secretary Of the treas
ury. Allison answered that the whole
/ question of distilled spirits had been
J gone over. Personally he believed 4
/ lower tax would be productive of
greater revenue, but he thought it I'M
wise to go into the complex question II
connection with this tariff bill. Teller
said the letter of the secretary of the
/ treasury indicated a desire for legisla-
| ton on this subject. Then the senator
added Before this bill is disposed Of
/ will discuss what should be done in
decreasing the tax on spirits, ] will
show that the committee is giving
away $1,000 900 month to the detri-
merit Of consumers who bear the tax
burdens and to the detriment of homes.
dealers in distilled spirits"
| The consideration of the bill then pro-
| eeeded. The paragraph relating to
nickel was changed, making the rates
on nickel ore 3 cents per pound or the
nickel contained therein; nickel matter
cents per poand nickel, nickel oxide,
alloy etc, 8 Cents per pound.
| This brought the Senate to the retail
| iatory clause, so called, providing that
whenever any country pays a bounty
| on any article, then upon the importa-
| ton OF that article into the United
| Sultes there shall be levied and pail
! in addition TO the duties otherwise inn
posed by this act. an additional duty
equal to the net amount of such
bounty or grant. however, the same be
paid or bestowed.
Gray. Del. spoke against the amend
ment, saying he regarded 1t as opening
the way to a disregard of our treaty
obligations with at least two European
countries, Germany and Austria Hun
gary. He read the protest of Baron
Ven Thielmann, the German ambassa-
dor, and Baron Won Hengelmuller. the
Austrian minister, against the proposed
discriminatory relations with friendly
powers but also on the ground that dis
criminatory duty was in the nature Of
a compensatory rate to the sugar man
ufactures Of this country, for the cheap
sugars coming from sugar producing
countries.
Caffery. La, differed from Gray. arGu-
ing that no breach of international obli-
cations was involved, and that retaliation
of this character was in the nature of
self-preservation. to which any country
would resort when its industries were
threatened by the payment of foreign ex
port bounties.
Chandler. \. H.. said he would vote for
the retaliatory clause with extreme reluc-
lance. He had been told that Germany
would begin a course of commercial war
fare against the United States. and he
would make sacrifices to prevent friction
between the empire of Germany and the
United States. There We're circumstances
now transpiring. ne said. that would
make II unfortunate that commercial
conflicts should arise at this time be-
tvtHE flax.
France. England or other countries. But
the senator said he did not see how this
retalatory clause could he avoided if the
protective character of the bill was to be
preserved.
Lindsay; Ky, criticized the amendment
as pure, undisguised protection with ex-
cuse as a revenue measure. The senator
criticized his Democratic associate CAT
ferry, for defending this purely protective
provision. Caffery defended his position
as consistent with Democracy.
The vote was then taken and the re-
ialiatory clause was agreed to. SO to -
Two Democrats. Cafery and McEnery of
louisiana and Allen and Kyle voted with
the Republicans in the affirmative and
Mantle and Teller with the Democrats in
the negative.
The reciprocity section was next con-
sidered Allison offering the new provl-
sion, the text of which has been hereto
fore given. Ii was changed slightly by
providing that the reciprocity treaties be
Senate" In brief the section authorizes
the President to negotiate commercial
treaties to extend not more than five
years and granting a reduction of the
duties imposed by this act to the extent
of not more than 90 per cent thereof"
for the transfer during that period of
designated articles from the dutiable to
the free list being the natural products
OF such foreign countries and not of the
Omitted States.
Mills, Texas. said that the proposed
amendment sought to deprive the Hors,
OF Representatives of its constitutional
r1sht TO originate and participate in all
revenue measures.
vest took the same view, while Allison
and lioar contendcd that the Darticipa-
ton of the House in the passage of this
bill was an authorization of the treaties
Vest spoke of the assaults of this bin on
Germany, Argentina. Japan and other
countries. and declared that not one of
these countries would want a reciprocity
treaty with US after being thus assailed
Morgan said that while he shared this
view at one time. the United States SUI
preme court had passed upon the reci-
procity clause of the Mckinley law and
mad held that It in no way disregarded
the rights of the House of Representa
uves. Morgan said the reciprocity pro-
VISION was modification of the severity
OF the Dill and he would support it, GRAY
supported the reciprocity amendment
saying that the treaties contemplated
power
Teller argued that grave question was
involved in taking from the House ar
Representatives the power to co-operate
IN making reciprocity treaties. 1t was
100 grave a question to be brought info
the Senate during the closing hour of the
tariff debate. Chandler made the point
that the House of Representatives had
originated the reciprocity proposition and |
the Senate paragraph was only a modi |
ncation OF the House provision AS
chandler spoke White interjected an in |
curry as to whether the finance commit |
tee had commissioned the New Ham, |
shire senator to occupy the floor until |
they were able To frame a stamp amend
ment.
Chandler answered that he had beep
asked merely to occupy the floor and look
out for anything the senator from Colo
RADIO might say worthy of notice. Rut as
nothing of that kind had come before the l
Senate. he would confine his attention IN
reciprocity. White made a legal arr,,
ment against the constitutonalty of Tho ]
reciprocity clause.
The amendment was then agreed to- 20
TO Is. TIVE Democrats. Gray and Nor
gan, and Harris. Kan. and HeitfeId |
Pops, voting with the Republicans in tho
Affirmative. ard Teller and Stewart with |
the Democrats in the negative.
1T was now nearly O'clock and before |
adJournng. Allison said he would be glad
to secure an agreement on time for 4
fnal vote. There was "A momentarv lulI |
and then Teller said 1T would be useloss