The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-06
vigorous Fight Over the Paragraph
Restoring Lumber to the DutfabIe
List at 81 Per 1000.
CHAMPIONED BY A GEORGIAN
SENATOR BACON OUTsPoKEN IN FA-
VOR OF A REVENUE TARIFF.
Threat of south DalSota's Pettigrew-
masters Named by the President.

WASHINGTON. June 5.-When the SEN
ate laid aside the tariff bill tonight it had
reached the sugar schedule which has been
the subject of so much interest and con-
1lict During the day many of the para
graphs Of the wood schedule had been
agreed to, but that restoring lumber to
the dutable list, at 81 per 1,O00 proved the
greatest stumbling block encountered since
the debate began. 1t led to an extended
debate, during which a wide divergence of
views was developed on the Democratic
side of the chamber. Mr.. Bacon Dem,
Ca gave his support to the committee
saying it was essential to the lumber in
dustry Of the South. He also spoke in
favor of a revenue tariff so adjusted as to
give equal benefits to all industries. Mr..
Bacon and Mr.. Vest FLASHED several times
on tariff doctrine. Mr.. Vest expressed his
regret that a Democratic senator would aid
in restoring to the dutiable list one of the
three prOducts-lumber, salt and wool
which the Wilson bill put on the free list.
Mr.. Clay Of Georgia, also spoke at length
on the tariff bill, criticising the sugar
schedule and other features of the bill.
on the opening of the Senate a letter
from the secretary of state was received
transmitting a letter from the minister of
Austria-Hungary, Baron Won Hengemuller
protesting in behalf OF his government
against the Determinations of the sugar
schedule in the pending tariff bill against
bounted sugar. The minister's letter was
read in full at the request of Mr. Vest. 1t
urges that the discrimination against sugars
receiving bounties denies to Austria Hun
gary the most favored nation treatment
and threatens to damage heavily the ex-
ports Of that country: The communication
was referred to the finance committee.
At l2l5 consideration of the tariff bill
was resumed. The first paragraph of the
wood schedule, relating TO hewed timber,
was agreed 10 at 112 cent per cuplc Ioot'
the new rate proposed by the committee.
When the next paragraph, sawed boards,
blanks and deals was reached Mr. Vest
said he would later move TO place the ar
ticles of this paragraph and those OF the
previous one the free list.
MIR. Allison then perfected the proviso
relating to the addition of the export duty
on saw logs coming from countries paying
an export duty, so that the proviso will APP
ply also to boom stocks and chains used
in towing logs. This amendment was
agreed to.
MIR Jones of Arkansas spoke against an
additional tax on lumber referring to the
heavy burden it imposed on the people
of the West.
Mr. Vest said there was not single item
in the bill so utterly indefenSlble as that
increasing the rate on white pine, taking
it from the free list and placing 1t at "
per 1000 feet. White pine was justly called
the king of the coniferous woods and
yet the clear intention of the trainers OF
tdS bill was to make the rates absolutely
prOhibitory. He declared that the proposed
rate was in the interest of lumber barons,
who have accumulated millions upon mil
lions at the expense of the people. AS
evidence of this, the senator read letter
from Michigan giving the names OF f,, Men K1-
referred to this added burden on the poor,
to which every penny was almost dollar
and every dollar almost drop of blood.
1t was, he said the most indefensible item
of the bill. without Justification or palla-
ton Mr.. McLaurin democrat, South car
Olinat, who recently entered the Senate,
made his initial speech in criticising the
rates of the wood schedule, saying they
were not designed to benefit any Southern
industry and that il there was anything OF
the kind il was merely incidental.
Mr. Vest moved an amendment excepting
white pine from the operation of the para
graph
Mr. Bacon, of Georgia, expressed his diff
fcrences with Mr.. Vest. The latter; ne ne
per cent, while in this schedule the aver
age ad valorem was below 20 per cent;
That being the case, Mr.. Bacon asserted
that Mr.. Vests statement that this was
the most unjustitable feature OF the Dill
was not Warranted Il regard it as the
most reasonable feature of the whole bill .
declared Mr. Bacon. L regard the scned-
ule as a proper one irrespective OF the
party from which it comes. Mr.. Bacon
went on to state that he was not a pro-
tectionist. But the stern necessities or the
government required tarln anu d algh
tariff. He was not speaking for protec-
tive tariff but he believed that when 1t
became necessary to impose revenue duties
then ii was essential TO MAKE the rates
uniform as far as practicable. If the South
ern lumber interests asked MN 10 support
the rate simply for the sake or protection
he would not do it. But when they asked
that the revenue duties be In proportion 10
the revenue duties on other articles he re-
garded that just and he would support IT,
Twenty per cent. was not a protective DUTY
he asserted. In front of his home ran
trains freighted with southern Iunper 10
the Northwest and this industry would pc
struck down without this legitimate rsNehue
tariff He had received "a telegram, he sara
saying that every man, woman ana cnilu
was looking to the success OF the luthp ' I
schedule Mr.. Bacon argued against the
imposition of taxes on nnshed products
ana NOT on raw material. he fell INTO a
couoquy with Mr.. Vest, in the course OF
doned the Democratic principles OF reVe-
nue. duty and equality OF taxation, ana
pointed 10 Vests participation in framing
the Wilson bill which led Mr. Vest to de-
cline responsibility for measure framed
Mir CLAW Dem. Ga), in his maiden
speech in the Senate declared against free
trade and for an equal tariff sufhcient for
an economically administered government.
He denounced the Senate Dill sugar sched-
ule as increasing the cost OF sugar SI.ZO per
hundred to the consumer Tor the dement, or
the tust-the scandal of the Nation. lie
also attacked the tea tax, and said the Sen
ate bill would increase taxation S92,O 600
on sugar tea wool and beer, while the
farming interests We're neglected. the
financial and not the tarlt question was
the issue of the last campaign.
Mr. Hale having objected TO the request
of Pettigrew TO let the Vest amendment
emitting white pine, go over, Mr. Petit
grew dehdntly asserted that the proposition
would be discussed all next week and made
an attack upon the 81 rate on white pine
as in the interest of a corner of millionaireS
IIe said he did not expect reelection by the
Reuubicans who would not have 900
votes in South Dakota next year if this