The times., 1897-06-03
The Democrats in the Senate
Expose the Pious Fraud.
ALSO THE CUTLERY DUTIES
Senator'S Vest, Jones of Arkansas,
GRAY. white, and Others Arraign
Republican 1nconsistency-Ih he
Metal Schedules Provoke Warm
Criticism.

were but few visitors in the galleries and
but little more than quorum of members
present.
Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, the
sent, and in his place Senators Allison and
Platt of Connecticut looked after the Re
publican interest in the discussion. There
was not single Republican argument all
day. All the talking was done by the Demo
Gratis. Senator Jones led in the opposition,
and nc was aided great deal by Senator
Vest, Senator White aud Senator Caffery.
Once OF twice Senator Mills Of Texas
made some remarks, and once Senator
Bacon took part.
Schedule c, relating to metals and the
manufactures of metals, wa; under consid-
Grafton, beginning with the crude ore.
No change was made from the House duty
on iron in pigs ando on bar iroD.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas took the flo ,r IN
opposition TO the proposed duties. He read
from statement sheet sho wing the imports
and exports OF bar and pig iron. Tne flS-
ures given related To the period during the
existence of the steel trust, when domestic
bars and steel rails were selling at S2S
.ou Since then the trust had been broken
up and following its dsorganization the
price went down TO ST per ton. Mr.. Jones
read several articles from trade journals
regarding the steel trust.
..Why is there any necessity for pro-
tective taTiff?' demanded Senator Jones
This arbitrary fixing Of prices is the
greatest iniqiity of this bl, putting 1t
in the power of a combination TO make the
consumers pay more for their goods than
they are worth, and allowing the producer
to get more at home for his lion than lac
can get abroad. j say IL is a OFT In
iquitous measure, one that should make
the Ieople rise in their might. There was
no reason for the rates in the Wilson Till
/ was not in favor of them then am
not in favor of them now"
Mr. Jones reviewed the dissolution of the
steel rail- combination. This reduced the
price of steel rails 90 per cent, he said,
and why should a law protect producers
who could by combination double their
prices on steel rails?
He spoke also of the effect of this com
bination, and that on wire nails, in raising
the price 10 American consumers. while
the same goods were being sold at lower
prices to foreign consumers. 1t was
condition, he asserted, which should arouse
the people from ocean to ocean, until they
stamped TO pieces these combinations. Mr..
Jones said the iron trade was no longer
an infant industry, but had grown to giant
proportions, until the United States led
the world in iron production.
Senator Caffery saidthdt notw outstanding
the fact that large Quantities of iron were
sent abroad and sold for less than the
American people are compelled TO pay,
still the protectionist continues his argu-
ment in favor of the protective system.
lis 1t not deluson for the protectionist
to claim any credit for any duty which
facts show to he entirely useless" asked
the Senator from Louisiana. He read sta
tisties showing the imports and expurts of
iron in one year and the value OF the So me.
Mr. Caffery argued that the large export
trade of the United states in iron was CON
stantly increasing, and there could he no
sort of apology for a tariff on iron or iron
ore.
The paragraphs on round iIon, In coiis
or rods, beams, girders, etc, boiler or
other plate iron or steel was agreed TO.
q
and scroll iron, including the bands used
in cotton baling, caused "a discussion, whlcn
was started by Senator Vest, who op-
posed strenuousy the Senate proposition
OF 7-1O cent per pound. Mr.. Vest ar
Gued that the cotton industry is already
in such a depressed condition that a
duty at all was not warranted. He ex-
planned that the original Mckinley rate
Il fh.a hi -
T-1O cent TIE Wilson bill made cotton
ties free He offered an amendment strik-
ing cotton ties from the dutiable list
Mr.. Mills of Texas supported the amend
ment. The rate proposed he declared to
be the same as 10 cents per bale or
cotton, or an equivalent of $500, ZOO on
a cotton crop of 100000 bales.
Senator Mills inquired why cotton ties
SHOULD be Disseminated against The cot
ton industry was ia bad condition IT
needed protection if that system could af
foId any relief, and be could not under
stand why the cotton growers should rot
have equal rights with other producers.
The amendment was rejected by close
vote OF rs in the negative as against y
IN The affirmative.
Senator White, of California, offered an
amendment to the committee report ON
sheet iron and steel. He wanted The vii
son rates to remain. The amendment was
rejected, and the committee rates adopted.
The tin plate industry provoked con
test which was precipitated direcuy fy
an amen dnent OFFER ed by Senator Vest, re-
ducing TO 1 2-1o cents, The Senate rate
OF I-1o cents, the latter being a com
mittee Change OF the House rate of 1-2
cents per pound
Senator Vest said that of course he ap-
pealed to deaf ears when he offered his
amendment The duty on tin Was not
placed there TO get the American market
That was already under control The rate
was enacted merely to secure an increase
of prices.
% Senator Gray, Delaware, said that of all
the minor iniquit.es the duty on tin was
the greatest. 1t was not designed to pro- !.
tect the Treasury of the United States, but
the manufacturers of tin plate The pack
ing OF vegetables and fruits was a great
help to farmers The packers rely on the
price of tin TO give the farmers good
prices. These packers are not large con-
Germs, nut small individuals, dotted all over
the country sections.
This so-called tin-plate industry now
demands tribute from the little packing
houses, TO give them an increase in prices
1t was true the Senate proposed TO give
rawback but il was indeed q poor dona-
tion.
Senator Jones spoke about an associa
ton OF tin-platc manufacturers who con-
trollcd SO per cent of the tin plate output
This association had perfected gentle