The times., 1897-06-09
THE NEW TARIFF EVANGEL
Senator Vests Caustic Comments
on Southern Democracy.
COTTON Is MADE DUTIABLE
The Bacon Amendment for 20 Per
Cent Ad yaloren ON Cotton Adop :
ed-DeInocrats and PopuiisQs As
sail Each Other-The Modified
Sugar Schedule.


debate in the Senate yesterday when n
spoke of a new evangel and new Demo
cratic gospel He referred 10 the protec-
tion attitude of Democratic Senators, from
cotton and rice schedules. 1t was by
long odds The most vivid discussion of the
extra session. The debate was at times
lurid with the sheet lightning Of per-
sonality, polite enough, but as polished as
the point of stiletto; the Democrats
qGarrelcd among themselves and the PopC-
lists quarreled with the Democrats. Mr. Ma
son, Republican, OF Illinois, perhaps voiced
the desire of the Republicans, when he
asked the Republican Vice President To
keep order 50 that he could enjoy the
family row.
Senator Jones, the Democratic leader,
and Senator Vest made a desperate ef-
fort TO keep the party in line on the rice
and cotton schedules, hut Southern Demo
cratic Senator's brokeaway. Senator Vest
early in the day saw the drift of things,
and said picturesquely that il would bc a
good thing for the country if God would
save it from the modern Democracy.
The debate opened with d preliminary
dasia into the sugar schedule. Senator
Allison wished that ii go over until today,
and this gave Senator Vest the oppor-
tunity to discover what was going IN,
or at least some of it, among the ma forit Y
of the committee.
Senator Vest said that it was an open
secret that amendments had been made
To the sugar schedule 1t was desirable
to know what they were and when the
schedule would be taken up.
Mr. Allison denied that there were any
open secrets, but admitted that the sugar
schedule would be modified in the gen
eraI respect that the Senate amendments
would be amended or withdrawn. one of
the amendments, a new paragraph, is that
on molasses clayed, jaggery and other
sugars testing not above 95 degrees by
the polariscope shall be lilo Of cent per
pound less than those imposed by the pre-
ceding paragraphs on the corresponding
tests of sugar
Senator Allison also advised the Sen
ate that the committee would recommend
fixing the rate on refined sugar at 80
cents instead of 1875, as in the House
bill.
As to Hawaiian sugar the committee had
as vet no suggestions to make The consid-
Grafton OF the schedule would becommeneed
today.
MT Vest was gratified that the Senate
would reach this irritating and scandalous
schedule at once. On agreement the
sugar schedule went over until today.
The schedule relating TO agricultural
products and provisions was taken up
next.
Mr Jones, of Arkansas, proposed an
amendment to substitute 20 per cent
ad vaIorem for specific duties in the
paragraphs relating to live animals, but
il was voted down.
MT. Jones also moved to substitute 40
per cent ad valorem for the 80 cents duty
OF the bin on barley
Senator Vest and Senator Jones, Of Ne
vada, supported the motion.
Rir. Vest made an argument TO show that
the Republicans We're again trying 10 fool
the farmers by prett nding to protect them
against wheat, corn, barley, etc, which
are not imported into this country. The
Republicans We're playing merely on the
sensibilities Of the farmers with merely
spectacular duties.
MF. Vests argument was largely on the
position that our exports of grain barley
being under consideration Were so large
that it was folly 10 say that such a
well-cstablished industry needed protec-
ton. There were exported, for instance,
more than $3,0oo,00o worth of barley,
against imports Of about $4,000.
A brief reply was made by Senator Man
tie, who said that he was not familiar with
statistics, but he did know from personal
experience that the growers of barley had
been and would be benefited by protection
Senator Gear also supported this para
graph.
The vote was then taken on Mr.. jones'
substitute II was lost-34 to IL. The
paragraph relating to barley malt, barley
pearied. patent, etc, were also passed
viva voce
The duty of Is cents per bushel on
buckwheat was resisted by Senator Tur-
pie, who made speech in which he
showed the inability of the farmer to pro-
tect himself; that a farmers trust was
phantom, and that putting protection
on a few imported seeds, under the guise
of protecting the farmer, was also a phan-
tom
Mr. Vest moved to make the duty 90 per
cent ad valorem- Lost-2S to IS
%Mr. Vest moved To change the duty on
corn ana maize from . cents a bushel 10
20 per cent ad valorem; and called for
the yeas aad nays The motion was lest
80 TO 16.
Mr. Bacon Offered an amendment pro
wiling foT an ad vaIorem duty of 20 per
centun per pound on raw cotton 1t
was strange, he said, that the Republicans
had overlooked one of the most important
products of the country
Senator Pritchard OF North Carolina
asked If Mr. Bacon would not accept a
specific duty.
MIR. Bacon objected on the ground that
there we've two kinds of cotton, one worth
twice as much as the other. and that, he
thought, was a sufficient answer to Mr.
PritchaTd
Mr.. Bacon said that he had offered the
amendment in good faith, and in accord
ancc with Democratic doctrine that tarff
duties should not be laid SO as to dis
criiflinate against any section OF the
Country There ought TO be a unani-
neEs vote on both sides OF the chamber on
this amendment, If they desired to be con
sistent. He challenged the Republicans TO
show the reason for putting binding twine
and grain sacks on the free list and
duty on cotton ties, which cost the South
ern planters $500, 900 a year
Mr. Chiffon argued directly In oppo
sition to the Bacon amendment. He did
not think that duty on cotton would
enhance its value. There was nothing
In the claim that Egyptian cotton would
affect local prices, because, he said, the
cotton was consumed largely in this coun-
l.x