Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-06-05
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, June 5.
SENATE.

SENATE.
On the opening of the Senate to-day
a letter from the Secretary of State was
received transmitting letter from the
minister OF Austria-Hungary, protest
ing in behalf OF his government against
the Determinations of the sugar sched-
ule in the pending tariff bill against
bountied sugar. The minister's letter
was read in full at the request of MIR.
Vest. 1t urges that the discrimination
against sugars receiving bounties denies
to Austria Hungary the most favored
nation treatment and also threatens to
heavily damage the exports OF that
country. The communication was re-
ferred to the finance committee.
Mr.. Jones spoke against an addition
al tax on lumber, referring to the
heavy burden it imposed on the people
OF the west. He said the rates of the
bill were the result Of q determined and
systematic effort by the lumbermen,
and in this connection he read letter
from the national lumber convention.
urging that petitions to Senators and
members be prepared bearing the
names OF HOIhlDRmcu.
Mr.. Vest said there was not single
item in the bill so utterly indefensible
as that increasing the rate on white
pine, taking it from the free list and
placing it at 81 per 1000 feet. He re-
ferred to the manner in which the
Maine delegation had succeeded for
years in keeping spruce on the
dutiabie list. 1t was a credit TO
their capacity, which they displayed in
all directions, securing among other
things more public buildings than any
other State.
Mr.. Vest declared that the proposed
rate on white pine was in the interest
Of the lumber barons, who have &C.
cumulated millions upon millions" at
the expense of the people. Mr.. Vest
referred to this added burden on the
poor, to whom every penny was almost
dollar and every dollar almost a drop
of blood. 1t was, he said, the most in
defenaible item OF the bill; without JUS
LITIGATION or palliation.
MIR. Jones (Ark.) warned his south
ern associates against the argument
that the lumber interests of the South
would be benefited by the exclusion of
Canadian lumber. He read letter
from an American lumberman on
the border saying the result Of
the rates would be to compel the Ca
nadians to reduce the price Of their lum-
Der and eventually it would come into
the United States cheaper than at
present.
Mr.. McLaurin, who recently entered
the Senate, made his initial speech in
criticising the rates OF the wood sched-
+ ule, saying they were not designed to
benefit any southern industry.
Mr.. Bacon stated that he was not
protectionist. But the stern necessities
Of the government required tariff,
and high tariff He was not speak
ing for protective tariff, but be be-
lieved that when it became necessary
to impose revenue duties then it was
essential to make the rates uniform as
far as practicable. II the southern lum-
Der interests asked him to support
rate simply for the sake of protection,
he would not do it. But when they
asked that the revenue duties be in pro-
portion to the revenue duties on other
articles be regarded that just and he
would support it.
Mr.. Vest rather lightly said he un-
derstood the web and wcof of the Sena-
tors Bacon statement to be that be
favored revenue tariff, but not pro-
tective tariff.
mot only the web and wool, but the
whole garment" responded Mr.. Bacon.
Mr.. Vest said he entered his protest
against any statement that the Wilson
act established a precedent for the
democratic party. That bill, he de
clared, was passed under duress, with
the President and the Secretary of the
Treasury urging that tariff bill was
absolutely necessary. The Senator
added as to the Wilson bill that the
three features in which pride was
taken were free salt, free lumber and
free wool. "And l am soorv that
member of my party (alluding to Mr..
Bacon) should be read to take one of
those articles out of the free list aud
put duty on it,"
Mr.. Bacon answered that the Senator
from Missouri need feel no solicitude
as to the attitude of Senator of his
party.
Mr.. Clay followed Mr.. Bacon, speak
ing for the first time since he entered
the Senate. He expressed himself en-
phaticaly against free trade. He oppos-
ed the sugar schedule and said the price
to the consumer would be increased to
6 i,ht
This profit would go the sugar trust,
which had become the scandal OF the
nation. Mr.. Clay also criticised the
proposition to place duty on tea. He
claimed there was now held in the
United States 100000 pounds of tea.
To put the proposed duty on this arti-
Gle would be to add $500, 900 to the
wealth of the tea holders.
HOUSE.