The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-11

"ePoDncan Sete Assisted by Six Demo.
Gratis.
washington, June Spy the decisive
vote Of AZ to 10, the senate today
adopted an amendment to the tariff
bill placing raw cotton, the great pro-
duct Of the south, on the dutiable list
at 20 per cent. ad valorem. Tt is the
first time in n history of tariff legis-
lation that a duty on cotton has been
incorporated in a bill. The amend
ment was proposed by Senator Bacon.
democrat, Of Georgia, on his individual
responsibility and without h approval
Of the finance committee, which thus
far has been requisite to the success
Of every amendment except a minor
one which went through by default.
The amendment led to a spirited de-
bate, democratic disclosing a
wide difference of views and at times
exchanging sharp personal criticisms.
ON the fina vote six democrats
Senator's Bacon and Clay, of Georgia;
McEnery, of Louisiana; McLaurin and
Tilnan, of South Carolina, and Raw
Inns, Of Utah, voted with the repubIi-
cans for the Bacon amendment, while
the negative vote was solidly demo-
cratic, with one exception-Kyle, pop
uilst.
The debate on cotton took up most
of the day and but little progress was
made on the bill.
Early in the day the sugar schedule
was passed over and the agricultural
schedule taken up. Less than two
pages were disposed of during the day.
TIL paragraph on cattle went over.
but the balance of the agricultural
schedule up to and including para
graph 22S was agreed to as reported,
all amendments excep that of Senator
BacOn's being rejected.
When the tariff bill was taken up.
at 12:20 o'clock p. m, Senator Allison,
OF Iowa, requested that the sugar
chedule be passed, stating tina it
would be considered tomorrow. The ag-
ricultural schedule being next in or
der, a number of amendments were
offered by democratic senator's, but all
were rejected until Senator Bacon of
fered his amendment, to be known as
paragraph 22512, placing a duty of 20
per cent. ad valOrem on raw cotton.
Senator Bacon said the omission of this
article from the dutiable list was a
violation of the principle of the DEM
ocratic platform that tariff taxation
should he so imposed as to discrim-
mate against no section. The tariff as
a whole fell like a dead weight on the
producer of cotton, raising the price
of all articles essential to his use, and
yet on his article of production, raw
cotton, he was left in the lurch." Last
year the statistics showed that 80, 000,-
900 pounds of cotton were imported
into the United States valued at S.
O00, OCO. The arrivals of foreign cotton
were increasing constantly. enatO
Bacon said he addressed himself par
ticularly to his democratic associates.
WHY should cotton be excluded from
the benefits of a revenue duty if all
other agricultural products We're to
have the enc of such duty. Under
the rule of consistency there should be
a unanimous vote in favor of a duty
on cotton.
Senator Platt, of Connecticut, who
was in charge of the bill pending SEN
atOr AlliSOn'S absence, indicated a
readiness for a vote favorable to the
amendment and Senator Chandler, re-
publican, of New Hampshire, added:
1--WE are just dying to support the SEN
atOr'S amendment" -
Senator Chiffon, democrat, of Texas,
said the amendment would not raise
the price of cotton. According to the
Georgia senator (BacOn). there would
be no diminution of the importation of
Egyptian cotton, 50 that the only eff
feet would be to give additional reve-
nue. on cotton without taking away
the competition from foreign cotton.
He said it was impossible to increase
the price of cotton by a tariff so long
as it was necessary to find a market
for the surplus of American cotton, as
was now the case, in Liverpool Or in
any other foreign market. 1t was with
cotton as with w~heat-the foreign price
would fix the domestic price. Hence
the only result would be to increase
the price on cotton goods.
Senator Vest said the amendment
| would be adopted as it was in the line
of increased rates of duty and would
receive republican support for that rea-
son and because it was calculated to
! cause dissension in the democratic
| party. He claimed that the addition of
the 20 per cent. provided would simply
add that amount to the finished pro-
duct. He took issue with Senator Ba-
| con on the contention that the amend
ment was in line with the platform at
Chicago. eff" he said, Il had Thought
the platform meant what the senator
from Georgia says it does, l would not
have touched it any more than l would
have touched a ra~ttlesnake. knowing
there was no whiskey within a nun
dred miles. God help us if the new
Evangeli is to prevail" He expressed
surprise at Senator Bacon's statement
I that the cotton manufacturers needed
| assistance. He said it a generally
been understood that the cotton manu-
facturers were exceptionally prosper
} Gus.
| In conclusion Senator Vest said that
| he had. as a southern democrat. always
| pointed with pride to the fact that cot
| ton was admitted free of duty. as
| showing the democratic consistency in
| supporting free raw materials. Hence
| his disappointment that this amend
| ment should be proposed by a southern
| senator. as it would justify and open
the way for a duty on Wool. lumber
| and all other articles classed as raw
Materials. ''Indeed," he exclaimed, III
| leaves US naked and without argu-
| ment."
Senator Jones. of Arkansas. also OPP
posed the amendment. in an incisive