The news & observer., 1897-06-06
Succeeded in Hypnotizing Ba-
con of Georgia.
VEST SHOWS UP HIS ERROR
M'LAURIN'S MAIDEN SPEECH A
GAINST LUMBER TAX.
PLEAD FOR RAW MATERIALS
Bacon Said They Were as Much En-
titled to Protection a Finished
PRODUCTS Certainly to a Pro-
tionate Revenue Duty,

laid aside the tariff bill tonight it had
reached the sugar schedule which has
been the subject of so much interest and
conflict. During the day many of the
paragraphs of the wood schedule had been
agreed to, but that restoring lumber to the
dutable list at 81 per 1000 proved the
greatest stumbling block encountered
since the debate began. 1t led to an
extended debate during which wide
divergence of views was developed on
the Democratic side of the chamber Mr.
Bacon, Georgia, gave his support to the
committee rate. saying it was essential to
the lumber industry 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
Vest expressing his regret that Demo
cratic Senator would aid in restoring to
the dutiable list one of the three products
lumber, said and wool-which the Will
son 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
When the paragraph Sawed boards,
planks, etc.), was reached Mr.. Vest said
he would move to place the articles of
this para graph on the free list.
Mr.. Jones, Arkansas, spoke against an
additional tax on lumber referring to the
heavy burden it imposed on
the poor of the west. He said the rates
of the bin were the result of deter
miTfpd and systematic effort by the lum-
bermen, and in this connection he read a
letter from the National Lumber Conven-
ton, issued from an office in Washing
ton, urging that petitions to Senators and
members be prepared, bearing the names
of workingmen. This, Mr.. Jones declar-
ed, was the means by which the high rates
were being urged.
Mr.. Vest sand there was not a single
item in the bill so utterly indefensible
as that increasing the rate on white
pine, taking it from the free list and plac-
ing it at So per 1000 feet. White pine
was justly called the King of cOniferous
woods" and yet the clear intent of the
farmers of this bill was to make the
rates absolutely prohibitory on this wood.
1t was due to some extent to a COM
bination between the lumber interests of
the west and the south and he had been
confronted by this combination during
his last canvass.
Mr.. Vest declared that the proposed
rate on white pine was in the interest of
the lumber barons, who have accumu-
lated millions upon millions" at the ex-
pense of the people. In fervid tones Mr..
Vest referred to this added burden on the
poor, to whom every penny was almost a
dollar and every dollar almost a drop
of blood. 1t was, he said, the most in
defensible item of the bill; without justi-
fication or palliation
Mr.. Jones warned his southern asso-
ciates against the argument that the lum-
Der interests of the South would be bene-
fitted by the exclusion of Canadian lum-
Der.
Mr.. McLaurin, s. c., who entered
the Senate recently, made his initials
speech in criticising the rates of the wood
schedules, saying they were not designed
to benefit any southern industry, and that
was merely incidental.
Mr.. Vest moved an amendment except
ing white pine from the operation of the
paragraph.
Mr.. Bacon opposed Mr.. Vests posi-
ton. The latter, he said, had pointed
out rates increased 100 per cent, while
in this schedule the average ad valorem
was below 20 per cent. That being the
case Mr.. Bacon asserted that Mr.. Vests
statement that this was the most unjusti-
fable feature of the bill was not war
ranted.
II regard it as the most reasonable feat
ure of the whole BILL" declared Mr.. Ba-
con, Il regard the scheule as proper
one, irrespective of the party from which
| it comes"
Mr.. Bacon went on to state that he
was not a protectionist. But the stern
necessities of the government required a
tariff and a high tariff. He was not
speaking for a protective tariff, but he
believed that when it became necessary
to impose revenue duties then it was es-
sential to make the rates uniform as far
as practicable. If the southern lumber
interests asked him to support a rate SIM
ply for the sake of protection he would
not do it. But when they asked that the
revenue duties be in proportion to the
revenue duties on other articles he re-
garded that as just and he would support
it. Less than 20 per cent was not a pro-
tective duty, lhe asserted. In front of his
home ran trains freighted with southern
lumber, for the northwest and this in
dustry would be struck down without
this legitimate tariff. He had received a
telegram, he said, saying that every man,
woman and child was looking to the sue
cess of the lumber schedule.
Bacon argued against the imposition of