The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-25
HIDES TO PAY DUTY
ACTION OF THE SENATE FINANCE
COMMITTEE SUSTAINED.
-H
Rate Fixed on Imported Wrapper To-
bacco Also Upheld by the Re-
publican Caucus.
SENATORS GROWING WEARY
ANXIOUS TO COMPLETE THE TARIFF
BILL AND ADJOURN.
Manufactured Wooden Goods Dis
byists Proposed by MIR. Hale.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, June "a - Republican
senators feel confident tonight. after set
Ting the hide and tobacco questions, that
the tariff bill will reach a vote by the end
of next week. The Senate is getting cross
as the temperature rises, and it is impa-
tient to get through with it's work and
be away to cooler climes. There is nothing
like the willing process of Washington sum
shine to sicken statesmen of delay. This
was the first really hot day of the season.
and several senators are on the sick list
with still others grunting and complaining
a hundred in the shade is melting dis
couragement to procrastnation. The coun-
try would benefit by Observation-Disclosures
ty-degree weather. 1t is conceded that a
quorum of neither branch of Congress can
be kept after the tariff bill is out of the
way, which is bad thing, for there are
several important matters that demand at
tention and which could have been passed
on by Congress at this session but for the
Reed policy of inacton. The Republican
House leaders are beginning to regret the
refusal TO give hearing to the bankruptcy
bill but there is now no time to take up
and give it the thoughtful consideration it
ought to have. The leaders fear that the
wrath of the West and South will be visit
ed on the party responsible for the policy
of passvity in this matter. Then there are
other questions quite as important, among
them the currency, railroad legislation etc
The Republican senators decided in eau
Gus tonight by vote of 21 to II, to sus-
tain the action of the finance committee
in placing a duty on hides, but did not
pass on the question of the amount of the
duty to be imposed. The committee was
also sustained in the rate fixed on imported
wrapper tobacco. The only other disputed
questions considered We're watches and
watch jewels. and on these the finance COM
mittee was reversed the House rates being
accepted on watches, and watch jewels be-
ing made free. The caucus was held in the
Marble room of the Senate, and was we'll
attended. While the discussion was spirit
ed at times, the meeting was without es-
pecial incident. The greater part of the
time was given to the proposition to fix a
duty on hides. Senator Lodge led the con-
test against the action of the finance COM
mittee in taking hides from the free list
and was scored by Senator's Hoar, Platt,
Spooner and others, while Senators Nelson.
Allison, Warren and Gear spoke for the
duty.
Mr.. Lodge contended that the duty. if
imposed, would not be of any consequence
as a revenue item and that it would add
nothing to the farmers return on his cat
tie, while it would have the effect of great
ly injuring the industry of leather manu-
facturers, which had grown to immense
proportions under the system of free hides
He said that the exports of leather goods
amounted to 600 per annum, and as
serted that if a stiff duty should be i'm
checked. In reply the Western senator's
claimed direct benefit to the farmer from
the duty and asserted that he was as much
entitled to the protection it would give
as were the manufacturers to the assist
ance they would receive from other duties.
The vote was on the general proposition
to impose duty without regard to rates
The fixing of these, it was understood.
should be left to the finance committee.
but the expressions were so general in
favor Of the ad valorem, rather than speci-
fic, system that the committee probably
will feel itself instructed to substitute this
system FOR the 112-cent-a- a-pound rate origin
ally agreed on. There was also a general
expression against any increase on India
tanned goat and sheep skins, which the
manufacturers regard as substantial vic
tory.
The debate on the tobacco schedule was
confined to brief speeches by Senators
L.
mittee had originally fixed the rate on
unstemmed wrapper tobacco at $3.50 per
pound, in opposition to the House rate of
81 per pound The representatives of the
feaf growers Immediately began a conten-
ton for the restoration of the House rate.
which was resisted by the smaller manu-
facturers, particularly of the Western
States. The finance committee yielded to
the growers to the extent of advancing
the rate to ST. 75 Senator Hawley tonight
represented the growers in their efforts to
secure tWo-dollar rate, and Senator Fair
banks the manufacturers in their attempt
to hold the original finance committee fig
ures. The caucus decided without diyi-
sion, to stand by the compromise rate of
There was only one vote raised in opposi-
tion to the proposition to return TO the
House schedule on watches and in addition
to admit watch Jewels free of duty The
finance committee fixed a uniform rate of
40 per cent. on watches, while the House
provided compound duty. 1t is to this
compound system that the Senate returns
waiian sugar, beer tea and internal rev.
enue were not discussed.
Senator Spooner. acting for Senator Cul-
lom, in the latter's absence from the Senate
chamber, to-day presented a petition to the
Senate signed by 03,000 citizens of Chicago
protesting against the proposed increase in
the tax on beer. The petition filled a wood
en- box two by three feet in size and was
carried out of the Senate chamber by two
men.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.