The morning news., 1897-03-17
- vNG OVER THE TARIFF.
r,ys AND MEANS COMMITTEE
1Hb AGAIN IN SESSION.

Tbe Democratic Members
81 the Intention to Report the
r n the House Tomorrow on
b'" c.ound That 1t Does Not Give
inc snaicient Time to Consider
,r,.5ington, March 1.-THE new tariff
os considered to-day by the ways
olh ,s committee The morning ses-
anu ..a three hours The time was oc-
SOU 4, discussing the several sched-
cup' explaining the reasons for vari-
uis' ',rsases. These explanations were
~, the members, who were most
no .-sont with the work. The sugges-
.tat the bill will be reported Thurs
moi with strong opposition from the
.,,y The chairman disclaimed any
$50 of curtailing the opportunities
4 ~ ofering amendments, but pointed out
.aosesitv for getting the bill before
-. House at the earliest moment. The
..,..a+s insisted that they only desired
...no in which to offer such amendments IS
-, and logic demanded. 1t was eX-
yI.;oed that no special assignments of
II were made, but that the committee
N ..,,a5 together as a whole except in case
,ssra certain members from their famil-
4 ;.rity with the subject were given the
a r,actical control of a schedule.
Mr. Russell of Connecticut, it appears,
mas largely responsible for the woolen
q s,bedule. which was explained by him.
SIMILARLY the changes in the agricultural
.. int aH hU MIR IOOlliVpF
a Of Ohio.
rara explained by Mr. Dalzell of Penn
svlyania; sugar by Mr.. Payne of New
4 york and wood by Mr.. Tawney of Min
nesota
.grcultural schedule. that the changes
Tsre more in form than substance. The
dnty on animals was less than the Nc
Knley rate.
so far as oranges were concerned the
q dnrv was assessed by the pound instead
n nj by bulk in order to secure a more eqult-
a able adjustment In the collection of the
4 duty.
The increased rate on broken rice was
made to prevent evasion of the present
law
cbicory root. hitherto free, was now
duiiable at cents a pound. inasmuch as
,bA industry had been recently establish
ed in the west of preparing it as sub
etitute for coffee
Mr.. Payne was asked as to the amount
Of revenue the sugar schedule would pro-
duce He could not say but thought the
increase would be about $16,0O0,OO0.
Mr. Robertson of Louisiana, estimated
the revenue from sugar to be S50,0O0,0O0
per annum.
Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama, referring to
the glass schedule. desired information as
to the increases in small glass. Mr. Dali
zell replied that the committee found that
the duty on small glass was not protec-
tive and an equalization had been made
by lowering the duty on the higher grades.
There was some criticism from the dem
ocrats over transferring cotton ties from
the free list to the dutiable list, but it
elected no explanation from the major
ity, although Mr.. Wheeler asserted that
we we're now exporting cotton ties in
great quantities to countries so remote as
India.
The democrats also criticised the in
creased rate on timber for spars and
wharves and for the construction of tele-
graph lines, to which the republicans re-
sponded by stating the reasons which had
led to them.
1t was developed incidentally that the
tariff on 95 per cent. of the sugar importa-
tons will yield an ad valorem duty of 72
per cent.
1t was decided at the afternoon meet
ing of the committee, that an adjourn
ment should be taken from this evening
until 10 o'clock Thursday morning. The
purpose of this was to permit the demo-
cratic members to study the bill, and TO
prepare the amendments which they pro-
pose offering when the committee reas-
sembles. The minority will tomorrow
afternoon meet at the capital and decide
the line n roO1iau RI ba NV
them, both in committee and in the
House.
1t Is still undecided if the bill shall be
reported Thursday, but the democratic
members believe this to be the intention
of the majority. The understanding is
that if the bill be reported Thursday it
Will be at once taken up for consideration,
without waiting for the democratic mi
nority to report Some of the republican
members think two weeks should suffice
for debating the measure in the House.
Ihe liquor schedule was the first to be
considered this afternoon. Mr.. Evans, of
kentucky, who was prominently identi-
ned with its preparation explained it's pro-
visions. He showed how the duty on
brandy had been increased from 81 80 to
G5O a gallon, aud pointed to advantages
the wine producers of France would gain
II That government should give this couu-
Try corresponding advantage on our ex-
ports He showed that the rates in the
hquor schedule were substantially a re-
turn to those in the Mckinley law. Mr..
Wheeler of Alabama, referred to the
enormous profits which the manufactur-
ers OF a certain grade of liquors enjoy in
lnis country. owing to the excessive pro-
lection, which enables them to sell cheap
article at enormous profit. The present
penalty for these practices is a fine, but
MT Wheeler contended that heavy pun
snment by Imprisonment should also be
ADDED as the fine in itself was not a suf-
nclent deterrent. His suggestion that the
Dill be amended in this particular was not
aaopted, although several others express
cd their belief that it was sound in prin-
Ciple
Mr. Russell of Connecticut was ques-
toned as TO the various ragraphs con-
shutting the cotton i. schedule. He said
mat this schedule did not differ material
~ from the present law. except that spe-
enc sales had been substituted for ad
Nalorem. Hose, underwear combination
Sults' corset covers, etc, were reduced Is
per cent. below the Mckinley rate. In no
case ne maintained were the rates In the
new bill so excessive as in the law of 1890
Ine schedule relating to flax and tute
was discussed by paragraphs and the in
qulrles OF the democrats were answered
H. rfss