The Van Buren press., 1897-06-05
TARIFF DEBATE BEGINS.
"a Crowded Senate Listens TO Senator
Aldrieh's Speeeh.-Defense OF
the Sugar Schedule.

Republican managers have, as far as
possible. charted its course, but If they
bring it into port inside of month or
six weeks they will be doing well. 1t
has been two months, lacking few
days, since the measure was passed by
the house. For this delay the Demo
cratic members of the senate have been
in no wise responsible, but they will
not hesitate to refer to it should their
probing into the various schedules of
the bill excite the impatience of their
opponents.
The taking up of the tariff bill, begin
ming, as 1t does, long and interesting
struggle, was an event which attracted
to the senate a crowd of unusual pro-
portions. 1t cannot be said, however,
that the entertainment warranted the
large attendance. There is nothing
thrilling in presentation of the
technicalities of tariff schedules. In
the Cuban debate appeals to patriotism
and to sentiment thrilled the hearts of
the listeners and provoked from the
throngs in the galleries spontaneous
outburst Of approval. The opening of
the discussion yesterday was not marked
by such stirring scenes. Senator
Aldrich, the recognized expert on the
Republican side, read long speech,
most of which was unintelligible to his
listening colleagues Senator Vest, the
spokesman for the Democratic side, fol-
lowed in reply which, being delivered
extemporaneously, was more attractive,
and then, after threat of opposition
from Senator Cannon, the first day of
the tariff debate came to an end. In
fact, it was not so much the speeches
that gave to the day its greatest
interest, but rather the portent Of con.
tests over certain sections of the bill.
For, even before Mr.. Aldrioh had COM
menced his remarks, Mr.. Vest gave
notice of his intention to move to strike
out the proposed increase of taxes on
beer, manufactured tobacco, snuff, and
cigarettes, question which, especially
in its relation to beer, is important in
its bearing on the political situation.
Senator Pettigrew also came forward
with an amendment directed against
the trusts, which the Republicans will
have to meet, and with another amend
ment abrogating the Hawaiian treaty.
The anti trust amendment will be taken
up as soon as the amendments offered
by the finance committeeman there
are nearly fifty of them-are acted
upon.
| MAIN POINTS OF HIS SPEECH.
In beginning his speech Senator
Aldrich said that it was his intention to
keep the bill continuously before the
senate until it was disposed of, and
then he went at once into the consider
alton of the various schedules. Out OF
the thousands of words which he offered
the following kernels will give the
purport of his speech:
THE tariff proposed in the senate
bill is considerably below that con-
tanned in the house bill, and in most
instances below that contained in the
Mckinley law.
1.-The house bill estimated $50 900, =
900 receipts over the present law; the
receipts under the senate bill are esti-
mated at $50 900, 900 above the present
law.
1.-The estimated revenue under the
senate bill for the year ending June 80,
| 1898, is $3.50 81 ,076, of which $lS2, :
744 900 will come from customs, and a
total of receipts over expenditures of
81, 725 900.
IF beer and tea are not taxed there
will be deficit of seq, 175, 900.
IAN amendment is to be offered
modifying the Hawaiian treaty, with
out absolutely abrogating it, so as to
reduce the bounty now paid to the
Hawaiian sugar grower.
Under the senate bill the wool
grower is given more effective and
greater protection than he ever secured
under any other tariff law.
THE adoption of the amendment
placing duty ON hides will not be a
serious burden to the tanning, the
leather, or the boot and shoe industry.
"A reciprocity clause will be
presented which will enable the gov
eminent of the United States, within
certain fixed limits and without further
legislative action, to enter upon
arrangements or negotiate reciprocity
treaties looking to an extension of our
foreign trade.
SUGAR SCHEDULE AND THE TRUST.
Mr.. Aldrich devoted nearly two
thirds of his speech to the consideration
of the sugar schedule, going into mass
of facts and figures which, while it was
listened to with attention. was evidently
beyond the understanding of a large
proportion of his audience. Stripped
of its technicalities, Mr.. Aldrich 5
speech was to the effect that the senate
bill gave in its specific duties an
equivalent of 40 per cent. ad valorem,
with an additional ad valorem of 30 per
cent. making total of 20, with a
differential of one eighth of cent a
pound in favor of the refined. He
claimed that the senate schedule was
not nearly as advantageous to the retiner
as the Dingley bill or as the present