The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-10

washington, June Sin the course
of his prayer on the opening of the sell
ate the acting chaplain, Rev. Hugh John
son, invoked speedy return of content
ment and peace and prosperity, and that
the condition of the poor and suffering
may be ameliorated by the great meas
ure before congress.
Schedule H, relating to agricultural
products and provisions, was taken up.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas moved to strike
out the first five paragraphs relating to
live animals-cattle, hogs, horses, mules
and sheep-and substitute Il provision
covering all live animals, at 20 per cent
ad valOrem. Rejected, % to 3S.
The paragraphs relating to live animals
were then agreed to as reported.
On barley, Mr.. Jones moved to sub
stitute 40 per cent ad valOrem for the
rate in the bill, 30 cents per bushel.
1--WE now enter upon series of enor-
nous increases in behalf of the farmer
said Mr.. Vest, ironically, "and without
violating the rules of parliamentary pro-
cedure will say it is a fraud, sham
and Il pretense."
He declared that the idea of protecting
the farmer on barley, wheat, oats, etc,
when millions of bushels of these
products were being exported was an
effort to deceive the agricultural classes.
1t was designed to cajole the farmers by
absolutely spectacular duties" 1t was
an old, stale subterfuge, and the republi-
can party was trying to play on the ig-
norance of the farmers by saying:
My dear, bucolic friend. we, your
friends. will undertake to deceive you as
we did in 1890 in order to catch your
votes.'
Mr.. Gear of Iowa interposed the state
ment that the debate was on barley and
barley imports from Canada, where there
was cheap labor and cheaper lands, were
over l1.M0,OOO bushels the year prior to
the Mckinley law; these fell to 3,0OO,-
600 bushels after that act. Mr.. Gear
said the farmers of his state supported
this increased duty on barley and the
grand master of the state grange was
one of its chief advocates.
Mr. Vest turned his attention to the
general features of the debate, reverting
to the course of some of his democratic
associates III supporting revenue tariff
rates There was a time once when he
too, was ignorant enough and foolish
enough TO support the idea of revenue
duties with incidental protection. But
he was soon disabused of that idea. as
he had found it turned the congress of
the United States into Il convention like
that of the monkeys. who. while pur-
SUNG their deliberations. were suddenly
thrown into a wild scramble when nuts
were thrown into the cage.
Mr. Vest declared he would give ur
his seat in the senate rather than vote
against free lumber. free salt, free wool
three great achievements of the Wilson
bill.
Mr.. Mantle. Montana. answered briefly
that the barley duties would be highly
beneficial to the barley raisers of Mon
tana, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The
vote was then taken on Mr.. Jones
amendment and it was disagreed to
II TO "a.
Three democrats. McEnerv. Rawlin,
ann Tillman. and three popnlists, Aller
Butler and Heitfeld. voted with the re
publcans in the negative.
Formal amendments to reduce the
rates on barley, malt. buckwheat. corr
or maize and corn meal. offered by Mr.
Vest, were debated and the original par
agraphs adopted
Tn each of the votes of these amend
ments some democrats voted with tn,
republicans, while Mr.. Vest remarked
The vote on this side seems to be get
ting smaller and smaller"
Bate.
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia offered an indi
vidual amendment. placing a duty of q
per cent ad valorem on raw cotton. Mr.
Bacon said the omission of this articl,
from the dutiable lists was violation
of the principle of the democratic plat
form that tariff taxation should be s,
imposed as to discriminate against n,
section. The tariff as a whole fell lik,
dead weight on the producer of cotton
raising the prices of all articles essentia
to his use, and vet on his article of pro
duction, raw cotton, he was left in tn,
lurch."
Last year the statistics showed tina
oI.OOO.OOO pounds of cotton were i'm
ported into the United States. valued n
S6,O0O,OOo. The arrivals of foreign cot
ton were increasing annually. Mr.. Ba
con said he addressed himself particu
larry to his democratic associates. Why
should cotton be excluded from the bene
hts of a revenue duty if all other agri
cultural products were to have the benef
of such duties. Under the rule of con
sistency there should be a unanimou.
vote in favor of duty on cotton.
Mr.. Chiffon Cdeml of Texas said tn,
amendment would not raise the price o.
cotton. According to the Georgia sena
tor Baconl there would be no diminu
ton of the Importation of Egyptian cot
ton, so that any effect would be to Civ,