The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-25

sugar, the system of compound duties pre-
sented by the Senate bill being for the
purpose of making this equality. The ay-
erage rate in the Senate bill was 70 per
cent. with differential Of = of cent on
refined sugar. Senator Aldrich said that
this not as advantageous to the sugar
rehners as the House bill The explanation
seemed to cause general satisfaction, at
least no one questioned the senator further.
There was some discussion upon the
length of time the bill should be under dis
cussion in the Senate. Senator Mason sug
gested that as soon as the opening speeches
were made move should be taken to-
wards having a vote on the bill in two
weeks. 1t was decided 70 ask that after the
debate had run along for a week that the
Senate begin its sessions at IL o'clock and
sit until $50 and have evening sessions from
to II p. m
Debate on the various schedules consumed
the time of the caucus. A great deal of
opposition was developed to the increased
tax on beer and duty on tea Senators
PIatt of New York; Hanna, of Ohio and
Spooner, of Wisconsin, Were especially
vigorous in their opposition to the increased
tax on beer. 1t was pointed out that the
Democrats had already stated their opposi-
tion to this tax and would make an effort to
have the Senate committee amendment
eliminated. They thought 1t would be wise
to have an arrangement effected which
would relieve Republican senators of em-
barrassment. 1t was determined that eff
fort should be made to secure the revenue
both from beer and tea by a stamp tax
which would accomplish the same result.
Western senators referred to the wool
SCHeuulSS, Mr. WdTTeIli Oh wyoming, dp-
pearing as the spokesman for the wool
growers of the West said that the duties
proposed by the committee were, in his
judgment, inadequate and he thought there
should be increases on the lines of amend
ments proposed by Western senators.
Senator Lodge, of Massaehusetts, spoke
against the duty on hides, saying he did
not see how he could avoid voting for an
amendment which proposed placing hides
on the free list This statement raised
storm among Western men, who said that
if such q method was proposed they would
be compelled to vote for placing certain
articles on the free list or for reducing the
duty upon them. They did not expect that
the Democrats would vote with them to
increase duties. The Westerners announced
that to settle with the Eastern men who
voted to reduce duties on their products
they would vote to reduce the duty on ar
ticleS which their people purchased and did
not produce. 1t was this state of affairs
that brought forth the proposition of Sena
tor Burrows to submit proposed changes
to the Republican members of the finance
committee and then to the caucus. There
was no talk of bolting and no senator said
he would vote against the bill a whole.
1t was on the matter Of schedules that they
disagreed.
The question Of abrogating the Hawaiian
treaty caused a lively debate Senator Aid
rich stated that the committee intended to
bring in an amendment to this portion of
the bill. Senator Frye opposed the abroga-
ton in the strongest possible terms, while
Senator Nelson, Of Minnesota, made a
vigorous speech in support Of the COM
mittee amendment declaring that the rev.
enus which would be raised from the duty
on Hawaiian sugar would be greater than
from tea. He declared the admission of
Hawaiian sugar free was in the interest of
the sugar Pefiners and consumers received
no benefit from it.