The times., 1897-06-17

of the proposed amendment. Mr.. Jones
| then Iaoved 10 amend The amendment SO
as. TO strike out the more common bulbs
OF all kinds, which was lost, yeas 20, nays
81 Mr. Allison's amendment was then
agreed 30
When the nursery stock schedule was
reached, Mr.. Allison, for the committee,
moved TO modify the paragraph SO rs to
cut down the rate On Mahaleb or Mazzerd
cherry trees from 81 per 1000 TO 90
cents per 900 and 10 per cent ad
yalorem; on pluns, pears, ounces and
apples, from S1.75 per 1000 to 81 per
1000 and 8 per cent ad valorem; and
on rose plants, budded or grated, from
3 cents each TO 1-2 cents.
Mr.. Vest wrung from Mr.. Allison the
admission that the proposition TO thus
put heavy tax On Canadian cherry trees
and the otuer items named had come from
some nurseryman, as many other sugges-
tions had. Mr.. Allisons amendments were
all agreed to, and then Nj. Vest made
an Intellectual effort to strike out the
entire paragraph.
The House bill fixed the duty on potatoes
at 25 cents per bushel, and the Senate Com
mittee reduced it 10 20, but when the
paragraph was REACHED MT Allison with
drew the committees amendment MIR.
Jones criticised the committee for not
standing by its own amendment, and
moved to amend the original rate, so as
To make it 3 cents. The amendment Was
lost. and the rate remains at 25 cents.
At the request OF Mr.. Hawley the para
graph providing for % per cent ad valorem
on seeds OF all kinds, not specially provided
for, was passed over for the day.
The several fish schedules called out
much discussion between MessTs. Jones,
Vest and Allison, the latter securing the
adoption of several notifications TO the
corinItttee's amendments TO the House bill.
Messrs Vest and Gray male hGrdfighu
to strike out the item taking fresh fish
from the free list and putting thereon
duty OF one fourth OF one cent per pound
Mr.. Gray said il was n shame aud a
disgrace to tax the product of the lakes
and rivers OF the country, while the poor
people are starving for the want OF food.
The para graph was allowed TO stand.
When the fruits and nuts schedule was
reached Mr.. Allison moved to so modify the
fruit paragraph as to fix rate OF % cents
per bushel on apples, peaches, curraBts,
ounces. cherries, pluns, and pears, green
or ripe; and OF 20 per cent ad valurem on
cranberries, which motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Vest tried, but unsuccessfully, TO cut
the rate down to 20 cents per bushel.
Mr.. Mills made a fiery speech on Zante
currants, contending that they should
either be put on the free list or taxed at
not more than | cent per pound because
that peculiar currant can only be grown
on the little island of zante Messrs
White and Perkins both claimed most en-
phatically that the Zante curiant is now
grown in large quantities in California
while the quality is admitted TO be much
better than those grown n Zante
.'As an evidence, / take pleasure in
presenting my friend box of Zante cur
rants that were grown in California" said
Mr. White. taking box from his desk and
sending it to Mr. Mills Mr. Perkins also
took several boxes OF the same fruit from
his desk, and for some time Mr. Mills and
other Senators passed the fruit from one
Senator to another until all had tasted
and commented upon the quality Of the
California fruit. Tie motion of Mr. Jones
to amend as desired by Mr.. Mills was lost
after a debate lasting for an hour or more
When the paragraph to put duty
of cent per pound on oranges, lemons lines
grape fruit, shaddocks or ponlilos, was
reached, AIr. Jones moved to strike out
the paragraph and insert the corresponding
paragraph of the Wilson bill. which pro-
vides rate on measurement instead of
weight. The motion was discussed for half
al iour by Messrs. Jones, Gray, McLaurin,
White and Perkins, and was then lost
On the meat product schedule. Mr. Vest
moved TO strike out cents per pound on
bacon and hams and insert 20 per lent
ad valoren; but his amendment was
promptly voted down, as Were all similar
made by Senators Vest and
Jones to other paragraphs in the schedule
Mr.. Vest made vigorous effort to amend
the rate on lard from cents per pound TO
cent, the present rate, but failed
The first item in the schedule for mis-
,ellaneous products was chiccory-root,
and against a spirited opposition from Mr.
Jones, Mr.. Allison modified the committee
amendment of 3 cents per pound so as
TO make it 2i-2 cents The vote on
aud acorns as used for coffee,
was also reduced to the same figure
When the item of salt was reached. Mr.
Vest said there were just four items In
the Wilson bill that reconcled him to It's
passage They were the income tax, free
salt, free lumber, and free wool The
Senate has already put duty on !um-
ber, and now it is about to do the same
thing with salt, which every family in
the country uses in the preparation of its
daily food Salt should be as free as
air al d water.
Mr.. Jones said this proposition for a |
heavy tax on salt was the most indie |
fenatle provision of the bill He hoped |
tie patriotism of the Senate would stand |
together against this most infamous propo- |
stion, The vote was then taken by yeas |
and nays, and the Senate refused to put |
salt on the free list by a vote of 81 nays |
TO "a yeas.
The paragraph putting a tax OF 10 |
cents per pound ON tea was, on motion |
Of Mr. Allison, passed over for the day |
MIR Allison remarked that he hoped that |
'he tax could in some way be dispensed |
with
Mr Ni''s gave notice of an amendment
that only rs per cent of the
inties imposed by the bill shall be levied
against the countries whose mints are
Dpen to the free and unlimited coinage of
diver
The Senate then went into executive
esson and soon after adjourned until IL
o'clock today.
Il