The record-union., 1897-06-26

POI dSIdpu OiO12, pTONlQlLS lndl Cdr
pets of every description, woven whole
for rooms. including Oriental, Berlin
and similar rugs, shall pay duty of 10
cents per square foot and 40 per cent.
ad valorem. This led to an extended
debate
White and Vest critised the rates as
excessive.
Allison explained that Oriental rugs
We're luxuries, some of them costing
$4,000. He also fired a shot at the
California Senator CWhite) by saying
that while the rates might be high,
they We're not as high as the duties on
oranges and Zante currants, the pro-
ducts of California
Allison secured a new amendment to
paragraph 377, druggets, etc, striking
out felt carpetings. He also withdrew
the committee changes to paragraph
$50, designating the meaning of the
word wool"
All remaining paragraphs of the wool
schedule We're agreed to as reported,
and at / o'clock the Senate entered up
on the silk schedule
The consideration of this schedule
proceeded rapidly until the paragraph
on woven silk fabrics was reached.
After Allison had perfected the para
graph in minor particulars Jones
spoke in opposition to the rates, saying
they ran from 10 to 700 per cent, We're
excessive and prohibitory, and almost
burdensome on the cheap silks. He ex-
hibited samples of Japanese and Chin
ese silks, which he said would be bar
red from the country
Mantle Of Montana said that while
he believed in a good, stiff protective
tariff, 20 to 100 per cent. if necessary"
yet he entirely sympathized with this
Opposition to excessive rates on Chin
ese and Japanese silks. He would op-
pose them on the ground that he fa-
Vored putting straw mating on the
free list for he did not believe in this
manner of meeting the competition of
the Orient
Platt of Connecticut. replying to
Mantle, referred to the plaintive appeals
that had come from the Pacific Coast
against Oriental competition. He de-
clared that Jones' statement as to duties
OF iOO per cent, while not an interna-
tional Misrepresentation was due to
misunderstanding. The rates would not
average over 70 per cent.
Teller of Colorado said he was willing
to vote for a fair duty but not for a
TOO per cent. duty, and for this reason.the
committee ought to furnish exact infor-
nation. He spoke of the rapid growth
of trade in Japanese textiles 1t was
due he said, to the low rates of wages
in Japan and to the difference in ex-
change between Japan and the United
States, giving that country a bonus of
about 100 per cent. AS to the state
ment that Japan had gone to the gold
standard, Teller said this had been done
merely by cutting their yen, or coin. in
two, and that the standard was prac-
tically unchanged. He could not vote
for 100 per cent. duty against Japan
ese, Chinese or any other goods. He
wanted this to be a Republican tariff
bill, although he said he considered the
Wilson bill about as good protective
measure as some that bore the Republi-
can label.
Jones moved a substitute paragraph
scaling down the duties on all lines of
silk fabrics. Rejected-23 to 26; Mantle.
Pettigrew and Teller voting with the
Democrats n the affirmative
In view of Platt's statement that the
duties would not average above 10 per
cent White moved proviso that no
duty on silk fabrics shall exceed 10 per
cent. Rejected-22 to 24.
White renewed his motion, making 100
per cent the limit of duty on silk fab
RIGS. Rejected-25 to %.
The tobacco schedule was then taken
up.
The first paragraph was materially
aIf foI
tobacco and filled tobacco when mixed
with more than - per cent. of wrapper
tobacco and all leaf tobacco, etc, 81 10
per pound; if stamped, s. % per pound
The balance of the paragraph remains
unchanged.
Vest said the controversy as to rates
was between Connecticut wrapper to-
baccO and Sumatra tobacco The desire
was to shut off the Sumatra, one to-
bacco man having said before the Ways
and Means Committee that he would
favor a duty of 1000 per cent. if neces-
sary to prevent its Importation
Hawley of Connecticut said other
States than Connecticut were interested
in the industry of wrapper tobacco.
There was no desire to exclude Sumatra
tobacco, but to give adequate protection
against the labor rate of Sumatra of
about 10 cents a day
PascOe of Florida expressed satisfac-
ton with the proposed rates, and said
that as tobacco was recognized subject
of revenue taxation, he would support
the rates.
Mills of Texas declared that the smok-
ing Of a good cigar had become a lost
art in the United States, as result of
the enormous and unconscionable taxa
ton on cigars. These taxes, customs
and internal revenue had driven small
makers out of the business until the
trade was in the hands of great con-
Germs. He insisted that tobacco was not
luxury, but was an article of common
use to be found in the humblest cabin.
Paragraph 210 was then agreed to as
reported, with the changes indicated,
also paragraph 211.
In paragraph PIP, covering all tobac-
co not otherwise provided for, the COM
mittee rate of 40 cents per pound was in
creased to % cents per pound. A SINH
lar increase from 40 to 55 cents per
pound was made on snuff, etc (213).
This completed the tobacco schedule.
At o'clock the Senate held an ex-
ecutive session. and then adjourned.
"
CLASSED as MIGRANTS.