New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-25
REPCBLICAN Senator's N CAUCUS.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE SUSTAINED IN ITS
ACTION on HIDES AND TOBACCO.

ACTION on HIDES AND TOBACCO
Washington. juno 2.-The Republican Senators
decided IN caucus tonight by of % to Il to
sustain the action of the Finance Committee IN
placing a duty on hides. but did not pass on the
question OF the amount OF the duty TO be imposed
The committee also sustained in the rate fixed
on imported wrapper tobacco The only other dis
puted questions considered were watches and
"atch Jewels and on these the action OF the FL
nance committee was reversed, the House rates
DelnS accepted on watches and watch Jewels being
made free The caucus was held in the Marble
Room of the Senate. and was well attended While
tho discussion was spirited at times the meeting
was without especial incident. The greater part ~
the time was given 10 the proposition TO fix a
duty on hides. Senator Lodge led the contest
against the action of the Finance Committee in
taking hides from the free list and he was sec
onded by Senators Hoar. Platt. Spooner and others
while Senators Nelson, Allison, Warren and Gear
spoke for the duty
Mr. Lodge contended that the duty II imposed
would not be Of any consequence as \ revenue
Item, and that 1: would add nothing 70 the farmers
returns on his cattle, while It would have the eff
feet OF greatly njuring the industry of leather
manufacture. which had grown to immense nro-
portions under the system of free hides He so,d
that the exports of leather goods amounted 10
s@W9Vp year ana asserted that II a stiff duty
checked ~ e'e"'N
In reply the Western Senator'S said that direc,
and asserted that he was as much entitled ~ -
protection Il would give were the manufa actI,rers
To the assistance they would receive from other
duties. ~ N'''N'
The vote was on the general proposition ~ i,,
pos" duty without regard to rates The fiying of
these II was understood should be left to tho
Finance Committee, but the expressions wore "a
general IN favor OF the ad valorem rather than tbo
specific system that the committee probably vtiII
feel Itself Instructed to substitute this system, for
the ll2-cent a pound rate originally agreed ON
There was also general expression ag9ins, any
increase on India tanned goat and sheen skins
Whlch the manufacturers regard as a suhstonti,
victory. ''''"'
The debate the tobacco schedule WAS confined
10 brief speeches by Senators Hawley and Fair
banks The Finance Committee haH orig,nnlIv
fixed the rate on unstemmed wrapper tobacco NJ
81 % pound, in opposition the House rate OF 50
Immediately began a contention for the restoration
Of the House rate. which was resisted bv The
smaller manufacturers. particularly of the Western
States. The Finance Committee yielded 10 the
growers to the extent OF advancing tho rate 10
81 - Senator Hawlcy tonight represented tho
growers I'm their efforts To secure a g rate and
Senator Fairbanks the manufacturers in their m
tempt to hold the original Finance Committee fig
ures. The caucus decided without division 10 nd
by the compromise rate OF 81 -.
There only one vote raised I'm oppositIon 10
the proposition TO return to the House schedule on
watches and in addition to admit watch iewcls
free of duty. The Finance Committee fixed uni
form rate Of 20 per cent watches while the
House provided compound duty 1t Is 10 this
compound system that the caucus voted to return
The questions of reciprocity trusts Hawaii
sugar. beer. tea and Internal revenue were not
discussed.