The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-06

whole garment" responded Mr.. Bacon.
Mr. vest asked Mr.. Bacon to explain
whs II was that these rates were made
absolutely prohibitory
Mr.. Bacon answered by denial, say
ing that average duties, below 20 per
cent. could not be prohibitory. He
added that he had spoken at some
length because he found himself differ
ing from some Of his Democratic as
soc1ates. He had not in any way aban-
doned the view that a correct duty is a
revenue duty, and in this connection he
referred Mr.. Vest to the duties imposed
by the Wilson act, framed in part by
him (Vest).
Mr. Vest said Tie entered his protest
against any statement that the Wilson
act established q precedent for the
democratic party. That Bill, he declar-
ed. was passed under duress, with the
PRESIDENT and the Secretary of the Trea-
sury urging that a tariff bill was alb
solutely necessary.
"If the Senator was called upon to
frame revenue tariff BILL" interposed
Mr.. Bacon, what would he consider the
lowest average rate?"
THAT would depend on the require
ments Of the Government" answered
would it be 25 per cent?" persisted
Mr.. Bacon.
Mr.. Vest thought 1t might be If the
expenditures of the Government were
brought within reasonable limits
Gould it be 20 per cent?" pursued Mr..
Bacon.
Mr.. Vest said no conjectural per cent
could be fixed without any information
on the requirements OF the Government.
The Senator added as to the Wilson bill
that the three features In which pride
was taken were free salt, free lumber
ana Tree wool. And am sorry that a
member Of my party-he has the right
and L do not criticlse him for exercising
tt am sorry that a member Of my
party should be ready to take one Of
those articles out Of the free list and
put a duty on it,"
Mr.. Bacon answered that the Senator
from Missouri need feel no solicitude as
10 the attitude Of a Senator Of his party.
Equality IN the distribution Of taxa
ton was fundamental tenet Of the
Democratic party, and he stood on that
principle Of Democracy
Mr.. Clay followed Mr.. Bacon speak
ing for the first time since he entered
the Senate. He expressed himself
against free trade and In favor OF q
tarin sufficient to carry on the Govern
ment economically administered And
In levying this tariff, he said, there
should be the strctest equality In its
imposition. The price Of sugar to the
consumer. would be Increased to the
extent of. S1.20 per hundred weight This
profit would go to the Sugar Trust. He
SAID the bounty system was respOnsib BILE
FOR this trust and that no political party
could stand under the odium the legis-
lation would produce. Mr.. Clay also
criticised the proposition to place duty
on tea. He claimed there was now held
in the United States 100000 pounds of
tea. To put the proposed duty on this
article would be TO add A,5OO 600 to the
wealth of the tea holders. He claimed
the Senate bill would decrease the bur-
dens of the people to the extent Of S92,-
100000 on the four articles Of sugar,
wool tea and beer. He claimed that tn
farming interests had been neglected
and called attention to the constantly
falling prices In farm products. He de-
clared that the"bill would not give relief
to the people and also asserted that
tariff had not been the paramount issue
IN the last campaign. That issue, he
said. which had been almost forgotten,
was the financial question. Now the
financial question was apparently lost
Mr.. Allen Pop) Of Nebraska, who had
Just returned TO the city, asked that the
paragraph so over for further considera-
ton. and Mr.. Allison assented.
The other paragraphs Of the wool
schedule, with the exception Of 1877 and
POI (clap-boards and shjngles) were
agreed to as reported, all amendments
being voted down.
The Senate reached the sugar sche-
dule. although the paragraphs passed
over promise to take considerable time
before the sugar schedule is actually
taken up.
At Ais p. m. the Senate adjourned.