The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-25
THE TARIFF BILL PROGRAM
DATE FOR BEGINNING DEBATE
DELAYED ON OBJECTION By
THE DEMOCRATS
VOTE WILL Be TAKEN MARCH 81
Some Friction Developed Between
Messrs. Bailey and McAlillin--A Eff
teen Minute Session of House.
Brief Session of Senate.

washington March lS-Ihe program
of the tariff bill in the house was agreed
on by the ways and means committee to-
day after a long and interesting meeting
in which there was disagreement not only
between the two parties, but also among
the democratic members of tho commit
tee.
, The bill will be reported to the house
tomorrow. On Wednesday, March 81, a
vote will be taken. In the meantime the
house will Dc in session from II o'clock
i'll the morning until an indefinite hour,
with recess for dinner all the time to
lie consumed in debate OH the bill 1t
was proposed by Chairman Dinglcy to
have the debate begin on Friday as soon
as the bill was reported, but the demo-
Gratis opposed this plan strenuously, re-
ninding their adversarics that they had
permitted the Wilson bill to he consid-
cred in committee for week. whereupon
the republicans conceded more time to
them. The republicans presented Il list
of amendments which were Incorporated
in the bill by party vote, while num-
Der of amendments were proposed by tn"
democrats, some of which did not receive
undivided support among the mcmD ,rs of
that party.
Some friction developed between
Messrs Bailey of Texas and McMillin
of Tennessee, the former having been
promoted over the head of the latter to
senior member on the minority side of
the committee by reason of his position
as leader on the floor 1t is probable Mr..
Bailey will make the minority report.
but will conccde to Mr.. McMilin the
honor of making the first speech in OPP
position.
The amendment which caused most de-
bate was one proposed by Mr.. McLaurin
OF South Carolina, placing duty of .
cents per pound on all cotton. The project
for placing a duty on Egyptian cotton
will be brought before the senate finance
committee when the bill comes before it.
Mr. McLaurin said that much cotton had
been imported into the United States last
year, and he did not see the need of IA
duty of 10 to 20 cents on corn, of which
importation was small, and in view of
that duty he did not see how republicans
could consistently oppose a Iuty Oh cot
ton.
The amendment was rejected. Mr.. Nc
l.aurin and Mr.. Robertson of Louisiana
voted for it. the others against it,
y motion by Mr. ScanSOn to strike out
the sugar differential duty received the
vote of all the democrats except Mr..
Robertson. Mr. Robertson proposed an
amendment to direct the president to
give notice of the abrogation IF the treaty
with Hawaii, by which sugars of that
country are admitted Free
All of the democratic members support
ed this proposition. but the republicans
voted against it.
A motion to substitute the wool sched-
ule of the Wilson act. made by Mr.. Me
Millin. was supported by all the democrats
except Mr. Bailey. Incidentally Chair
man Dingley stated that the duties on
raw wool in the new bill We're equiva-
lent to 10 per cent ad valorem, where
upon Mr.. Wheeler proposed an amend
ment that no duty should be paid ON
wool exceeding 10 per cent nd valorem.
which failed on a party vote.
Mr.. Wheeler offered several amend
ments which polled all the votes of the
democrats. They were to put cotton
ties. cotton tagging, fence wire. sulphuric
acid and black bone fused in making
quininc) and fresh water fish on the free
list; to reduce white pine and Lcmlock
from - per 1000 feet to the Mckinley
rate of 81. and to restore telegraph and
telephone poles, railroad ties and other
wocdS than cedar to the free list.