The San Francisco call., 1897-03-31
Slow but Sure Progress
Made With the Tariff
Schedules.
Savers, a Democrat From Texas,
Demands a Duty On
Hides.
Cries of Rats" Drown an Att N ii
to Style Secretary Gage
Free. Trader.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 30.-When
proceedings were begun on the tariff bill
in the House to-day Dockery CD OF
Missouri asked unanimous consent that
the free list might be considered in order
that be might offer his amendment put
ting those articles on the free list con-
trolled bv trusts in the United States, but
Payne (R) of New York objected.
The Committee on Ways and Means
took command of the situation again and
presented a number of amendments agreed
upon at their meeting last night, mostly
intended to perfect the phraseology and
10 correct slight omissions and errors.
Among them were: Making covered safety
fuse dutiable at 10 per cent, ad valorem;
making the duty on crude tartar or wine
lees to be y cent pound on the article
testingie less tnan so per cent; nitrate of pot
ash, cent pound on the article testing
above that strength; reducing from 20 to
10 per cent ad valorem the duty on certain
grades of hat and bonnet braids; restor-
ing the language of the Mckinley law re-
lating to Moquette and similar carpets
and Oriental rugs.
Say ers (D.) of Texas referring to
Payne's statement last Saturday, that the
nlQ6S I'm pOTleu INTO the OUlleu OtdleS
were principally from the hot countries,
such as did not come into competition
with those produced in the United States,
quoted from the treasury lists to show as
claimed great variance between the
gentleman's statement and the facts in
the case.
Cannon (R.) of Illinois said, in speech
advocating tax on hides, for = quarter of
a century free hides had prevailed and in
that period the leather industries of the
country had prospered and grown, until
they had practically conquered the mar
kets of the world. Now, he was satisfied,
duty could be imposed without interier-
ing seriously at least with the leather
industry. He desired the attention of the
Massachusetts mem bers while he said that
the proposed duty would add at least 81
to the value Of every head of cattle in the
country. He was willing to take the bill
it came from the Committee on Ways
and Means. Aud if that committee could
see its way clear to recon mend the duty
he would gladly follow its lead, just as
he would follow it in voting for a reduc-
ton of duties on products of woolen man
ufactures if the Massachusetts gentlemen
thought they were too high. Applause. ]
Slayden (D.) of Texas said the peope of
his district and of all the range country
were interested in this matter and de-
mandeG duty on hides.
Bell (Pop.) of Colorado made brief
speech in tavor of duty OH hides. saying
iiwould confer more benefit on the farmer
1ha II all the duties on the agricultural
schedule comb bined.
Dingley (R) of Maine said that when
the Committe Oh WAYS and Means, of
which the present President was the
chairman, was preparing revenue bill in
1850 it made an exhaustive investigation
10 determine whether or not a duty on
hides would benefit the farmers of the
United States. They found the following
state OF facts:
l. That the great body OF hides used in this
country produced as a by-product and
the price was made here.
2, As TO goatskin and a large number of
other skins for tanning, we found that we did
not have them and that they must be i'm
ported.
3. That the importations of thick hides, ex-
cept in a few special cases, were dry hides for
sole leather and largely used for export be-
cause OF our cheap tanning materials, thus
enabling US TO reach foreign markets with the
product.
From these facts we concluded that un-
der the special conditions obtaining, and
further. that but twice in the history of
the countryside and 1852-had there
been duty posed on hides; no advan-
tage would accrue to the farmer from re-
imposing duty, and that a disadvanta ge
would be felt by those engaged in the ex-
port leather trade. II was believed that a
duty on hides would shut off this export
trade and prevent the tanning of hides
here and drive it into Canada. In view of
these facts the final conclusion of the
rnitfoa yUa iDuti Hufr
Dingley said no one appeared before
the committee in 1896 10 ask duty. But
the committee made an independent in
vestigation and found no reason to change
the opinion reached by the committee in
1890.
for failing to include In the bill schedule
to raise revenue and TO protect American
industries, duty on hides. a 10 per cent
ad valorem duty on hides imported last
year would have produced 81 400 900 and a
tax of cent ponnd on goatskIns would
have produced $3.50 900.
Hepburn (R. of Iowa also advocated
placing duty on hides, speaking in his
usual emphatic manner to the delight of
the Democrats and portion of the Repub.
licans
Iowa is more interested in this product
than she Is in WOOL he said. ave pro-
duce more than $3, 900 600 worth of hides
and $1,000, 600 worth of wool It may be
that there are reasons valuable, economic
and controlling why there should be no
duty on hides. but l want to hear better
one than has yet been given in the course
of this debate. | believe in the protection
system and in the general purposes of thi
bill, but believe that in framing ITS pro-
visions the committee has not given the
consideration it should to the interests
that they should have. l hope that the
committee in the multiplicity of amend
ments which it is Offering will find the
opportunity to present one to put duty
on hides and test the sense of the House
on the question" Applause.
After discussing a number oi additional
amendments offeced by the Committee
on Ways and Means the committee of the
whole was entertained by Perkins tR.) of
Iowa, and later by Clark CD OF Missouri.
Clark said that lie had enjoyed no scene
SO much since Senator Teller and his con-
ferees went out of the st. Louis conven-
tion last June as that IN the House yes
terday when the Massachusetts, Sen.
ator ran amuck through the bill
and Grosvenor (R.) OF Ohio and
Russell (R.) of Connecticut ran amuck
through them. while the gray eagle Of
Worcester (Walker, B., of Massachusetts)
swooped down on the whole outfit
Laughter.
He wanted to ask the members OF the
Committee on Ways and Means ques-
ton or two; first, he wanted to know II
this bill had been referred for his approval
10 Lyman J. Gage, the free trade Secre-
tary of the Treasury. "He was free
trader in 1884 ana 1883 and there is no evi-