The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-18
TARIFF BILL DEBATED.
Lively Talk by Ways and Means
Committee Members.
DEMOCRATS OBJECT TO SCHEDULES
Shsy Deny, However, Any Intent to De-
lay the Bill-Declare They Want 1t
Passed to See whether II VIII or Not
Restore Prosperity.

WASHINGTON, March 17.-The Demo.
cratic members of the ways and means
committee received their first official in
formation on the new tariff bill when
the bill was considered at secret ses.
sion of the full committee. Chairman
Dingley announced that he desired to
report the bill to the house when it
meets at noon tomorrow. Mr.. McMillin
Dem, Tenn.) complained that this
plan would not give the Democrats
sufficient time to analyze the measure
and prepare report. The Democrats
contended that they had treated the
Republican members more generously
in the matter of time when the Wilson
bill was framed. Half an hour was
consumed in sparring over this point
and no definite conclusion was reached.
Three hours were spent in analysis of
the bill by sections, the Republican
members of the committee who had
been most active in the preparation of
the various schedules explaining the
changes made from existing rates and
comparing the proposed duties with the
Mckinley act.
Chairman Dingley and Mr.. Payne of
New York discussed the chemical
schedule, Mr.. Doliver of Iowa, the
agricultural schedule; Mr.. Tawney of
Minnesota, lumber; Mr.. Payne, sugar,
and Mr.. Dalzell, glass, earthenware
and metals. Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama
and Mr. McMillin took the leading part
in the discussion for the Democrats.
Concerning the sugar schedule Mr..
Payne asserted that it was practically a
return to the law of 1893. He repre-
sented that the proposed rates would
be equivalent to an ad valorem duty of
~ per cent on 90 per cent of all the
sugar imported. He said that the
schedule contained no concealed differ
ential between raw and refined sugar
such as the Wilson bill had.
While the revenue which sugar would
yield haH not been actually calculated
it would bring from $l6,000,000 to
SIS, ,000,0 900 more into the treasury than
under the Wilson law. Mr.. Robertson,
of Louisiana, Democrat, gave an
opinion that $50,000,000 could be ex-
pected from this sugar schedule.
In the consideration of the agricul-
tural schedule Mr.. Dolliver explained
that the countervailing duty on fish to
offset bounties paid by foreign govern
ments was directed against France. The
Democrats objected to the imposition OF
duty of one-half cent on fresh water
fish, which are now on the free list.
They also contended that the proposed
rates on seeds are double the Mckinley
duties. The southern members took an
interest in the rice paragraphs. 1t was
explained that the increased rate on
broken rice had been levied to discOur-
age the growing practice of breaking
rice which is brought in for the use of
breweries before its importation to Sc
cure the advantage of the cheaper rates.
The duty of 3 cents a pound on chickory
root, which is now on the free list, and
which is used as an adulteration of
coffee, Mr.. Dolliver explained, was for
the benefit of the middle west, where
chickory growing is new industry.
When the glass schedule was reached
Mr.. Wheeler criticised the increase in
duties on the cast polished plate glass,
l6x24, from to cents, and on 24x30,
from 10 to l3 cents, the increase being
over the Mckinley rates. Mr.. Dalzell
said that it had been demonstrated that
the Mckinley duties on plates these
sizes were not protective, but to offset
these increases the rates on plates OF
higher grades had been reduced.
The imposition of a duty on cotton
ties, now on the free list, was also op-
posed by the Democrats. Mr.. Wheeler
said the American manufacturers were
able not only to supply the home mar
ket, but to fill the large orders for India
without any protection on the article.
1t was contended by the IRtnocrats
that the additional duty of one-fourth
cent ON all articles of steel, finished
cold, would prove very far reaching in
its scope. The average rate Of cutlery
was stated to be about 46 per cent.
The Democrats opposed also the pro
posed duty of 81 a thousand on white
pine, which is double the Mckinley
rate. They also criticized the para
graph placing telegraph and telephone
poles and railroad ties of cedar and all
other woods under 20-per cent duty
The other woods are not now dutiable
and the opponents of the new bill as
serted that they constitute the most ex
tensive class. The Democratic mem
bers of the committee will offer amend
ments to the bill in the committee meet
ings as a matter of form. Their amend
ments will, of course, be rejected by tn,
Republicans.
In it's second session of the day tn,
committee finished the review of tn,
bill, but did not go so much into de
tail in the last schedules. Mr.. Evan
of Kentucky explained the spirits ant
wines schedule. The Democrats op
posed the advance on brandies from
81. 80 to 81. 2.50 on the ground that it en-
couraged the placing on the market o
spurious goods, limitations OF standar
brands.
Mr.. Rassell of Connecticut explaine,
that the cotton schedule was PRACTICAL
the Wilson rates reduced from a.
valorem 90 specific. 1t was remarke
by Democratic member that Senate
Aldrich of Rhode Island and not MI
Wilson, was the author of the cotto
schedule, which the senate incorporate
in the Wilson bill. Mr.. Payne said tina
the hemp, fax and jute schedule wa
practically that of the Mckinley act
with the blanket clause ON hemp fla
and ramie increased from 80 to 90 pc
cent. The Democrats criticised tn
restoration OF duties on cotton bagginl
which is now on the free list. Th
other schedules were gone through il
formally. The Democrats criticise
the transfer of many articles from th
free list to the sundries schedule wit
duties, but were disposed to acquiesC
in the action of the Republicans
placing duty of 81 a ton on peat mos
k the instance Of Mr.. Dolliver TO el
|, cours,ge an infant industry.
nha nnrsrffsfffQe adfourDad Until A