Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-21
HH DNHNWWHO''
LEAD DUTY is REDUCED
Rate Reported by Committee Cut
0ne-Eighth of Cent.
SHARP CR1TIc1f
Rate is Still Three-Eighths of Cent
Above House Provision.
SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS DIVIDE
Inference OF Opinion Arises Over
Duty on COttonseed Oil-Duty On
Quebracho Placed at Half
Cent n Pound.

Cent n fOun0s
WASHINGTON, May 2c.-The senate to-
day distributed its attention among the
three ttemr in the tariff bill providing
a duty on an extract Of chestnut bark
used in tanning known as quebracho. on
cottonseed oil and on white lead. on each
OF these articles the senate was led by the
committee on finance, although the com
mittev was induced to change IT'S original
, suggestions on both white lead and cotton
seed oil
rhe lead duty fixed by the committee
was originally 25s cents per pound. but
Mr. Curtis. who is members Of the COM
mittee. today suggested reduction of "a
|cent pound. bringing the figure down to
ga cents and Chairman Aldrich accepted
the reduction. Even this increase over
the house provision excited sharp criticism.
especially from Mr. Curtis colleague, Mr..
Bristow, who contended that the duty
would prove to be a direct tax on the
consumer When the vote was taken the
committee obtained its usual triumph. the
figures standing ii to 81 in favor of the
Curtis amendment, As usual senators
Beveridge. Bristow, Brown. Burkett. Clapp,
Cummins, Dolliver, Gamble. Lafollette and
Nelson voted with the democrats Senator
Borah voted with the republicans.
Division Among Democrats.
Probably the most interesting contest of
the day was that over the question as to
whether there should he any duty on cot
tonseed oil. Senators Tillman Bacon and
Money made an intense fight against the
senate provision fixing tariff OF 3 cents
gallon on the ground that It would in
jure the sale of cottonseed, and after the
controversy had gone on for some time
Mr.. Aldrich withdrew the provoision.
MIR. LaFollette sought to reduce the
duty on quebracho to u Of cent a pound,
but his amendment to that effect was re-
jected, 70 to IS.
Mr.. Daniel lead the fight for a higher
rate, exciting much interest because of his
advocacy of low duties in the past The
committee had reduced the house rate. and
the Virginia senator. in whose state are
several quebracho factories. sought to have
that figure restored. He did not succeed
pound instead of q OF cent as he pro-
posed.
Fight over CottOnseed OIL.
A recommendation by the committee on
finance for duty of three cents a gallon
cotton seed oil in connection with the
tariff proved to be a firebrand on the
democratic side of the senate today. Re-
plying TO Mr.. Tillman Mr. Aldrich ex-
planned that the Dingley law provides for
duty of four cents gallon on cotton
seed oil so that this recommendation
caused reduction of l cent a gallon. This
did not pacify the democratic senators
Messrs. Tillman. Bacon and Money in.
sisted that they wanted no duty what
ever Mr.. Aldrich then proposed to with.
draw his amendment, but that did not enc
the criticism. Finally. because of thi,
criticism from senator Bacon and Money
Mr. A!drich withdrew the cotton seed OF
amendment.
MIR. Tillman wanted to keep up tn,
markets abroad for cotton seed and wher
asked by Mr.. Aldrch If he would see tn,
cotton seed oil made abroad and thei
imported into the United States he replied
"Of course | would IL we get a highe
price ON cotton seed. The farmers ar,
entitled to some consideration"
Mr. Smoot suggested that cheap abo
abroad would produce cotton seed OF
cheaper than in the United States. Nj
Tillman with energy retorted:
Cheaper than in the south? Cheape
than We can produce it with our negro la
bor Of 80 to 70 cents a day? Who ever ;ol,
the senator that. he lied, and he knew h
was lying.
Debate over white Lead Schedule
The trusts are ghosts" declared Mr.
Hepburn in replying to suggestions tina
the Lead trust" was interested in the dut.
on lead.
Mr.. Nelson taunted Mr.. Hepburn on tn
attitude OF his state on the silver question
II never followed the silver god out o
the republican party" replied Mr.. Hey
burn.
You are following lead god now" re
torted Mr. Nelson, amid general laughter
Mr.. Penrcse undertook to demonstrate b.
exact calculations that the difference q
duty heing contended for on white lea
would amount TO 25 cents in the psintin
OF a farm house. Mr.. Cummins proteste.
against the suggestion that the trust q
combination or Individual shall be set loos
to steal from the American people simpl
because It only steals 25 cents" lie al
not agree with the senator from Idaho
his eu,ogy OF the trust '1 hope his vote
is no: the voice OF the republican party,
b he said.
Mr. Aldrich appealed for vote sayin
half OF the day had been consumed in
debate on this one section.
L hope" he said. :;we will be able
take votes more frequently"
Mr., Clapp declared that repeatedly ser
ators had sought to know the difference {
cost between production in this countr
and abroad
And every time" he continued, "ths
question is asked We were treated TO
peroration ON the protective tariff"
II appeal TO senators TO allow vote
be taken on this amendment" said Mr. A
over the chamber arpealingly.
MIR. Bristow declared that the lead II
dustry was a trust and every year exact
u,0oo0oo from the American people Il
which IL gives them nothing In return"
A vote was taken the Curtis amendmeI
fixing the rate on white lead at ~ cents
pound instead Of 2~ as proposed by n
house and Pa as originally recommended
the finance committee was agreed to-