New-York tribune., 1909-06-01
CONCESSION ON MEAT
4LDRICH W4IVES POINT.
Consents to LO1cer Duties to ETDe-
dite Progress on Tariff Bill.
IFrom TIE Tribune Bureau. ]

- . NOO VIZ - ~ III Dt't'
TFrom Bureau
Washington, May 3I.-Senator Roots vigorous
nght for a reduction OF the duty lemons
notable feature OF the tariff debate in the Senate
to-day. The New York Senator took issue with the
contention of the members OF the Finance Com
mittee that duty OF IL cents pound would
work hardship TO consumers of lemons. The
present rate is ! cent pound, and the Payne rate
IS ~ cents. Mr. Root spoke for nearly hour in
support OF the Dingey duty. de said the proposed
Increase would give the California lemon growers
complete control OF the American market and
enable them to raise the price Is high they
pleased. He asserted that California lemons could
be laid down in New York at 81 81 box. while the
foreign lemons cost. laid down in New York, a
minimum price Of 81 42 a box. The efforts of the
New York Senator TO reduce the recommended
by the Finance Committee were unavaing. the
duty of ~ cents being adopted by vote OF 43 to
8. Eight Repubcans-Se Beveridge Bris-
tow, Burkett. Crawford, Cummins. Curtis La Fol
iette and Root-voted against the increase. and
two Democrats-Senators Foster, of Louisiana, ana
Fletcher. Of Florida-voted for it.
Although considerable progress on he bill was
made, the leaders were far from satisfied with the
days work. After completing the agricultural and
spirits schedules, Mr.. Aldrich wanted return to
the paragraphs which were passed over at the
second reading of the bill his hope that
considera bic portion to-day's session would be
devoted TO cleaning up the disputed paragraphs in
schedules A TO Fl. inclusive. that tomorrow the
Senate could start the cotton manufs CtuTes
schedule. Mr.. Bacon interfered with this pro-
gramme by starting a discussion of the duties in
the meat products paragraphs When the Georgia
Senator makes the predatory announcement that
he desires 10 say Just word. it is signal to
his colleag gues that he Will probably speak an hour
He made this announcement to-day and
then proceeded with elaborate discussion of why
the duties on meats and lard should be reduced to
the rates recommended in the House bill
Mr.. Aldrich said there had been reductions iA
nearly $50 items Of the pending bill. but they
not rs6p halo ha Rr1te~ moi is nor
possible" he insisted, Ito say that in making
these reductions we have abandoned the protective
principle"
After MI Bacon had talked nearly an hour. Mr.
Aldrich I'm desperation said he would withdraw the
committee amendments increasing the duty on
bacon and hams from four TO five cents pound
and on lard from one and half to two cents a
pound. He explained that the reduced rates were
protective, and intimated that he willing o do
almost anything If the interminable speechmaking
would The withdrawal Of the amendments
had the desired effect Mr.. Bacon, but it aroused
Mr. Hepburn. The Idaho Senator opposed to
the withdrawal OF the amendments. He declared
that the cattle growers were entitled to the pro-
lection recommended by the Finance Committed
satisfied them reduced
merely to facilitate the passage of the bill
Mr.. Hepburn engaged in several cOlloquies with
Senators Bacon and Tillman but finally yielded the
floor. and Mr.. Bacon made unsuccessful effort
reduce from two 10 and a half cents
pound the duty fresh beef. veal. mutton. pork
and venison and other game except birds. His
motion reconsider the vote by which this para
graph was adopted defeated, 20 20 50. Senators
Beveridge Bristow. Brown, Burton. Cummns, Dol
liver. GalinCer and Nelson voted with the Demo-
Gratis and Mr.. McEnery, Democrat, voted with
the Republicans.
Among the amendments adopted to-day all pro-
posed by Mr. Aldrich. were the following: Re
ducng duty dried peas from 30 to 25 cents
a bushel; reducing the duty on salt in bags. bar
rels etc. from y TO 10 cents hundred pounds
and on bulk salt from 10 cents a hundred
pounds: making dextrine substitutes, soluble
starch or chemically treated starch. dutiabe a.
IL cents a pound. The paragraphs relating t"
chicory root spices and mineral waters were
adopted without amendment.
Mr.. Gore made an unsuccessful ehort 10 nave
bananas taxed six cents bunch. The blind Sena-
tor declared that the United Fruit Company had
a monopoly Of the business, and devoted haIt an
hour 10 sarcastic comment on the possibility OF
developing great home industry by protecting
bananas.
i think ] have treed a trust" said Mr.. Gore Il
am convinced there is banana trust in this
country"
Appealing to the protecuonists to support his
amendment Mr.. Gore said that If a duty of $50 a
ton were placed bananas. was done with lead
ore the Senator from Colorado would probably see
bananas raised the crags of the Rockies and the
Senator from North Dakota would see the plains
turned into banana plantations 4 am not Ger
tain, II we make the tariff high enough that we
couldn't make lemons and oranges bloom and
aover in the very shadow of the North Pole" he
added.
When the paragraph relating to pineappies was
reached a division Of tariff sentiment was found on
the Democratic side. The Maryland Senators. who
have great canning interests in their state. want
the duty lowered. while the Florida Senator'S who
have many pineapple growers in their state want
the duty increased. AT the suggestion OF Mr.. Al
drich this paragraph went over.
MI Smith, Of South Carolina, spoke thirty min
utes for free trade cotton ties and bagging- He
declared that the farmers were not getting a
square deal under the protective policy.
one of the interesting features of the debate was
Nj Culberson's request to have printed certain
extracts from Mr. Carnege's testimony before the
Wavs and Means Committee, in which the iron
master said that tariff measured the increased
cost paid by the American consumer for articles of
domestic manufacture. Mr.. Aldrich said he had
no objection to printing the extract in The Con-
gressional Record" He called attention 10 the
fact that many requests had been made 10 put por-
tons OF Mr Carnegie's testimony in The Record
The Rhode Island Senator suggested that Demo
cratic Senators would time II they would put
all OF Mr. Carnegie's testimony in The Record
He said ne had doubt this testimony would be
1,sed in Democratic textbooks for the next twenty
wears and he had no objection TO printing IT. When
Mr. Bailey asked that Mr.. Carnegie's testimony be
printed as a Senate document Mr.. Scott objected