Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-15

WASHINGTON, May 14-Asking that an
interview with ]. j. Hill be read to the
senate Immediately after that body con-
vened today, Senator Scott endorsed its
advice To congress that oratory be sus-
pended and that congress promptly pass
the tariff bill.
This" said Mr.. Scott. '1s in line with
letters am daily receiving begging and
praying that these gentlemen" waving his
hand over the senate chamber, "get through
with their wind jamming and let the coun-
try go ahead with its business"
Beveridge on Tobacco Tax.
Senator Beveridge spoke in support Of
his amendment relative to the internal
revenue tax on tobacco and its products.
Contending that the government has lost
$1s4 100000 in the last eight years through
the repeal Of the war time tax Of 1898, Mr.
Beveridge undertook by his amendment to
increase the present rate of internal taxes
on tobacco snuff, cigarettes and cigars
worth more than 10 cents. Mr.. Beveridge
declared that the tobacco trust. which he
said, was the American Tobacco company,
had derived great benefit from the enorm-
Gus loss of revenue. which, he said, was
due to the law repeating the Increased
rates of 1898. The law providing for the
high rates OF 1885 permitted the manufac-
turer to reduce the size of the packages
IN which the tobacco is sold to the people.
according to Mr.. Beveridge. "In 1901 this
increased tobacco tax was removed" said
he. "but che short weight packages Of
tobacco were continued by the very law
that removed the tax. The manufacturer
still collects the war time tax from the
people. but instead of paying It to the
government he keeps it for himself"
Mr.. Beveridge declared that his amend
ment would not affect the cigarmakers of
the country. because, he said, II does not
enhance the tax on any cigars except those
which sell for ten cents or more.
Trust stiII Collects Tax.
Claiming that his amendment would in
crease the revenues to the extent of over
s2i 100000. Mr.. Beveridge asserted that the
tobacco trust is now reaping vast benefit
through failure to enact such legislation as
that proposed
Mr. Beveridge controverted the idea that
the continuation by law of the short weight
war time packages after the war tax had
been removed did not affect the plug to-
bacco business. ''The law" he said. does
not fix the size of the cut that Is sold, but
the manufacturer OF plug tobacco got the
war tax on this article out of the people
by selling a smaller cut than he plug and
his practice still continues. When a box
of plug tobacco Is sold bv the trust to the
retail dealer. there Is marked upon each
plug a place for the cut. BY decreasing
the size OF these cuts very slightly the
tobacco trust through the retailer gets the
war time price for a cut from plug OF
tobacco by marking the cut little
smaller"
ITpon taking up the iron and steel Sec
tions of the tariff bill. Mr. Aldrich asked
that the senate pass upon the paragraph
relating to pig iron, as the committee on
finance wished to consider an amendment
affecting the duty on cast scrap iron.
Round iron and Slabs.
An extended discussion took place on an
amendment offered by Mr.. Cummins re-
ducing the duty on round iron from $40
I TO $40 OF l cent a pound, and on iron in
slabs, etc, from 40 to $40 of cent a
pound. Mr.. Aldrich explained that these
duties, as reported TO the senate, were
lower than current duties in the Dingley
bill Mr. Oliver pointed out that these
iron products were made by independent
concerns Mr. Cummins insisted that the
iron and steel industry needed no protec-
ton.
Mr.. LaFollette complained that he mad
difficulty IN obtaining information for the
Senator Root a retort that the committee
IN reporting a house bill was under no
ObliEation 20 furnish information except
on those paragraphs on which il proposed
amendments.
Mr. McLaurin declared that the finance
committee had stamped the entire bill with
its approval. both OF amended and un-
amended sections. Mr.. LaFollette and Mr..
Rayner upheld this view.
Root and La Toilette Tilt.
Referring TO criticism by Mr.. La Fol-
lette Mr.. Root said senators would do we'll
to cOnfine themselves to clear-cut state
ments and ito refrain from defamation
and from elaborate discussion for the pur-
pose OF strengthening gentlemen in their
home states"
He said the senate had been for more
than a month struggling with the tariff
bill and had not passed through more than
one-seventh OF the paragraphs.
IF gentlemen think that the people of
the country will applaud Them" continued
Mr.. Root. Sin my judgment they are much
mistaken"
Mr. La Toilette made sarcastic refer
enee to the supreme confidence Of the
senator from New York"
In the case of the glass schedule, Mr.,
La Toilette said Mr. Root had told Mr.
Aldrich that he would have TO explain
It II he expected senator's TO vote on the
house provision.
"Of course. . said Mr.. La Toilette, com
ing here with all of his prestige, he may
well take 10 himself rights that do moi
belong 20 other seators on this floor.
have not said word for home consump-
tion,'" said MIR Ia Toilette. "and l will
say to the senator from New York that
don't have to-"
share he would take in discussing the tariff
bill "and l propose" he said, Ito take