The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-30
SENATORS DEBATE
 TARIFF MATTERS
Senator Nelson Takes Up the
 Lumber Question
LUMBER DUTY CONDEMNED
Discussion Is General In the Senate and McCumber, MeLaurin and Others Press the Speaker
 With Questions.

Washington, April 29.-The entire me of the Senate was again today given to the general discussion of the tariff bill Senator Rayner of Maryland led off with general denunciation of the protective system Of the republican party and he was followed by Senator Nelson of Minne- sota, who made an earnest plea for the admission of lumber free of duty. His as sertions caused quite general discussion which was participated in by Senators Hale, Carter, Clapp, McLaurin, McCum- ber Elkins, Aldrich and Gallinger.
 Speaking especially upon the lumber schedule Senator Nelson quoted prices to show that in seven classes of lumber the increase of prices from 1900 to 1907 was more than 57 per cent, while the increase of wages was only from b to 20 per cent.
 They say We have no lumber trust" he said. We know that We cannot show that the lumbermen have any written agreement among themselves, but we who are the consumers of lumber know that whether we deal with one or another Of them, it is all the same-there is no difference in price,"
 MT. McLaurin inquired how it happened that if, as had been stated, the labor in the lumber camps of Canada was cheaper than in the United States, such laborers do not move across the border into the United States.
 They do,' said Mir. Gallinger They are coming here in swarms"
 Then it brings them in competition with our labor suggested Mr. McLaurin. 'Is that fair to them?"
 But it does not reduce wages here, because we need them."
 MT. McCumber declared that tax on lumber was a tax paid on the extinction of the American forests.
 You develop the industry in lumber" he said, when at the present time the most extreme men will tell you the lunl Der supply will be exhausted in less than 30 years"
 MT. Elkins, obtaining the floor asserted that the senator from North Dakota was committed to free trade on those things which his state did not produce"
 Did l not vote for 50 per cent pro- lection for your steel products?" asked MT. McCumber
 But what have you against lumber? Why don't you want to protect that in terest?"
 Mr. McCumber replied that he voted for products that could be increased by the protective tariff.
 As this seems to be an experience meeting" said MT. Aldrich, T would like to ask the senator from Missis- sippi whether he is for a duty on lum- Der or for free lumber?"
 T am not for a protective duty on lumber" said MT. McLaurin, placing emphasis on the word protective" amid general laughter If an effort is made here," he added, ito raise the duty on lumber above the rate provided by the House l will vote against 1t and I am not sure l will not vote for free lum- ber."
 will you agree to per cent ad valorem duty on rice?" asked Mr. Gal finger.
 Cut it down." said MT. McLaurin, "cut 1t down one-half. l would agree to per cent ad valorem on rice"
 This debate reminds me of a story of Mark Twain, who was asked if he. had a boil, where he would prefer to have it." said MT. Scott, interposing. "He replied that he would rather have 1t on his wifes relatives. So here every one agrees to a reduction of the tariff on everything that somebody else produces"
 MT. McLaurin said the lumber of his state needed no protection as it was too far from the northern part of the country to compete with the Canadian product, and actually found a market in Europe and in Africa. He added that If the senator from Rhode Island wished to benefit the south he could do it by placing cotton bagging and cot ton ties on the free list, and so far as he was concerned he did not care if cotton seed oil sh ould be treated in like manner.
 Mir. Aldrich said he proposed to do anything within his power to promate the development of the south.
 "I am glad to see that senators on the other side" said MT. Aldrich, "are willing to cooperate with us to give such protection. I care not what you call 1t, whether protection or en- couragement, l want to do anything that will make your country what 1t ought to be- country that shall blos- som as compared with the wilderness which existed there 25 years ago."