Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-15
SENATE UPHOLDS
IRON SCHEDULE
COMMITTEE RATE SUSTAINED
BY CLOSE VOTE
ENTIRE DAY OCCUPIED WITH
DEBATE ON TRUST
Personalities Are Exchanged and Ses-
sion Becomes interesting Toward
Close-8eVeridge Would
False Tobacco Tax
fRv Associated Press.l

tBy Associated Pressl
/ WASHINGTON, May 14.-Again the
/ committee on finance was upheld when
( the senate today by a vote of 35 to AZ
voted down an amendment by Senator
/ Cummins to lower the duty on round
iron and upheld the house rate, which
was recommended by the senate COM
mittee.
Almost the entire day vas given up
to a debate on the profits of the United
States Steel corporation, and toward
the end personalities were exchanged.
+ Senator Beveridge proposed an
/ amendment to the tariff bill increasing
the tax on tobacco and its products,
and charged that by continuing the
short weight packages of the Spanish
war period the tobacco trust was reap
ing harvest of $21, 900, 900 a year.
Asking that an interview with j. J.
Hill be read to the senate Immediately
after that body convened, Senator
Scott Endorsed its advice to congress
that oratory be suspended and that
congress promptly pass the tariff bill
This" Mr. Scott said, is in line
with letters I am daily receiving beg
ging and praying that those gentlemen
(waving his hand over the senate
chambe) get through with their wind
jamming and let the country go ahead
with it's business
Senator Beverage spoke in support
of an amendment offered by him rela-
tive to the internal revenue tax on to-
bacco and it's products.
Beverdge's Argument
Contending that the government had
lost $1S4 900 900 in the last eight years
through the repeal of the war time tax
.e Hora tqVlartaoIy h1FI
his amendment to increase the present
rate of internal taxes on tobacco,
snuff, cigarettes and cigars more than
10 cents.
Mr. Beveridge declared that the to-
bacco trust, which, he said was the
American Tobacco company, had de-
rived great benefit from the loss of rev.
enue since 1898.
The law providing for the rates of
1898 permitted the manufacturers to re-
duce the size of the packages in which
the tobacco is sold to the people, aC-
cording to Mr.. Beveridge.
In 1901 this increased tobacco tax
was removed said he, but the short
weight packages of tobacco were con-
tinued by the very law that removed
the tax. The manufacturer still col
lects the wartime tax from the people,
but instead of paying it to the govern
ment he keeps it for himself"
Mr.. Beverage said the continuation
of the short weight wartime packages
helped the plug tobacco business in the
same manner.
| On taking up the iron and steel Sec
/ lions of the tariff bill Mr.. Aldrich
asked that the senate pass over the
! paragraph relating to pig iron, as the
| committee on finance wished to con-
slider an amendment affecting the duty
| on cast scrap iron.
An extended discussion took place on
an amendment offered by Mr.. Cummins
reducing the duty on round iron from
$40 to $40 of l cent a pound and on
iron in slabs, etc, from 4-10 to $40 of
cent a pound.
Mr. Aldrich objected that these duties
as reported to the senate were lower
than current duties in the Dingley bill.
divers Contentious
Mr.. Oliver pointed out that these iron
products were made by Independent
concerns. Mr.. Cummins insisted that
the iron and steel industry needed no
protection.
Mir. LaFollette declared he had mot
a dollar" in the steel and iron bust
ness.
Neither have l." responded Mr..
Oliver.
Il am glad to hear it," said Mr.,
LaFollette.
Mr.. LaFollette complained that he had
difficulty in obtaining information from
the committee on finance. This brought
from Senator Root a retort that the
committee in reporting house bill was
under no obligations to furnish infor-
nation except on those para graphs on
which it proposed amendments
Mr. Root said senators would do we'll
to confine themselves to clear cut, short
statements and to refrain from decla-
nation and from general discussion for
the purpose of strengthening gentlemen
in their own home states"
Mr.. LaFollette made a sarcastic
reply.
The Cummins amendments reducing
the duty on round iron and slabs one
tenth of a cent was then voted on and
defeated on a roll call. So to AZ
Senator McEnery of Louisiana, DEM
ocrat, voted with, the Republicans
against the amendment, and Senators
Beverage, Borah, Bristow, Brown,
Burkett, Clapp. Crawford, Cummins,
| Dolliver LaFollette and Nelson with
the Democrats for it.
Seeking free trade on all farming I'M
plements and tools used by carpenters
and blacksmiths, Mr.. McLarin offered
an amendment exempting from duty
articles made of iron and steel, such a
trace chains, hammers, screws and door
hinges. The amendment was defeated,
% to 81.
81 see that the Republican party is
now reunitel." said Mr. Bailey when
| the vote was announced land I ask
unanimous consent that on Monday
next q vote may be taken on the in
come tax amendment"
| Mr.. Nelson of Minnesota objected to
| Mr.. Bailey's request. saying he opposed
an income tax in the tariff bill unless
it was necessary for revenue purposes