Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-13
DEMAND IN SENATE
FOR TAX ON WHEAT
Republicans Protest Placing
NorthWest's Staple on
the Free List.
MAJORITY VOTE AGAINST
INCREASING CORN DUTY
Charge Made That Rice Is Protected
in Interest Of Southern
Planters.

Consideration of the agricultural sched-
ule was resumed this afternoon, when
the Senate took up the tariff bill. Sena-
tor Gronnas amendment to increase the
duty OF 6 cents bushel on corn to 10
cents was first taken up. 1t was re-
jected.
Senator Gronna vigorously protested
against placing wheat on the free list. He
declared there had appeared before the
Senate finance committee a delegation of
North Dakota citizens selected by all the
farmers to protest against the free-listng
Of agricultural products. This delegation
contained stanch democrats as well as
republicans and progressiyes.
Discussing the proposed countervaiiing
duty of 10 cents a bushel on wheat. Sem
ator Gronna said he believed Canada
would take advantage of the invitation
extended to enter the American market
by placing her wheat and products of
wheat on the free list. He hoped he was
mistaken as to that. but at any rate,
it was not a wise policy for the United
States to leave it to any foreign country
to decide what the tariff rates shall be
in our country.
Favors House Provision.
Il believe the finance committee should
have accepted the House provision of
10 cents a bushel on wheat" said Sena-
tor Gronna, land placed compensatory
duty on products of wheat"
Senator Gronna several days ago pro-
posed an amendment to make the duty
on wheat IL cents bushel. He said
he intended to modify 1t as the result
Of a conference with Senator La Fol
lette, relating to the differences in cost
- In
Canada. Senator La Toilette said that
he felt that the protection ought not
be taken from the farmer, and that he
found a difference in the cost, per
bushel. of wheat in the north central
west and Canada of cents per bushel.
The cost in this country was SO cents
per bushel. and in Manitoba 81 cents.
In general, however, the senator said,
the cost Of production in this country
was practically on a level with the
section. he said. needed protection be-
cause it Is brought directly into COM
petition with the Manitoba wheat.
Argentine Cost 81 Cents.
The cost Of producing wheat In Ar
gentine, Senator La Toilette said. was
81 cents a bushel. The duty of cents
on oats in the bill. he said. measured
almost exactly the difference In cost
of production in this and competing
countries.
The proposed duty of cent on rice.
Senator Bristow said. represented ~
per cent reduction. and he asked the rea-
son. Senator Williams said that the
House committee had fixed the rate. be-
lieving that the industry could survive
under a 80 per cent reduction. and that
sufficient.
1t was not on the free list, he said, be-
cause it was not regarded as basic
food product for the American people.
Senator Penrose suggested that another
reason it was not put on the free list
was that 1t was a product Of the south.
Senator Williams asserted that the Penn
sylvania senator was often inclined to
be facetiOus. Mr.. Penrose insisted that
he was serious and that he was as
sippi making protection argument for
rice
To Press Tobacco Amendment.
IF the American people are in earn
est, and / believe they are, and il the
Senate is in earnest. and 1t ought to be.
it ought not to permit caucus to re-
strain a senator from voting for an
amendment which will strike at a mo-
nopoly which has set at defiance the
decree of the supreme Court" said
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska yes
terday afternoon during the tariff de-
bate. He gave notice that he would
press his amendment for graduated
tobacco tax on production and that he
would discuss the propr!ety OF a
caucus putting restraint upon members
In voting their real opinion on the moor
of the Senate"
Senator Hitchcock left the democratic
caucus while 1T had before 1t the tariff
bill. because he could not get the adop-
expected that the discussion of caucus
rule will have large significance In the
Senate. since it appears certain that
only by caucus rule can currency
bill be put through that body.
Senator Hitchcock declared that when
the bill came into the Senate from the
committee on the whole he would of
fer his tobacco amendment for action.
He made his statement just after
Chairman Simmons of the finance COM
mittee had completed the reading of
a table showing that the production of
tobacco was widespread in this coun
try and not confined to any one section.
Tobacco Not Widespread Industry.
81 propose to show that the manufac-
ture of tobacco is not widespread" said
Senator Hitchcock, but that four COM
panies, still dominated by the same brain
which controlled them before the Supreme
Court dissolved the now pIOQuce
n per cent Of the manufactured tobacco.
30 ner cent of the cigars and So per cent
of the cigarettes. Instead of the trust
being dissolved, it's business has in
creased.
senator Hitchcock referred to the re-
cent death of Anthony N. Brady. one of
the defendants in the suit brought by
the government against the tobacco trust
He said that Brady had died worth more
money than j. p. Morgan. and that since
the alleged dissolution OF the trust his
holdings had increased in value enor-
mously.
win the tariff bill yesterday. disposing
cf fine metal schedule and OF the tobacco
schedule. and starting on the agricultural
schedule. >,
30 The finance committee placing cattle
On the free list was sustained. Senator
Tho-nton Of Louisiana, democrat. voted
with the republicans against free-listing
caftJe Senator Gronna Of North Da
kota Offered an amendment placing a
atty az 81. 80 or cattle less than year
o,S a. IN cattle valued at not more than
si4 head. and 20 per cent ad valorem
On cattle valued az more than $14 a head.
This was defeated.