Mr. EDMUNDS. There ought to be no feeling about it, because the committee are not necessarily infallible. If the committee were, we might as well dispense with the rest of the Senate. I know it is sometimes said, “What is the use of having a committee unless you follow their report?' I reply by saying, what is the use of having a Senate unless they can review the report of the committee? I think we had better all dismiss any feeling on this subject, because this subject of basswood and whitewood, and so on, is not a very exciting subject, [laughter] and proceed to consider for a moment, with candor" and without any feeling, the precise point which is under consideration. This classification leaves hemlock iust as it stood; and we may dismiss that leaves pine just where it stood. There is no occasion to have any quarrel about that. It increases the duty on spruce and basswood 50 cents per 1,000 feet. Now, I assert (and if I am incorrect I call upon the honorable chairman of the committee to correct me) that the market price, in every place where the 2 articles are sold of spruce above hemlock is greater than the difference which is here made.; is a higher class lumber. It is used generally for different purposes: for floors, for the finishing of the poorer classes of houses; whereas hemlock is not generally. In addition it may be said that many varieties of basswood are used for the finer descriptions of carria making; also in some degree for interior fin ishing. It can therefore justly bear a higher rate of duty. I am not speaking in the special interest of my constituents when I venture to make the suggestion, but in the interest of the revenue and in the interest of the country. There is no occasion, therefore, for any feeling upon this subject at all. With the consent of the Senate, in order to expedite proceedings, I will withdraw my call for the yeas&nays, in the hope that upon a division, if one should be demanded, Senators will vote one way or another so as to produce a quorum.