Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-03
No TARIFF COMPROMISE.
MIR. MORRISON AND THE WOOL
MEN FAIL TO AGREE.

The Latter Wanted the Whole Hog or
None, and the RefOrmers Couldn't See
1.-THE Bill Must Now Stand on Its
Merits = Defeat Predicted-Mr. Con-
verse to Offer Substitute for the Meas
ure.
WASHINGTON, May 2.-For some days
there has been talk of a compromise be-
tween the friends of the Morrison tariff
bill and its opponents in the Democratic
party, by which. in view of certain con-
cessions to be made to the wool interests,
the vote of the wool men should be given
in favor of an amended Morrison bill. 1t
is understood tonight that this proposed
compromise has fallen through, and that
the Morrison bill must take it's chances
on its own merits. AS nearly as can be
learned, the failure of the talked of COM
promise was due to the impOssi-
bility of recOnciling the demands of
the wool men with the concessions which
the friends of the Morrison bill were will
ing to make. The latter, it is understood,
approached the subject of concession
some what in this wise: Wool, they said,
had suffered reduction of about Is per
cent. by the tariff act of 1888, and there
would be some reason for complaint of
unfair discrimination against this partic-
ular Interest if it should be included in
the further reduction of 30 per cent. pro-
posed by the Morrison bill. If they could
see their way clear to exempt wool from
the operation Of this fnrther reduction.
leaving the rates on it reduced Is per
cent. below those of 1867, would the wool
men vote for the Morrison bill amended
in this manner?
WHOLE HOG OR NONE.
To this proposition it is understood that
the latter replied that they were not will
ing to submit to one wrong for the sake of
avoiding a greater one. They would not
admit by voting tor the bill thus amended
that the wrong committed in 1888 was
right. They would vote for the Morrison
bill if the rates of 1867 on wool were re-
stored. Otherwise they proposed that
every tub should stand on its own bottom,
and said that the friends of the Morrison
bill would have to get along without them.
The matter came to a decisive point to-
day when Mr.. .Geddes, of Ohio, representing
the wool interests, went to see Mr.. Nor
rison and laid the ultimatum of his faq-
ion before him. Mr.. Morrison informed
him that the House had voted down
the proposition TO restore the old rates on
wool and that he could not consent to
such proposition, and, he added, he was
doubtful even whether he could entertain
proposition to exempt wool from the 20
per cent. nOrlZ0nJal reduction proposed
in his bill. Mr.. Hurd, of Ohio, and an
other member of the Ways and Means
Committee, who were present at this con-
ference, if such it may be called, agreed
with Mr.. Morrison and expressed similar
opinions.
DEFEAT PREDICTED.
In view Of this failure to effect COM
promise the Democratic opponents of the
Dill are asserting tonight their opinion
that the Morrison bill will be defeated by
the striking out of the enacting clause
The programme with regard to the
method of defeating the bill has.
however, been changed, and instead
of the motion to strike out coming
from the Republican side il will be
made by Democrat, probably either by
Mr.. Eaton, of Connecticut, or Mr.. Con-
verse, of Ohio. 1t is thought that the
movement in opposition to the bill will be
strengthened by such a course, and the
Republican opponents of the measure
with this in view, Will waive the oppor-
tunlty OF making political capital which
taking the lead in opposition to the bill
would give them.
The friends of the Morrison bill. on the
other hand, say that the motion to strike
out the enacting clause, if made, will be
defeated; and that the bill, with some
amendments perhaps, but practically
with all its present features retained, will
pass the House. Some of them think that
Mr.. Morrison has made a mistake in clos
ing the general debate on the bill so soon.
as, in their opinion, the debate gains
friends for the measure every day that it
runs.