New-York tribune., 1884-03-23
A DEMOCRATIC ARMISTICE.
ONE SIDE AFRAID, THE OTHER DAREs NOT.
PRIVATE THREATS AND PUBLIC CoMPLIsANCE-A
swINDLE IN THE WOOL SCHEDULE.
tRY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.

lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, March 22.-The decentralization IN
the Democratic ranks in the House has reacheda
point where neither of the hostile factions can
boast of an advantage over the other, and where
both hesitate to come to blows. The making of wry
faces, the fourishng of shillelahs and IL"
using of bad language IN private continue,
70 be sure, but public demonstrations are
carefully avoided. The emocratic opponents
of the Morrison bill are divided in opinion as to
whether or not they ought TO attend the caucus at
all and some of them are disposed to criticise nm
fayoraby the action of Messrs. Curtin and Geddes,
in signing the caucus call, both those Representa-
tiyes being opposed to the Morrison bill
1t is understood that they did so because the call
is in the usual form and does not specify that the
caucus IS to be for the consideration OF
the tariff bill. Everybody knows, however,
that il is for that purpose. good many Demo-
Gratis, including friends as well as opponents OF
the bill complain because a caucus was not called
earlier They say that it should have been held
before the bill was placed on the files of the
House and that il is unreasonable to attempt to
bind 100 Representatives by the act of eight of
their number who happened to be members OF the
Ways and Means Committee.
The opponents ofthe bill denounce Henry Waiter
son as "a party wrecker" and apply other oppro-
rous eplthets to him. They also declare that If his
published utterances are by authority, there IS no
hope of preventing split in the Democratic ranks.
THE TARIFF DEMOCRATS NOT TO BE PLACArED.
The bids offered 10 secure the votes of discon-
tented Democrats for the Morrison bill do not
seem to accomplish the desired object. An
Ohio Democrat said to-day that the
proposition to restore the wool tarih OF
1867 is acceptable TO him. but that he could never
consent TO the pr0visO that there shall he stimuli
taneous reduction of 20 per cent. California
Democrat, who had been offered the wool proposl-
ton and the restoration of lumber to the dutable
list If he would Withdraw his opposition. declared
that even with these changes he could not vote Tor
the measure.
swINDIING TIE OHIO wOoI-GRoWERs
Attention is called to the fact that if the new
proposition as to the wool duty shall be adopted,
the rates on all wool entered at price
exceeding 80 cents and not exceeding 80 cents per
pound will be reduced 21O cents per pound below
the rates under the present tariff. But the ONO
Democrats have promised the wool growers that m
stead of being reduced 2-1O cents per pound, the
present rates shall be increased cents per
bound. The proposed amendment of the Nor
rison bill would increase by II small fraction
of a cent per pound the duty on wool
worth 80 cents or less per pound. and on wool
worth more than 30 cents per pound. large pro
portion of the wool imp rted is valned at above 80
cents and not exceeding 81 cents per pound anu OF
course that proportion would increase wonderfuliy
if the duty on wool of that value should be reduced
2-1O cents, while the duty on wool worth more
than 32 cents was increased, however slightly. In
other words the prOpOsltl IN would olfef premium
ON fraudulent invoices and undervaluations.