Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-06
TARIFF REFORM PROSPECTS,

The senate will to-day proceed with
the consideration of it's tariff bill. The
measure will be discussed from day to
day by sections, amendments to be
voted on in their order as offered. The
intention is to bring the bill to a final
vote before the holidays, and it is
thought this can be done. It can be if
the belief that the democrats will offer
little obstruction is verified, and there
appears good reason to expect that it
will be. The democrats ia the senate
are not manifesting an obstinate
disposition. They will doubtless have
numerous amendments to offer as
the consideration of the senate bill
advances, partly with reference to
claiming part OF the credit for their
party should the measure finally be-
come law, and it is not doubted that
the republicans will make some con-
cessions to them, but the indications
are that there will be no concerted plan
of obstruction on the part Of the senate
democrats, aud that they will not be un-
willing to let the bill go to the house
before the holiday recess.
AS to the fate of the measure in the
house, provided certain changes are
made in it, the outlook appears also to
be favorable. One of the proposed
changes is modification of the sugar
schedule, by which the reduc-
tion of revenue from that source
would not be SO large as contem-
plated by the bill as it now
stands. The senate measure pro-
vided for u revision of the sugar duties
which would cut down the revenue
about twenty-eight million dollars,
while the house bill would reduce the
revenue only about eleven million.
This feature of the latter measure is
chiefly Objectionable as being favorable
to the trust, and it is to be supposed
that no considerable number of demo-
Gratis will oppose change that would
get rid of this objection and effect re-
duction of the revenue from sugar of
eighteen or twenty million dollars. 1t
is thought also that if the senate shall
propose the repeal OF the entire tobacco
tax its measure will obtain the support of
anumber of democrats in the house, par
ticularly those from states whose tobacco
interests are extensive. Even Mr..
Mills Is said to entertain this view. In
the event that the senate bill receives
the full support of the republicans in
the house, but few changes from the
democrats would be necessary to pass it
in that body, and the chances of secur-
tnr 10 ha
good.
While ii is to be expected that the
large majority of the democrats in the
house will refuse to recede from the
policy of tariff revision expressed in
their bill, for one reason, if for no
fession Of the fault OF that measure
and a qualification OF the party,
it may reasonably be supposed that
there are others with whom suoh a con-
sideration wall have little force now
that the necessity OF party unity is less
pressing. 1t required vigorous appli-
cation of the party lash to secure the
which 1t was passed, and some OF those
whom the political exigency forced to
accept this measure may readily justify
themselves now, after the absolution OF
defeat, in supporting compromise that
will carry tariff revision considerable
step forward, reduce the revenues of
the government to safe extent, and
stop the accumulation of dangerous
and demoralizing surplus. Such demo-
Gratis. undoubtedly, there are in con-