The morning news., 1888-05-17

agreement has been reached by
the Republicans, and there appears to be a
wide difference Of opinion upon the subject.
Some members believe that the Mills bill
can be easily beaten in its present shape,
while others, and notably part of the New
York contingent, hold that they are in duty
bound to use every effort to defeat
the Mills BILL and that this
can be effectually done only
by riddling it with amendments. Promi-
nent Republican Senators are being con-
suited almost every day by the Republican
leaders in the House. Some OF them pro-
fess to believe that Mr.. Mills was prompted
to make his proposition through fear that
his party would disrupt and be led of by
amendments offered by the Republicans.
MR.. MILLS NOT FRIGHTENED.
Mr.. Mills himself says he has no fear on
that score. He says he made the offer to
save the bill from being drawn into the
whirl pool of the five-minute debate, which
might hold it in its grasp indefinitely. He
IS confident that his party can be
held together on the principles under
which the bill was constructed, and that all
of Its vital features can be preserved,
although amendments of minor Importance
about which he cares little, may be made
1t appears that the proposition TO take the
test vote without consideration OF the
amendments was made by the Democrats as
a condition to granting extension of the
general debate. At the time the Republi-
can members OF the Ways and Means Com
nittee declined to give an immediate
answer but took it under consideration.
Mr.. Mills expects the offer to be rejected
but il may be noted that the canvass which
is going on has revealed the fact that the
proposition is acceptable to considerable
number of the Republicans.
Senator Morrill, has appointed the follow
ing subcommittee of the Senate Committee
on Finance to consider the tariff and
revenue subjoots: Messrs. Allison, Aldrich,
Hiscock, Beck aud Harris.
THE REPUBLICANS ACCEPT.
WASHINGTON, May 1G, IL P. M.-The
Republican leaders in the House had
a conference tonight after informal confer
ences with the Republican Senator's to-day
about tue proposition made by Chairman
Mills some time ago to omit the five minute
debate and come to a vote directly upon the
tariff bill al the close of the general debate.
Tho Repuhlcan lenders say that they
doterniued to accept the proposition. The
vote. il TIL. agreement Is made, is likely to
be taken next week. Under the Mills propo-
sition, it will be remembered, the Republic
ans must prepare a substitute for the Mills
BILL which they will propose as such.
Upon this the vote will first be taken.
If this is defeated, the vote will
be taken on the Mills bill. The Republican
leaders have hitherto been unwilling to
make the agreement, because, first, they
could not agree upon a bill; and,
second, they could not carry it in
the House if they did. They, therefore,
had no other purpose than delay, but
within the past twenty-four hours they
had come to see that this position is an un-
tenable one. They will therefore endeavor
to unite the Republicans and Randallites
on the bill framed by MesSrs. Reed, McKin-
ley and Burrows, amended as may seem
necessary. The Democrats are confident of
success.