New-York tribune., 1888-03-22
TARIFF AND SURPLUS.
REPUBLICANS CONFER ON THE SUBJECT.
rrx PARTY MEMBERS cAN EASILY Aun.H oN
LINE OF pOLrcY-TuR "DARK-LANIEhN DILL"
rry rRLroxApn TO rnE TRIBUNAL

,.v~x ~vupwRs cAx EASILY AGREE ON A
LINE OF poLrcY-THk "DARK-LANTERN" BILL"
rsY rsLsoxAPH 10 rAs TRIBUNAL
wAaHrNcroS. March 2l.-An informal
conference ut which dozen or more ieaoing no,
publicans Of tho House werc present was heiu
Last night. Among the men present were seVerai
Of the Republican members OF Ways ana Meahs'
who discussed the situation Of the tariff question
The arbitrary and unprecedented action Oh 'he
majority was described. and 1T was determ'n.u
that there shall be full exposure OF u at 'ne
proper time. There was considerable talx VI ai
informal nature about the offering OF suos'i'u"
for the Free Trade BILL as well Us Tor tine nanuan
bill Among Republicans in the House the subject
of egislstion TO reduce the surplus Is matter OF
daily discussion. While variety OF Views 40
ex xpsrssed IL Il apparent that the Republicans VIII
be easily able TO agree not only on gehcrai @ nlio
Of pSSy but SsH & m reducs the 70 surplus
So far as o revision OF the iarin Is concerncu'
tho older and more experienced hepupncan mem Meln-
bers Of the House are OF the opinion that notnhg
can BE- done ct this session through tho instru-
mentality Of committee packed IN the lhteresb
Of free trade, and governed by man VINO Is
destitute of every element OF successful ieadcr
ship. Republicans oil say that the sprt ex-
hiblted by Premier" Mills and his Democratlc
associates in the preparation Of the socaled Iarin
and Internal Revenue bill clearly indicates the
impossibility of any tariff revision.
A good many men on both sides OF the House
feel that there Is not SO much demand for a
general revision of the tariff now as there Is Tor
legislation which shall reduce tho surplus revenue
On the Republican side there is q strong ana
growing feeling that the tax on distilled spirits
should be abolished and the Republican vote for
its abolition would be much stronger than Tor O
reduction to so cents per gallon AZ proposed IN
the Randall bill The abolition OF the tax on
alcohol used in manufactures and the nechanlo
arts is generally favored on the Republican sioe.
There 10 q strong sentiment shared by nearly
every Republican IN the House. In favor OF % tho
repeal. or o very large reduction OF the duties
on sugar. Many Republicans favor free sugar
with : compensatory bounty to American pro
ducers and point to France and Germany as eN-
amples Of the benecent effect Of bounty legislation
on that subject. Other Republicans, who are not
quite ready to advocate the policy OF bountes'
express 0 willingness to reduce the duty on sugar
SO low that it will yield annually, say
81 900 00O which revenue should be used to CON-
pcnsate domestic growers. AS to tobacco, ma
jority of the Republicans is inclined TO favor tne
retention Of small tax on cigars and cigarettes
for the sake of regulating the industry and meet
ing the demand Of organized labor.
The Ways and Means Committee held session
to-day which lasted ninety seconds. 10 appeared
that the Dark Lantern" report in favor OF the
Dark-Lantern" bill had not been completed.
When tho committee adjourned, Premier Mills
sub-bascment Of the Capitol and resumed work on
| the report. It was thought that by working all
night tonight they would be able to put the docu-
| mont IN such shape that II would bear PUBIC
| exhibition in the committee-rOom tomorrow: lt
is understood that members Of the minority OF the
committee will be permitted TO hear this report
| read before it Is submitted to the House.