New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-04
FIXING UP THE MILLS BILL.
THE CAUCUS WILL REPAIR II NEXT WEEK


ANYTHING TO MAKE THE BILL GOA LONG DIS
CUSTOM IN rROsPEcT-cOSTIyUIya TIE
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
| fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIDUSE.1
WASHINGTON, May 3.-It seems to be settled
that the Dark Lantern" bill is to be taken into
Democratic caucus for repairs next Thursday.
The debate has already caused signs Of structural
weakness" in the measure, and seams have opened
and leaks appeared here and there to such an
extent that Skipper Mills and his crew begin to
fear that the craft may not be able to withstand
the buffettings which it must encounter in the
chopping seas Of debate and amendment under the
dve-hinute rule The builders Of the ship pro-
pose to ask the Democratic caucus TO bring its
assembled wisdom to bear in applying the oakum
and pitch and in painting tho hull SO that it will
not resemble quite so closely British free-tnde
craft sailing under false colors. The caucus bids
fair to be lively and merry one. Each member
is to be graciously permitted to offer any amend.
ment or amendments he may desire. All are to be
voted on by the caucus, and such only as are ap-
proved by q majority of this Democratic San
hedrim are to be proposed in the Committee Of the
| Whole.
or course, the members of the caucus are ex,
pected TO bind themselves to adhere to this policy
and TO vote against all amendments offered By
| Republicans. Ii Mr.. Seney or Mr.. Wilkins shall
| offer an amendment TO restore wool to the dutable
list and the caucus shall reject it, why the Messrs
Seney and Wilkins and every other Democrat who
is opposed to free wool must support it, for there
| is no probability whatever that the Democratic
caucus will abandon the provisions which Presi-
dent Cleveland advocates in his message. He has
repeatedly said that it would be better for
no bill to pass the House than for q bill
to pass without free wool The sugar question
is another one which is giving the friends of the
full that the dicker that they have arranged with
the Dark Lantern" confcderates will not be sus
| Al. IL. L.
These are good many Democrats who, if brought
face to face with the proposition to reduce the
sugar duties twice as much as the bill proposes
would not dare to vote IN the negative.
Another object Of the caucus will be To devise
some means, II practicable to insure FINAL vote
on the bill in the House before the Democratic
National Convention, Il every day be devoted
minute rule cannot begin until May a. or course
it is folly to talk of anything like fair consdera
tion Of tho details Of such measure in three
minority in the House pretended to be acting in the
utmost good faith. more than that length Of time
was consumed in the consideration Of three dutia-
BILE schedules Of the tariff, whereas IN this case
twelve schedules are to be considered aside from
the Internal Revenue provisions Of the BILL and
the administrative clauses, which are very vo9min-
Premier Mills and his followers may cOncoct
they will not be able to railroad" the bill through
the House before June 5.
MR. WILSON NOT WELL UP ON DATES
The debate resumed to-day by Mr. Wilson,
Of West Virginia, who spoke for two hours in
support of the measure Mr. Wilson is man Of
liberal culture, but until this Congress he has
never served on the Ways and Means Commit
tee. He prefers not to be called free trader
and that the Dark Lantern bill shall not De
called free-trade measure. but his speech to-day
q free-trade argument throughout, ana ne
more than once adv erted to the glorious poncy
Of Great Britain. Mr.. Wilson was elected to the
XLIXth Congress by a majority of more than
1
paramount question in bis district he was returned
by slim plurality of 80 votes over MS Repub-
lcan competitor and he received VI votes less
than majority. In his speech to-day he mad
vertently sprung q neat trap on himself In the
debate yesterday Mr.. Allen, of Massachusetts,. who
Has born and raised in Lowell and represents
condition Of the manufacturing population IN his
district. To-day Mr.. Wilson said he desired to
show what the condition Of the factory operatives
in Lowell was under The Walker tariff OF 1916
He then read with much JUNCTION a passage from
DiclSenss American Notes." describing the cheer;
full condition Of the women and girls employed
In the cotton factories at Lowell at the time OF
his visit. Then he took up another Englsh au-
thority from which be read free-trade escrptlon
OF the condition Of the workmen In the LoWen
factories under the present tariff law,
Look this picture under the Walker free
trade tariff of SAC and then on this picture
under the protection tariff OF 1885, gleeiuily
exclaimed Mr.. Wilson, holding his authorities aloft
Mr. Allen was ready to vcuch for the incorrect
fortunately recognized Henry Cabot Lodge, who
mildly asked: Did the gentleman say that MIR:
DickenS's description applied to the condition OF
operatives in Lowell under the Walker tariff OF
1S46?" Yes" responded Wilson. Well
continued Mr. Lodge, i only wish to remark
that Dickens's American Notes were published
in 1912, four years before the enactment OF the
free trade tariff of 846 and these observations
apply to the preceding year"
For time Wilson was unable to rally, but he
did SO and produced copy of Mr.. Lodges " Life
of Alexander Hamilton" from which he quoted
Mr.. Lodge saying that if Hamilton were living
now he would be a moderate protectlonlst not
facturers reap all the profits but TO the extent
Of protecting American labor and American capital
invested in manufacturing industries, or course;
the Democrats applalded Wilson TO the echo ana
called out q convert q convert"
Mr.. Lodge was equal to the occasion. lie arose,
and asked Wilson II he would give him the date
1882. "Oh. that was before the tariff was revised
in 1892 said Mr.. Lodge, who was rewarded by
handsome applause on his own side.
Taken altogether Wilson's speech was the best
that has been made by any member Of the majority
Of the Ways and Means Committee: 1t was sx-
tremely vulnerable, and Mr. Reed. especially
listened to il with much apparent satisfaction.
Mr.. Dinglev followed in thoughtful and forcble
speech against the bill.
HOW THE STANDARD "TURNED ON THE SCREW
Washington, May 3.-whcn the House Committee
on Manufactures opened its session to-day, the chair
man said 1t the unders andng that Mr. flasg tho
attorney Of the Standard oil Company, would furnish
list Of the persons to whom the $70,o00ooo In trust
certificates had been issued in exchange for properties
turned over BY them TO the Standard Trust. MI.
Flagg said that he must respectfully decline TO comply
with tho Committees wishes, on the ground tnst ~
strictly . private matter George iuce' oh
Marietta Ohio, an oil reiner and producer ana an op.
ponent Of the Standard Oil Company testified tnst
had boon charged 80 cents per barrel on oil shpGa
from Macksburg to Marietta. while Standard ainlia
ton paid only is cents. subsequently the ra,o was
advanced s cents on witness and reduced GEMS on
his competitors shipments He produced stales,
mont showing the difference between the ratss charsed
the Standard and said that IL showed thar his raes Es
been advanced from 10 to lGO per cent, while IN.
Standards rates remained unchanged AS result OF
these and other Determinations In i've months wnoss
compelled to shut up fourteen out oil twenylour
agencies and quit supplying thirty OIL, OF ssven
three towns. Tho business was reduced In Voungg
about four-ffths. Tho witness was next eneSuoheu
TO the letter written by Chess, Carsy 70,
Standard affliaon, TO the Louisville ana Nash'nI'
Railroad, ending "Please turn on another screw re re