The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-27
RADICALS IN A CORNER.
CLEVELAND COMPELS THEM TO
MEET THE TARIFF ISSUE.

w
Touch the Subject 49, The Decision
Reached by the Senators Over the
Champagne Supper.
WASHINGTON, July 26-If the repub-
ucan senators had allowed congress to ad-
iourn without at least attempting to pass a
ak reduction bill, President Cleveland
would at once have called an extra session
of congress and would have sent to it a
message on the duty of tax reduction and
tariff reform even more emphatic, if posi-
BILE, than that which he sent to congress in
December last. This would have exhibited
the anxiety of the democrats to reduce tax
alton and abolish the surplus, and the
anxiety of the republicans to have both left
as they are in sharp contrast TIE popular
feeling which it would have aroused might
have compelled the republican senate to
pass the Mills bill.
THE EFFECT.
1t was this line Of probabilities that
brought about the determination OF the SEN
ate republicans in caucus last night to try
to pass a substitute for the Mills bill
through the senate, no matter how much
time it took before adjourning. The sena-
tors present were by no means unanimous
at the outset. They were not even harmo-
nious. Some of them thought that the re-
pul licans OF the senate were in a better po-
stion now than they could possibly put
themselves in by trying to pass bill criti-
cizing the Mills bill IF we try to frame
and pass bill, they said, I'VE shall show
our differences and SO weaken ourselves be-
fore the country. We all unite in attacking
the Mills bill, but we cannot all unite in
passing a bill of our own"
ALDRICH GAVE THE TIP.
The policy of mastery inactivity might
even have prevailed had it not been tnat
one senator, said to be Mr.. Aldrich of
Rhode Island, announced that the President
would call an extra session il congress ad-
Journed without action, and cOndemning
the republican senate, by contrast with the
democratic house, put them in a most awk-
wark posltlOn-one, too, In which they
would have to do hurriedly what they now
have the opportunity of doing
deliberately. This speech made the caucus
unanimous for action, the only question re-
naming being as to the provisions of the
bill TO be reported, and it had the same
effect to-day upon those senators who were
not present last night and who might other
wise have refused to act as the caucus de-
termined.
ANOTHER REASON.
The other reason which controlled the
caucus, was the demand from the west and
northwest for tax reduction and tariff re-
form. Mr.. Allison SCI this forth pointedly
by showing how the absence of any action
by the republican senate would give the
democrats the support of thousands of voters
desiring tax reduction just because the
Mills bill was the only attempt at tax re-
ductlon. 1t was represented also to the
caucus that the republican party in con-
gress ought to put forward counter plan
OF tax reduction for its effect in the doubt
fu states. The danger of the passage of
the Mills bill by republican detection in the
senate was laughed at, but it was insisted
that the republicans should be given some
other tax reduction bill 10 vote for.
DISCUSSED OVER CHAMPAGNE.
Finally, the caucus about supper time de-
clded that a complete substitute for the
Mills bill should be reported and passed,
and then discussed the provisions it should
contain over the champagne supper, which
Senator Evarts had provided There was
general agreement that the tobacco tax
reduction schedule of the Mills bill should
be stolen bodily, and that to that should be
added the repeal of the taxes on fruit spir-
Its and on alcohol used in the arts.
cut of 90 per cent. upon rice was also
quickly agreed to. The 50 per cent. cut on
sugar, on which many of the senators next
insisted, met with opposition from Mr.
Plumb in the interest of the sorghum
growers of Kansas.
KANSAS TO BE CARED FOR.
He said the Mills bill cut was too great,
insisted that the sorghum interest was as
much .entltled to protection as .any other,
and wound up by saying tlat if the sugar
uuty was cut down one half, Kansas
would have to have free lumber and free
wire rods for barbed fences by way of COM
penSatlon. The others finally soothed him
with the assurance that Kansas would be
cared for. The 80 per cont. sugar cut Will be
MADE, but some system of bounties will be
attempted
Messrs. Allison and Aldrich had the draft
OF the bill they have been preparing pres
ent, and they went over it with the Others
pointing out how there we're no radical
changes proposed in any of the tariff sched-
ule', although many reductions and in
creases were made, and long addition to
lhe Tree list contemplated.
SOME OF THE ITEMS OMITTED.
Neither lumber nor salt nor wool appeared
nor viii appear on this free list, which is
chieiy made up of things not produced in
ths country. Throughout this bill was
sHowh to be as protective as the present
arm and III places more SO. The duties on
N"fsted for example are raised to the
same point as the duties on woolens.
Inc senator's who have been preparing
y"lS bill claim that it will make a much
iiarSer reduction in revenue than the Mills
G!iL They assert that the latter would re-
ouce the revenue but 10000, ,000 while
sntlr Dill will when completed, reduce the
revenue about SIS, 600 900.
TOLD TO GO AHEAD.
Ihe caucus instructed them to go right
On and complete the bill. They hope to
lave II ready to report TO the full commit
'ee on finance next week.
me democrat, in that committee will
compel thorough discussion and finally a
In MAJ vote on substituting the republican
olI Tor the Mills bill. Finally the demo-
O'alS VIII submit the Mills bin as a minor
.s report. 1t will Le late in August before
-o ulu comes out of committee aud well
5g,U September when it is passed. The
IIu'e OF adjournment is now SET variously
0el"een Sept II and Oct l.
KEEPING IT SECRET
Lhe me tariff subcommittee is striving TO
80 ~ details of its bill secret, and is
,onSurably successful thus far The sena-
or course have access to il but they
i've NOT generally ayaied themselve, OF
g privilege. While the schedules Of the
oI olli are pract cally in shape they are
eI' subject 10 revision and change IN the
T-H-'otumittee The frea list now contains