Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-03-05
cess md AakOtaial,
THE MILLS TARIFF BILL.
II WILL MEET WITH BITTER oPPos;,
TON IN THE HOUSE.

HuWHTf.
Southern Mon Note the Omission Of In
formal Revenue Reduction = The Wool
Men and the Sugar Men Dissatisfied |
Randall VIII Fight.
WASHINGTON, March 3.--The Mills tar
if bill was naturally a subject OF consid-
cradle discussion at the capital. A good
many congressman declined to talk about
its merits or dement's. They had not
read 1t critically, and in comparison with
existing tariff schedules, and iii order to
discuss it ~inte1ligently wanted more time
In which TO compare it with existing
laws, to understand many of the proposed
changes. One of the general criticisms
passed by Democratic congressman from
the southern states, is OF the omission of
any Internal revenue reduction. They
say the people in the tobacco producing
states are more interested in the repeal of
the tobacco tax than in tariff reduction.
These congressman do not talk as though
they were willing to postpone considera-
ton of the question until after the revis-'
ion of tariff is attended to, and If the
ways and means committee do not soon
bring in a tobacco tax reduction bill, they
will no doubt propose it as M amend
ment to the tariff bill. Mr.. Randall, 1t is
understood, has q measure OF his own
which emhodies a plan for considerable
internal revenue tax reduction, and with
which he will antagonize the Mills bill.
Ohio Democratic congressman are slow
in criticising the Mills bill, though in q
general way, they all deprecate the free
wool clause. Some of them will fight
the bill as long as that clause is in it.
The Democratic members of the ways
and means committee, and most of the
members of their party, look on the meas
IRE MS wise and proper, and express the
opinion that it cannot he defeated, and
that it will receive the approval of q good
majority of the people at large. The Re-
publican members of the committee,
Messrs. Kelly, Reed, Brown, Mckinley
and Burrows, and II majority of their
party express a contrary opinion. The
measure receives their unqualified CON
domination, and they are prompt to de-
clare that 1T can never pass the house in
its present form. There is an air of I'M
easiness observable on both sides, and
members are trying to ascertain just
how the colleagues will stand in the i'm
pending contest in the house. The Star,
commenting on the situation says:
1.-THE key to the situation lies in the
hands of q small minority in either party.
1t may be accepted as certain that Mr..
Randall and some of his former followers
will fight the measure with determine
ton. How strong Mr.. Randall's follow
ing will be, is yet to be learned. The
greatest friction within the Democratic
party will be, of course, over the PROPOSE
ton to put wool on the free list, and the
sugar item is another element of discord.
The wool men and che sugar men are
greatly dissatisfied with the condition in
which they find these products in the bill.
The party line is sure to be broken on
these questions, though it is by no means
certain that all those who are dissatisfied
by the treatment Of these industries
would vote against the bill, when brought
to final action, because these items were
SILL retained. Their efforts will be to
have them stricken from the bill. Fall
Ing IN. this, they are not sure themselves,
probably, how tbey would act. The com
mittee on ways and means have con-
clnded at each btep how much each item
would strengthen or weaken the measure,
and they have attempted to offer COM
pensaticn or other particulars for the OBJ
jections certain features afoused. They
calculate upon the reduction Of the duty
en WOODEN fabrics, which they claim will
reduce their cost correspondingly to the
consumer, to more than compensate the
farmer for the loss OF protection on wool.
The loss OF protection On wool amounts,
according to this calculation, to ST.
DOC, 000i the saving on clothing to Sill
000,0 GOO. The sugar men are given their
choice between the free sugar the other
parry would offer, and e reduction of 90
per 9 az offered by this bin. Getting
the sense of the house as well as they
lave been able to, the Democrats of the
committee express the opinion that they
will have a fairly good majority for the
measure after it has passed through d
very fierce fight. That the fight will be
fierce, there Is no room for doubt. The
majority of the committee expect to get
the bill before the house in about ten
days. Meanwhile, the internal revenue
features will have been considered, and
the two will go I'm together, either as two
propositions or combined, and which
method Will be adopted has not yes been
decided. There will probably be a eau
Gus up in the house for the purpose of
discussing the measure and ascertaining
with some degree of certainty just how
they stand. Such a caucu would be for
counsel. There are SO many items in the
bill operating upon one another that
members require to study the bill with
great attention before they can determ-
inc just how they do stand.nn
EAS@frsH 49, . - 49,