The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-23
MILLS BILL HANGS FIRE
THE REPUBLICANS AFRAID TO
FACE THE MUSIC.

They Notify the Chairman That They
can't Accept the Proposition to
Come to Vote at Once-It is Not
Ant to Pass the House Before
July 15
WASHINGTON, May 22.-Although no
nositiye action has yet been taken by the
majority Of the Ways and Means Commit
tsa mon the amendments offered by Demo-
cratic members to the tariff bill, it is re-
norted by some of the Representatives
airectly interested in the woolen schedules
that they have been assured that by way of
a COMPROMISE the committee will accept
an amendment reducing the duty on woolen
manufactures from 40 per cent. fixed in the
hill to IS per cent. The members of tho
committee decline to indicate how they
will act upon the amendment which was
originally offered by Mr.. Grain, of Texas,
and nroposed to admit woolen manufactur-
ING machinery duty free and reduce the
tariff on woolen manufactures to % per
cent.
ACTION OF THE REPUBLICANS.
Chairman Mills was formally notified to-
| of the House tnat his proposition to take
an immediate vote upon the tariff bill and
unon Republican substitute for it would
not be accepted by the Republicans No
exclamation was given and none was needed
| The Republican managers, seeing that re-
fusal would put their side in an embarrass-
ing position, have tried hard to get their
followers to agree upon bill, but they
coud not bring their followers together
Neither free whisky bill nor free sugar
bill could command their united support.
THEY WERE AFRAID.
| As they could not unite on q substitute,
the first requisite for the agreement sug-
gested was lacking, but back of this was
the belief in the minds of the Republican
leaders that if they were ever brought to a
direct vote on the Mills bill any substitute
they could present would be defeated, and
the Mills bill would be passed. They saw
! that their only hope was in the chapter of
1 accidents and so they put their trust in
/ that Chairman Mills said to-day that the
/ Democrats of the Ways and Means Com
mttee would now go on and prepare a
report on the proposed amendments sub
mtted to them by the Democrats to be
made to the Democratic caucus. They
/ would give out no information about it in
4 advance, and so all rumors about its con-
tents might be promptly branded as false.
TO REPORT SATURDAY.
The committee will probably be ready to
report by Saturday night next. The con-
sideration of the bill under the five minute
rule Chairman Mills said to day, may not
begin until after the St. Louis convention.
So many members of the House are going
to it, either as delegates or advisers, that it
[may be thought best to delay the beginning
Of this struggle until they return. In that
event, inaSmuch as the Republicans will
largely desert when the Chicago conven-
ton meets, it may be the middle of July
when the v9te upon the bill is finally taken.
Then it viii go to the Senate. By that
time the Senate Finance COMMITTEES ought
to have information enough to dispose of it
Xpomptly, but then the speechmaking in
the Senate will come in to delay it. Finally
will come the contest in the conference
committee, and 81 it may be the middle of
august before the matter is finally disposed
of
A number of Republicans were in confer
ence this evening, at the residence of Repre-
sentative Hit, of Illinois, upon the ques-
ton of considering the Mills bill, under the
live minute rule. There was a general ex-
Change of views among those present as to
the character Of the bill and the amend
ments which may be offered. Nothing def
nlte was determined upon, but it seemed
10 be the general judgment that the bill
bAoud be considered item by item with
great taoroughneSS