The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-11
BANDS Cheap Silver Dollar Measure 10
Be Discussed Probably Next Week.
Investigation Of the Pension Bureau Ordered
Conference with Canadians on Reciprocity
The Interstate Commerce Law.
ANOTHER WOOL BILL.

springer's First Measure Made the Basis OF
New One with Lower Duties
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.-There has been o
substantial agreement reached by the wool
and wooden special committee OF the DEM
ocratic majority of the House committee on
ways and means on the provisions of the
wool bill This special committee, by
agreement among the Democratic men,
bers, was charged with the duty of consid-
ering the Springer wool bill. drafting any
proposed notifications, and gathering
special information relating TO wool grow
ing and woolen manufactures. Its men,
bers have agreed upon the changes in
duties they will recommend. and O confer
ence of the Democratic members of the COM
mittee has been called for tomorrow morn
ing. at which the matter will be formally
considered. As the special committee num-
bers FIVE out of the ten Democratic men,
bers of tho ways and means committee, 10
is believed that the agreement reached en-
bodies the provisions of the free-wool bill
which tho ways and means committee will
recommend to the House for passage. The
changes to be made In the bill as intoduced
by Mr.. Springer have not yet been formally
drafted. and it will be some days before
the DILL is put in shape.
Very substantial reductions have been
made in the duties on wooden manufact ures
proposed by the bill as introduced by Dir.
Springer. The ad valorem duties on woolen
manufactures of all kinds, including cloths.
dress goods. carpets and all other woolen
articles, imposed under the Mckinley law,
and which rates were left unchanged by
the Springer bill. have been cut down
wherever in excess of 40 per cent, and tho
average rate of duty proposed by the new
bill on wooden manufactures is about per
cent. below the uniform rate of 40 per
cent. fixed by the Mills bill. Under the
agreement reached wool 10 made free, as
proposed by the Springer bill. All duties
on wooleD manufactures where 40 per cent.
or less under the present law are left un-
changed; where more than 40 per cent. they
are reduced TO that rate. so that no woolen
duties will be higher than the Mills rate.
and those on the cheaper grades of goods
will be less. Under the Mckinley law
duties range from 30 20 GO per cent. go that
there Ia a reduction of 20 per cent made
from the highest rate now imposed, and
the average rate IL brought down 20
about So per cent. On shoddies and waste
| the agreement adopts tho Springer rate
| of 20 per cent, against present rate OF 30
cents per pound. All com pcDsatory duties,
| of course. are taken off as raw wool 10 made
| free, so that the present per pound and per
| yard duties WILL be abolished If the bill be-
| comes law, and only ad valorem duties
retained.
Members of the committee say that the
wool bill Will be the principal measure re-
ported from the committee. and that an
| examination of its provisions. when FORM
| ally announced. will show that not only
has mo backward step" been taken IN the
| direction of tariff reform, but that a step
| in advance has been taken of considerable
| Importance, and that on the wool schedule
| regarded by all tariff reformers as the key
| 10 the protective tariff system. reductions
are made greater than those proposed by
| the Democrats two years ago. A careful
| consideration of the bill. they believe. Ill
show that 1t is proposed TO make sub
| stantial attack on tho tariff. and et the
same time one which may have fair show
| of passage through the Senate and OF be-
| coming q law.