The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-02
The New Tariff Bill Is Sure 10 Pass
the Senate.
THE POPULISYS ARE RECKONED ON
by the Democrats as Being Ready TO
Vote with Them on Tariff Biil--Pro-
ties Coming from All Directions
Very Rapidly.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2-The unfavorable
comments on the tariff revision bill rather
increases among conservative Democrats
The Republican opposition is natural. One
of these Democrats In his criticism said
that it was remarkable to him that bill
to provide needed revenue should make a
reduction Of s50, 0,000,000 at a time when
there already existed in the treasury a de-
felt of s5o,0O0,0O0
How this measure will relieve the pres
ent condition Of the public funds is re-
garded by those who have studied this
question as not exactly plain. What the
president and the secretary of the treasury
may recommend to meet this exigency has
not been disclosed; but 1t Is very certain
that revenue bill such as has just been
prepared is not calculated to swell the
revenues of the government while IL Is
under discussion.
II is admitted in treasury circles that
the proposed reduction OF duties will have
a depressing influence upon importations,
and that, until bill finally fixing the
rates OF duties shall have passed. there
will be decrease in customs receipts.
The duties during the past three months
have shown the effects OF the agitation of
this question. They have fallen TO but
little over ope-half what they should be.
The Democratic members of the commit
tee are already hearing from the districts
where the raw materials placed on the free
list-chiefy coal, iron ore and wool-are
produced. One Of the Democratic leaders
in West Virginia aud another In Alabama
informed member Of the committee that
II coal and iron ore were retained on the
free list it would destroy those important
industries in those states. The member
of the committee replied that he did not
believe anything of the sort; that all the
talk OF destroying industries was nonsense.
and tue committee did not intend to be
driven FROM their purpose by that sort Of
logic.
It's Prospects.
There has been much speculation as to
what action the senate will be likely to
take On the bill wAea 1t reaches that -beay.
The belief has been general that the SEN
ators from Maryland, West Virginia,
Louisiaua and in one or two other localities
where these industries ase important,
would antagonize this free raw material
feature of the bill and vote with the Re
publicans to defeat it. A prominent Dem
ocrat, who claims to have c,nvassed this
subject, says that it will be found, when the
critical test comes on the passage of the
bill In the senate, that these senators will
stand In line for the bill.
The measure was planned by the admin
istration, was prepared under its personal
supervision, and its passage will be de-
manded by the same influences The sena-
tors from the states where these industries
are most important are champions OF the
president and his secretary OF the treasury,
and stood by them throughout that long
and stubborn controversy on the silver
question.
1t Is not considered probable that these
senators will abandon the administration
simply because there are certain industries
In which their states are interested placed
at q disadvantage by the new measure.
They will make show OF opposition In
debate, and thus endeavor 10 parry the
hostility Of the people Of their states and
their industries.