The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-09
TO FIGHT THE TARIFF BILL.
REPUBLICANS DECIDE 10 oBsTRUCr
RS PASSAGE IN THE SENATE

Gen. Wheeler OF Alabama Gsiting sigma
lures for . Democratic Caucus on the RiI,.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2-The Republican Sem
stors have Informally arranged their pro-
Rramme Of action for the coming session. II
will be q programme OF opposition from start
to finish. They will obstruct the progress OF
the Tariff bill and the Federal Elections bill,
and will oppose the adoption Of the closure
resolution while these important measures are
pending. and they will present a solid opposi-
ton to the hopes and plans OF the Administra-
ton with regard to the settlement OF the
Hawaiian question.
In the House 1t is the hope and expectation
OF the leaders Of the Ways and Means Commit
tee to pass the Tariff bill at an early daT with
out amendments. In order to accomplish this
they will resist every effort to secure caucus.
and will undoubtedly have recourse. much
sooner than is usual In the discussion OF a
Tariff bill. to rule for closure which IL is be-
lieved that the Committee on Rules will rec
ommend and carry through. Tho greatest
danger to the scheme Just now is the deter
minati OF some Democrats who do not re-
gard the Wilson bill as revenue measure.
and who think that 1t has too much
unconstitutional protection in It to have
the bill submitted to a caucus in order that It
may be drafted more In accordance with the
terms OF the Chicago platform and OF Mr..
Clsvelsnd's letter OF acceptance. Inasmuch
as the Administration has openly endorsed the
bill even before It has been considered in the
Ways and Means Committee or all OF itsternis
agreed upon by the Democratic majority OF
that committee. the assumption is that the
bill which the Administration approves will
pass the House. The present Congress. at the
extra session. established a precedent which
warrants such an assump tion.
In the Senate. however, II is another story
Mr.. voorhees,, Chairman Of the Committee on
Finance. quantity asked In committee this
week whether. IL the House should pass the
Tariff bill before the holiday recess. It could DO
put through the Senate by Feb. l. The Repub-
licans are said to have smiled at the inquiry.
II the committee shall grant hearings. after the
Tariff bill shall have passed the House. to the
great nj am Der OF persons or their representa-
tives who may be affected By that measure,
It 10 probable that the Tariff bill will be still
under discussion in the Senate when summer
shall have come. There 10 no probability that
the Democrats will be able to force closure
rule through the Senate to aid In the passage
OF the bill. Some OF the foremost advocates
Of q closure rule In the Senate say now that
they are prepared to advocate and vote for q
closure rule which may be made applicable
In some future Congress. but that they will
not support such measure IN a time OF politi-
cal excitement, or when It 70 advocated 10 order
to see a law. Il is known that that lie the
mitteo on Finance and OF the Republican
members Of the Committee on Rules n fact.
Kuies, Mr.. Blackburn OF Kentucky the Chair
man. who Is at all disposed to endeavor to Sc
e ena bs "a new Convert to- such poIcy' The
henate will not adopt II closure rule to PASS the
Tariff bill in this Congress- The equalization
fnh h,V.. hAAn md
make that clear: for without Republican aid
no closure rule can be adopted.
Finance Committee held another conference
this morning, the general subject Of the
yerterday authorized the committee to have
such compilations and tabulated statements
thsse are laid before the COMMITTEES but little
Roadway will be mado. The members present
tRs 0rGns wesS and es 81 AG
kansas WAS absent. and Mr.. ance Ia sick in
Baltimore. The Informal talk Of to-day de-
intend to push the consideration OF the tarif
measure through the committee as speedily
begin work independent OF the House as soon
as the data are laid before them.
Gen. Wheeler OF Alabama is the moving spirit
In creating a sentiment favorable TO a Demo-
cratic caucus on the TarlH hill he believes
bama. Georgia. Tennessee. Virginia and West
Virginia delegations. as we'll as the twelve
Democratic mem9ers from pennnsydy ,, wiz
all more than three times the number neces-
Bary to insure the calling OF caucus; These
iron ore and coal industries. hence their de-
sire to meet in caucus and secure an agree
ment placing these articles again on the dutt-
able list The present duty on both articles Is
70 cents ton. Leaving them on the free ist
Wheeler SAYS. seriously cripple the trade. es-
pecially on the Atlantic coast. where the con.
supt9n Is ~ yery EfsS hs sS9nit tue he
will leave the duty at 81 cents. or at one-half
the present rate. He believes that II the mat
ter Is July discussed in caucus this mRysbe
done. While the caucus, he says. will not bind
any Of the members it cannot fail to result
Gen. Wheeler was asked what the Dem osrats
from the foregoing States would do II a Demo-
cratic caucus lett iron ore and coal on the Tree
Support the bill. of course" was the sem
The Democratic members OF the Ways and
Means Committee. after an all,day session at
the Capitol yesterday, held another meeting at
was nearly midnight before they adjourned.
As a result OF their work for the past few days.
customs schedules. giving them a more cor
rect legal form; IA, and more clearly defining
ules are still Enacted upon wide diversity
sSSRS an Tal a5 rate Dn the svd ssS
that one Dor cant. tax on corporations
ard leGacies alone will not furnish the rev
year. Either the. ratio must be increased 20
two per cent, or. II IL romans Mt one pec cent.
the scope OF the tax must lie brOadened to in
GUIDE individual incomes OF $4,000 and over.
Meanwhlla the suggestion is again made that
all additional tax bs imposed on whiskey,
There Is no doubt that tho committee will con-
slider that suggestion seriously when the gen
eral subject of internal taxation comes VI.
Notwithstanding the statement from mem
hers OF the Ways and Means Committee. that
the changes made in the Tariff bill are mainly
corrections ~ language Rnd classification. IT
Is probable that material alterations will TO
made IN some OF the customs schedules Tin
was reduced in the Wilson bill 10 an al yaio-
rem duty OF ~ Ter cont. The committee
are now con,tdeTlng tho adyisabilitg 0!
changing this to specific duty OF
- cents a pound, II has been rep
resented 10 the committee that tin |
plate - SUBJECT TO such frequent fluctu-
atoms that En- al valorem duty would greatly |
embaTTass the importers, whose orders are |
usually given SIX months in advance. While |
the committee have not definitely decided the |
matter il Is more than probable that specific |
duty will he substituted Silk yarns and spun
elk which the hill puts on the free list are
likely to be retained on the dutabls list. Tho
committee discovered. after the bill was made
public that the articles were finished prod
ucts and not raw material and at the request