The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-08
WILSON'S BILL IN DANGER.
The Principle of Free Raw Materials
May be Abandoned

Washington, Dec THE democratic
members of the finance committee of the
Senate held a conference this moruing. at
which an effort was made to come to
some conclusion as to the policy to be pur-
sued in the consideration of the tariff
bill. The senators were slow in reaching
the rooms, and the conference proper
lasted not more than fifteen minutes and
was adjourned until tomorrow morning
at the same hour. It was decided
that a comparative statement should
be prepared showing the difference
between the rates of the tariff under the
Wilson bill and the existing law. and as
soon as this is received the committee
will begin work on the bill independent of
the action of the House. From the tenor
of the remarks of leading member of
the committee the inference is drawn
that there may be numerous changes in
the Wilson bill when it is reported to the
Senate. and it is not without the range of
possibilities that the entire principle Of
free raw materials may be abandoned or
modified materially. The opinion
of those democratic senators in u
position to know the disposition
of the party is that the bill cannot posi-
bly, pass the Senate before the last of
February, and that 1t will be impossible
for it to take effect in March, as now pro-
vided in the bill The full finance com
mittee will decide upon the question of
hearings at the next meeting
The tariff bill will be reported to the
House on Wednesday, Dec. Is.
THE BILL TO BE PUSHED
1t is the purpose of the democrats to
press consideration of the matter as rap
idly as possible. The general debate Will
begin on Dec 1S This will give five days
for consideration before the holiday
recess. Some of the democraticIeaders
think the bill ought to pass the House
after three weeks debate. If this
programe be followed the bill
will go to the Senate not later than Jan.
90 This, however, is counting without
the republicans. They will ask that three
weeks be allowed for general debate and
a fortnight at least for consideration of
the measure under the five-minute rule.
They propose Offering amendments freely
when the important schedules are up, and
will take it i'll if this privilege be not ac-
corded them.
CROWD WAITING TO BE HEARD.
The ways and means committee room
has been the storm center to-day around
which the republicans of practically all
the protected interests have gathered
The corridor on which the committee
room is situated was filled with people
who clamored in vain for admission.
The democratic members of the committee
sat within behind closed doors.
RUMORs OF CHANGES.
The air about the committee room was
filled with rumors to-day of important
changes TO be made in the bill. 1t was
said that the metal schedule, for ex-
ample, would be greatly modified in a
number of important items. Represent
ative Boatner, who is in charge of the
movement to force democratic caucus
for the consideration of the
tariff bill, asserted most positively
this afternoon that caucus will be held.
He said that although the petition for a
caucus had not been formally circulated,
the democrats of the House have been
canvassed and many more than enough
members to secure caucus have signified
their willingness TO sign a petition.