St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-15

Democratic tariff bill will probably be
made public at a much earlier date than
has generally been anticipated. The
notes of apprehension which have been
sounded since the late election have
warned the Tesolute tariff reformers of
the party that the chances of party sue
cess and discipline depend upon bold
ness and promptitude in defining a
policy, and all haste consistent with de-
liberation Is being made by the Demo-
cratic members TO complete the bill and
give 1t TO the country. 1t is already
definitely settled that the committee
will not wait for the approval of a eau
Gus before presenting the measure TO the
people. While some of the Democratic
members of the committee think that
The bill might be strengthened in the
house by first gaining the approval of a
party caucus, the majority feelthat the
submission of the bill to caucus would
only lead TO interminable wrangling,
and possibly create a party dissension
which might seriously embarrass the
measure on its consideration later in
the house. Besides, the Democratic
leaders contend that the party has suffi-
cient confidence in the ways and means
committee to be quite willing TO accept
as satisfactory the bill prepared by
them after so many weeks of delibera-
ton, and that the report accompanying
it will be of a character strong enough
to silence the faStidious criticism within
the party. While Mr.. Bland, of Mis-
souri,. Mr.. Culberson, of Texas, and
others. have openly announced the lu-
tention of opposing the
FREE WOOL SCHEDULE
on the floor OF the house, they have ap-
parently abandoned any hope of secur-
ing party caucus on the tariff bill pre-
vious 10 its introduction. In discussing
the matter Mr.. CuibeIs0n said today:
Il have always maintained that the
tariff bill should be first considered by
Democratic caucus, and l still think this
should be done; but do not see how
we can hope TO have it done before it is
introduced. In the first place. there was
rule passed just before adjournment
which gave the committee the right TO
hand the bill to the clerk and have it
printed as Introduced any time II NAV
desire to do so. No one paid much at
teEtlon to that action Of the house at the
time, but we now realize that il gives
the committee the privilege of formally
Introducing the bill even before the
regular session convenes. the only re-
Striction being the Republican members
or the committee shall have ten days in
which TO prepare a minority report.
This rule, OF course, cuts OFT all hope of
having caucus before the Introduction
of the bill, and L do not see that we can
do anything to help it. Whatever OBJ
jections Democratic members may nave
70 no bi will m no in,
the open house, though believe the
the proper place TO first air our party
grievances should be III a caucus"
The ways and means committee-or
at least the Democratic members of it
are doing all their work in subcommit-
tees, and the bill is SO rapidly nearing
completion that large portion of the
report TO accompany the measure on its
presentation to the house Is already
prepared. Each subcommittee las it COM
pIeteS the work on the several duties
referred TO it for revision, prepares the
committees report on these schedules.
aud, although this work is held to be
reviewed by the full Democratic mem
berShip of the committee, it is likely but
FEW CHANGES
will be made. While Ii is literally true
that not a single schedule has been
finally passed upon by the full commit
tee, it is none the less true that the
entire bill, SubdiVided as it is among
subcommittee, is now nearly com
pleted. While it is generally accepted
that wool, coal, iron ore, lumber and
salt are tC be added 10 the free list. as
we'll as various other minor articles.
Chairman Wilson and his colleagues
have pursued the prudent policy of
keeping the details of the reductions on
manufactured articles close secret from
the public. In This way, although it is
practically certain that the tariff bill in
its entirety will be announced to the
public in ten days or two weeks, the
details of the measure Will not be gem
orally known until after its publication.
After the subcommittee have COM
pleted their labors, the entire bill will
be reviewed by the full Democratic
membership, and as soon as finally ap-
proved will be handed to the clerk of
the house, and at once announced to
the public as introduced.
The protests against the free lists are
still coming in, IL e most emphatic ones
now being from the iron ore and coal
| men. A telegram has been received
from the Alabama people who desire
to be heard. and Chairman Wilson and
his colleagues have consented TO give
an Informal hearing TO these gentlemen
will include committee from the iron
and coal interests of Birmingham, the
chief manufacturing city of the South,
ana it is possible that Senator Pugh and
Congressman Wheeler may also accom-
pany the delegation when it makes its
argument.
THE PROTESTS
of the whisky men do not seem to be
attracting much attention. Congress
man Montgomery, of Kentucky, the
great whisky producing state, is a IDem-
Der of the committee on ways and
means. and says:
Il think that IN my state the objection
to raising the whisky tax IS coming from
the distillers. rather than the consumers.
Even the distillers are not making much
OF protest, though, of course, they
would prefer not to have the tax in
creased. The consumers are not making
any objection, and, if they do SO at ali.
Will probably not do it until5after the
law is passed"
One of the hitches which have oe-
CURED in making the tariff bill. and
which has not yet been settled. is the
disposition of the sugar schedule. 1t is
said that, as the bill now stands, it re-
moves the bounty and does not restore
any duty whatever. The opponents
of this plan have pointed out that
such bill will certainly cause
the loss of support by the majority
of the Louisiana delegation in the
house. and the bill would be also endan-
gered by reason OF withdrawal of sup
port by the Louisiana senators when
the billteaehed the senate. A member
of the majority of the committee on
ways and means has suggested this to
the other members, but received a reply
that the bill cannot De made to suit all
sections.
Another rumor is in circulation in the