The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-11-21
TARIFF REFORM IN SIGHT.
The Ways and Means Committee
Changes and Reductions I'm tho

WAsHtSaToN, ID. c., Nov. 15.-Ar
air Of profound mystery pervedes the
room in the House of Representative,
where the ways and means committee
are assembled. Members of the com
mittee have been pledged to the strict
est secrecy regarding the proposed
changes Of duty, and the pledge has
been as faithfully respected by them
as is consistent with human frailty
Newspaper men are carefully avoided
Notwithstanding this precaution
work are gradually becoming public.
There Is apparently no doubt that wool
and coal and iron will be placed on the
free list. Upon the fret point there
is now practical unanimity, although
1t Ii q mOoted question whether 1t
would be advisable to retain fair
duty on the two articles last men,
toned. 1t is thought that mate
rial reduction will be made in steel
rails.
When the Mckinley bill was before
the Senate three years ago, one OF the
largest manufacturers of rails in Penn
sylvania appeared before the finance
committee and Oosured Senator Sher-
would be an ample protection to the
manufacturers Notwithstanding this
assurance the duty was placed at
$13.44 and this rate is still in force.
Remembering this testimonial before
the Senate some of the Democratic
members Of the ways and means COM
mittee have urged that the rate be
lowered to SO. 1t is reported that the
duty finally to be agreed upon will be a
compromise figure between $l3 and $8
The duty on tin plate will probably be
reduced from % to 10.
The schedules of the textile fabrics
has been substantially agreed upon in
accordance with the Democratic the
duties on imported goods. The duties
on linen goods and laccs will suffer q
considerable reduction in view Of the
fact that fax and other raw materials
OF the industry are going upon the free
list 1t is reported that linen manu-
facturers have been bringing strong
pressure to bear upon the committee to
maintain existing duties, but the COM
pound duties are likely to be abolished
in every case and some Of the ad
valorem duties will be reduced. The
work of adjusting and harmOnizing the
reductions will then be continued un-
til they shall have been completed.
It is expected that the end will be
reached the last of next week or
soon thereafter.
Chairman Wilson believes that the
bill will be taken up in the House and
generally debated for about ten days.
Wilson will make the opening speech
in support of the measure, and 1t is
said that Burrows, of Michigan, one OF
the leading Republican members OF the
committee, viii speak for his side. An
effort will be made to close the general
debate as quickly as possible in order
that the House may proceed to con-
sideration under the five minute rule.
There Is no intention on the part OF
against the bill or offer to unnecessa-
rily oppose it's passage. They re-
cognize the futility Of filibustering
inasmuch as the committee on rules
may at any time order the fixing OF a
date when vote will be taken and cut
off further debate. Aside from this
fact the Republican minority have no
desire to prevent the m, jority from
passing the bill, while they regard any
modification in the existing tariff laws
as dangerous to the business interests
of the country.
WASHINGTON, November 16.-It is
the hope Of the Democratic members
of the ways and means committee to be
able to give their new tariff bill to the
public about November 25th or near
the close of next week.
Popular pressure is so very great for
information on the subject, and the i'm
portunities of interests affected for
changes in the bill are 30 embarrassing
to the committee, that 1t has been de-
termined to settle all points upon which
uncertainty exists as soon as possible.
For this purpose q series of conferences
of a full Democratic membership Of the
committee began to-day, and the work
of sub-committees Is to be submitted,
schedule bv schedule, and finally passed
upon by the entire membership.
Upon vexe q. stions, concerning
which the su'-committees have been
unable to arrive at q definite conclu-
sion, the principal discussion of men,
bers will be first directed. Among the
the questions of an income tax, the in
ternal revenue schedules and contem-
plated additions to the free list.
There is difference of opinion
among Democratic members over ad-
ding iron ore, coal and salt to the free
list. Free wool, free lumber and free
cotton bagging seem assured; though
there is even some dispute on these
points. Alabama Democrats are up in
arms against putting coal and iron ore
on the free list. and still demand that
their appeals to the committee shall be
heard.
A call issued this morning for a full
meeting of the Democratic members of
the committee on ways and means to
be held tomorrow, at which 1t Is ex-
pected that the first draft of the new
tariff bill will be considered.
Several members of the majority
were kept busy to-day listening to ar
guments and appeals from interested
persons and parties who desired to
have their views upon certain matters
incorporated into the new tariff bill.
The most important of these were dele
cations from Alabama and Virginia
The former represented the coal and
iron interests of that State and they
presented the reasons why, in their
opinion, coal and iron ore should not
be placed upon the free list. They
stated that they came as business mer
purely, although the entire delegation
were Democrats in principle and politi
cal ff'iiations. The interest they rep.
resented amount to 1925, ,000, 900, and
were the means of livelihood of 70,0N
men in Alabama. The coal and iror
interests of Alabama, 1t was stated, fec
and clothed more than one-tifth of the
entire population of that State, and the
comfort and happiness of this large
number OF people we're involved In the
question whether or not these articles
should be put upon the free list
The Virginia delegation represented
Churchland Grange, Norfolk County
and had an interview with Chairman