New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-16
THAT SECRET TARIFF WORK.
NEWSPAPER MEN CAREFULLY AVOIDED
WAYS AND MEANS CoMMITTEEMEN STILL BUSY
IN THEIR CELLAR-PRoBABLEP POINTS
TILE BILL.

| OF TIE BILL.
| Washington Nov 15-An air of profound mystery
surrounds hat portion of the House of Representa-
| tives where the Ways and Means Committee room
| is located The members Of the committee nave
been pledged to the strlcest secrecy regarding the
| proposed changes of duty and this pledge has been
as faithfully respected by them as is consistent
with human frailty. Newspaper men are carefully
| avoided. One of the members. who was cornered
by reporter this morning hastily jumped inside the
elevator drew the door 10 with nervous haste. and
| graspng the rope helped the conductor to propel
| ii basementward, and thus made his escape.
Notwithstanding these precautions, some of the
| details of the committees work are gradually be-
coming public. There is apparently no DOUBT that
wool, coal and iron will be placed on the free
| list. Upon these points there Is now practical
unanmity. although until recently 1t was mooted
question whether il would not be advisable 10 re-
tain a fair duty the two articles last named
1t is understood that material reduction VIII he
made on steel rails. When the Mckinley bill was
before the Senate three years ago one or the
largest manufacturers of steel rails in Pennsylvania
appeared before the Finance Committee ana as
sured Senator Sherman that duty of s. a ton
would be ample protection TO the manufacturers
Notwithstanding this assertion the duty was placed
SIS Al ton and this rate is still III force Re-
Numbering this some of the Democratic members
of the WAYS and Means Committee have urged that
the rate be lowered to IS. 1t is expected however
that the duty which will finally be agreed upon will
be a compromise between the present figure and
s.. The duty tnplate as has been previously
announced, will probably be reduced from : 2-lo
cents to cent.
The schedules OF the textile fabrics have been
substantially agreed upon in accordance with the
Democratic theory of free materials and re-
duced duties on manufactured goods. The wooiien
duties will be similar to those in the Springer bill
not above 10 per cent ad valorem and at % per
cent on only a few items. The rate on manufact-
ures of cotton will be about 40 per cent, including
cotton hosiery we'll fabrics.
The duties on linen goods and laces Will suf-
fer considerable reduction in view of the fact
that fax and other raw materials of the industry
Of the linen manufactures have been bringing strong
pressure to bear upon the committee TO MAINTAIN
likely TO be abolished in every case and some OF
the ad valorem duties reduced. a.,
committee will be held tomorrow. at which time
the subcommittees having In charge the vaTlous US
adjusting and the be % c sngn
picted it is expected that this result will be
reached the last Of next week or not Later th r
ported to the full committee and made pubic the
Chairman Wilson believes that the biz viii be
taken no in the House and generally debated Tor
about ten days preceding the holiday recess Mr..
of the measure. and it is undergtood that Mr.
Of Michigan one Of the emd spsa kePp rs
for his side An effort will be MADE to Close
general debate quickly as possible IN ofuel
that the House may proceed to consider the meas
IRE under the fveminutc rule.
There is no intention on the part OF the Re
publican members of the House TO fllbuster AGAINST
the bill, or unnecessarily to delay MS passage
They recognize the futility of flibusterlng mas
much as the Committee on Rules may at any tme
report an order fixing date vote snail
he taken. thus cutting off further debate Aside
from this fact the Republican minority have no
desire TO prevent the majority from passing me
bill While they regard any notifications IN me
existing tariff law as hurtful to the business III,
terests of the country. they are philosophical
enough 10 agree that the Democratic part was
favor of tariff reduction and that they ana not
the Republicans responsible for the conse-
ouences whatever they may be.