The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-16
THE NEW Tariff BILL.
Wool, Coal, nnd Iron Ore the FREQ List
Reduction OF DUTY on steel Rails.

| Reduction OF DUTY on steel Rails.
| WASHINGTON Nov. 15-An air OF profound
! mystery surrounds that portion Of the House
! OF Representatives where the Ways and Means
| Committee room is located. The members OF
| the com mittee have been pledged to the strict
est secrecy regarding the proposed changes in
the tariff. and this pledge has been as faith
fully respected by them as is consistent with
human fraity. Newspaper men are carefully
avoided Ono Of the members who was cor
nered by reporter this morning hastily
jumped inside the elevator. drew the door to
with nervous haste. and. Erasping the rope.
helped the conductor to propel it basement
ward. and thus made his escape.
Notwithstanding these precautions. some Of
the details Of the committees work are gradu-
ally becoming public. There is. apparently.
no doubt that wool and coal and iron ore will
be placed on tho free list. Upon these points
there Is now practical unanimity. although
until recently 1t was mooted question
whether it would not be advisable to retain a
fair duty on the two articles last named. 1t is
understood that material reduction will be
made on steel rails. When the Mckinley bill
was before the Senate three years ago one OF
the largest manufacturers OF steel rails in
Pennsylvania appeared before the Finance
Committee and assured Senator Sherman that
a duty OF So a ton would be an ample
protection to the manufacturers. Notwith-
standing this assertion the duty was placed ut
Sl344 ton. and this rate is still in force.
Rom bering this. some OF the Dem ocratio
members OF the Ways and Means Committee
have urged that tho rate be lowered to 81. 1t
is expected. however. that the duty which will
finally be agreed upon will be q compromise
between the present figure and So. The duty
nounccd. will probuUly be reduced from and
10 cents to cent
The schedules OF the textile fabrics, have
with the Democratic theory OF free raw ma;
terals and reduced duties on manufactured
goods. The woUleu duties will be similar to
those in the Springer bill-not above ~ per
cent: ad yalorem and at 70 per cent on only.a
ton will he about 40 per cent. including cotton
hosiery AS well as fabrics.
The duties on linen goods and laces, will
suffer considerable reduction. in view Of the
fact that the flax and other raw materials 1.-THE
industry are going on the free list. The repro
been bringing strong pressure to bear upon
the committee to maintain the existing duties.
but the compound duties are III oily to he abol-
ished in every case and some oi tho al vaiorem
duties reduced.
A meetin: OF all tho Democratic members OF
the committee will be hold tomorrow. ut
which time the sub committees having in
charge the various schedules will submit their
reports, The work Of adjusting and harmon;
iznE the reductions will then be continued
until the bill shall have been completed. 1t 10
last of next week. or not later than the Mon
day following. The bill will then he reported
to the full committee and made public the
same day. w
Chairman Wilson believes that tho bill will
he taken IN in the House and generally de-
bateI for about ten days preceding the holiday
recess Mr. Wilson will make the opening
speech in support OF the measure and it is
understood that Mr.. Burrows OF Michigan ono |
committee. Will speak first for his side. An |
effort Will he made to close general debate AS |
soon as possible. in order that the House may |
proceed to consider the measure under the |
ive-nInute rule.
There is no intention on the rart Of the Re- |
publican members of tho House to flliDuster |
against the bili or unnecessarily to delay it's |
passage. They recognize the utility of fli- |
clustering. Inasmuch MS the Committee on |
Rules may at any time report an order fixing II
date when a vote shall he taken. thus cutting |
off further debate. Aside from this fact the |
Republican minority have no desire to prevent |
the majority from passing the bill.