The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-10
STILL NO AGREEMENT.
THE HOUSE CONFEREhS AsK MORE
THAN is CONCEDED THEN.
Whole Situation Discussed by the Conscrv.
ativc senators-House Coafcrees Insist
on Coal Free aud Iron Ore putiabie

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-The Demo
cratic tariff conference had expected to
be able to announce an agreement to-day.
Instead of reaching any definite conclu-
sion the day closed with the bill in quite
as uncertain state as ever before In it's
history, with the situation in nowise i'm
proved. and with the feeling between the
friends OF the Senate bill and the House
bill intensified instead OF allayed, and
with no one prepared to say what the out,
come would be or when the end would
be reached. IL was apparent at the very
beginning OF the conference that those
who had come 10 the conclusion al the ad-
tOurnment OF yesterdays session that an
agreement would be arrived at to-day
had not taken sufficiently into account
the possibility OF a misunderstanding or
a change OF mind.
This discovery was made when the Sem
ate cOnterees prepared To 70 on with the
bill upon the basis OF a duty OF forty
cents per ton on coal and free iron ore,
whereupon the House conferees announced
tn cir unwillingness to accept tnis arrange
ment, and stated that they would ihslst
upon reversal of these terms, Win coa
free and Iron ore dutiable. if either Was
to be, as they understood that they were
TO have choice between the two
REPORTED 40 lHE "cONsgKfArlYIs."
The avowa Of this position produced
immediate confusion and led 20 an ek-
change OF remarks which were not al
together polite. The Senate cOnferfe's
thereupon decided to report the state ot
affairs TO the conservative senators, ana
when the conferees adjourned called SEN
ators German. Brice. Smith. ana Muir
ply into consultation.
The whole situation was outlined 10
them. They were not only made ac-
quainted with the demand Of the House
cOnferees for free coal, but were also
given 10 understand that other materlu IL
concessions would be expected by the
House conferees along the entire line OF
the bill including wOOlens, cOttonS'
metals. glass and earthenware They de-
cided upon an emphatic negauNe IN reply
to these propositions, saying that Il tie
body of the bill was not preserved Vir-
tually az fl passed the Senate, the report
of the conference when made would not
be accepted by the Senate senator
Brice proposed an innovation IN We
shape OF proposition that the House
cOnferees be given an opportunity 70 se-
cure free sugar. His idea In detat was
that the 5 nate cOnferees should Nolun-
teer 10 recede entirely IRON me oehh.S
schedule of sugar. leaving both raw am
refined on the free list as provided ",
the House bill, and the Senate bill should
otherwise be accepted IN lts present
shape. with both coal and iron on we
dutiable list at the rate OF fOrty cents
per ton. In urging this upon the con
ferees ne said ii would necessarily pro-
duce one of three results.
II IL should be declined by the nVuse
conferees II would place the responsibility
for the sugar duty upon them. III II
should be accepted, and the Senate should
on this account refuse TO adopt the COM
mittee's report the House cOnferees
would still bear the odium lot ,n hns's.,nSS ..IS
thirdly" said he. they should accept-it
a report should be made upon these lines,
and II the report should be accepted by
both houses and should become law, we
should ali be happy"
SUBMITTED TO coSFEBgscE.
The conferees presented the proposition
to the afternoon session OF the conference
between the members OF the two houses
! It is understood that the PROPOSE ion crea-
ted some surprise on the part OF the House
members who at first eVnced a DISPOSE
lion To accept IT, but after cOnsiderable
| discussion of tne merits Of this feature Of
| the proposition. and of the other features
| involving the acceptance Of the other BEN
ate amendments, declined 10 vouchsafe an
answer without further consideration.
The question Was therefore. undispososd
OF when the conference adjourned for the
day. The Republican senators were also
in consultation with the senatorial tariff
conferees during the day, and Il Is under
stood have given notice that II there Is
material change In the more important
schedules relating TO manufactured ar
tlcles they Will resist the immediate dispo-
sition OF the commlttee's report when
more tariff oator'y may be expeced.
PRESIDENT DIDN'T SMASH" 1T.
"The report" said MIR. Wilson, the
chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mttee to-day that the President had
smashed the compromise agreed upon by
the conferees on coal. sugar. and iron
ore yesterday. Is an absurd invention.
There is not a word Of truth In 1t, and
you may say / say so. The President
has never interferred with our delibera-
tons in the slightest manner. lie has
treated the matter with great delicacy'
Have you talked with the President at
various stages OF the situation?
II have seen him occasionally during
the past few weeks, Mr.. Wilson re-
piled. but he has never manifested the
slightest inclination TO instruct the con-
ferees as to their duty. As ! say, he
had shown unusual delicacy Ia his refer
ences to the matter I'm dispute | felt IL
only proper since the President Is the
head Of the party, to acqualnt him WITH
what We are doing. but beyond general
conversation nothing Of special impoT-
lance has passed between us.
This authoritative statement made by
Mr. Wilson was called out by the stories
that were freely circulated about both