Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-27
GETTING TOGETHER.
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS GAIN SOME
THING TARlFF-ICALLY SPEAKING.
Duty on sugar and on Coal Possibly on
Iron rOrc--The Presideni's
Suggestion.

WASliiNGION, d. c., February D.
The Democratic senator's met In confer
ence this morning for an hour and half,
and this afternoon for almost four hours.
without reaching a positive conclusion In
any matter connected with the tariff bill.
Thoy did, however, take a long stride In
the direction OF getting together and 1t
IS probable that at the meeting to-nor-
row, till which time at $50 an adjourn
mcnt was taken, much progress will be
made.
The discussion to-day was on general
lines. and was freely participated in. No
proposition Of any sort was put TO the
conference and no vote was taken. but
before the bill is laid before the Finance
Committee every disputed schedule Will
be disposed of and action taken that will
insure the united support Of the party
Sugar to-day, as it has been in the
past, was a bone of contention. and while
the committee has gone short distance
10 meet the sugar men, they have not, as
those senators look at il. gone far enough.
The terms of but few schedules were made
public to-day. and IL was noticed that
the members OF the subcommittee clung
tonaciOusly to the copies OF the bill they
carried. This committee offered duty
Of l cent pound on raw sugar and an
additional is Of a cent on refined. Mr.
White, OF Louisiana, made a vigorous
speech for more duty, i'm which he was
ably seconded by Messrs. Caffery and
German, who favored an income OF at
least Ii of cent on refined sugar. the
Democratic senators are convinced tney
must give a duty. but are opposed 10
yielding the cent and a half the LOUISIANA
men demand The latter believe, now
ever. that they will get a fairly good duty
and are inclined to believe II VIII not
fall below IA cents. When the confer
ence adjourned this subject was under
discussion.
COAL.
It Is definitely settled that coil wifi have
a duty OF 80 cents q ton.
A number Of other changes Eavc also
been made by transfers from he ir1e 10
the dutiabe list Of such articles as VIII
yield revenue. Among them may br men
toned apples Green and ripe, dried ana
cyapOrated), pineapplcs, dates, cocoanuts,
olives, green and prepared. In 9ddihon 10
these fruits, boiling cloth. bone, charcoal
and coke are made to yield a duty. Plas-
ter Of Paris and sulphate Of 'iihc. Time
unground, shotgun barrels, forged and
rough bored. all have been transferred to
the dutable list.
Some very important additions have
been made. however. TO the free list ana
Il Is said that diamonds and other ptec'ou5
stones, uncut, which have giver revenue
OF one million dollars a year. a" Strlcken
from the dutiabe list. The Lad men Dc
rive very little satisfaction frcn the situa-
ton, for It is now said that leal cf all
descriptions and lead ore. together with
all lead products, are to be put on the
free list.
Messrs Pugh and Morgan. Of Alabama,
spoke this afternoon IN advocacy Of "A duty
on lumber TO protect the great lumber
regions Of their State. They also want
a duty on iron-oTe. and while asking -
cents ton. IL Is said would be willing
TO take l0c. 1t is thought they may get
~ cents Mr.. White. Of California, spoke
for fruits. and Messrs. Faulkner. Cam
dem and German for coal. The tax on
Whiskey has been discussed but little, and
the final disposition of this article is un-
certain.
During the discussion this afternoon Mr..
Vest took AIr. Brice 10 task for an inter-
view which appeared in a New York paper,
I'm which he quoted certain statements
made 10y Republicans concerning the FL
nance Committee Mr.. Brice replied that
il made little difference as to Who made
the statements; the essential fact TO be
known WAS whether or not they were
! true Mr.. Brice denied that he WAS
prSkine fight for wool but said he want
cd to see bill constructed upon which
all Democrats could agree.
ALL FOR HARMONY.
Short speeches were made by Senator's
Lindsay. blackburn. Ransom. Jones' and
others all indicating "A desire to have
the disputed points settled before the bill
J 4 g,..I
this idea was brought out in debate. that
II this could be accomplished. the Demo-
Gratis would do very little talking when
the bill comes before the Senate.
The session Of the Senate tomorrow will
be- very brief. for another early adjourn
mcnt will be taken 10 permit the holding
Of the caucus during the afternoon. 1t is
probable that after the whole bill has
been discussed an effort will be made 10
bind the senator's to the action had.
TO-day's caucus was the result Of n
| talk Mr. Brice had with President Cleve-
land one day last week. The Senator told
! the President that the Democrats Were all
at sea. and gave him an idea, from his
! point Of view Of how the majority OF the
/ Finance Committee was proceeding in
making its bill. about which no other
Democratic senator knew anything. Mr..
! Brice told the President this course was
irritating number Of Democrats, and the
result would be trouble in the Senate
wher the bll came in. with a prospect of
its recOmmttal. The President then sug-
gested that the Democratic senator's
should confer together and have an un-
standing before q report was made by
| the Finarce Committee. At Senator
Bricc's instance the gathering was held
In MIR. Buffers committee-room last
| Thursday. when the initial steps were
! taken that led 10 to-day's caucus.
II is thought it would l. Impossible
| 10 80 over the whole bill before Wednes-