The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-09
HOPES AND FEARS.
The Tariff Tension Has
Got Very Near the
Breaking Point.
SUGAR NOT THE TROUBLE
The Free List an Effeetual
Threat-Coal, Iron and
Wool Men Feared.
Republicans Trying to Figure Out
Combinations for Indefinite
Postponement.
SUGAR NOT THE TROUBLE

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8. 1Ss4-The ten
sion of the tariff situation is so great
that something must break within As
hours. The strain cannot be longer con-
tinued. This is admitted on all hands
by the friends of the bill and its oppo-
nents. by the hopeful adherents of the
Wilson bill and the cautious trainers of
the Senate compromise. All those who
are best informed are the most doubtful
of the outcome. 1t is only the theorists
who are sanguine. The practical poll
ticians on both sides are filled with un-
certainty. If the Democratic majority of
the conferrees should adopt the com
promise that was discussed and partly
agreed to yesterday, or any other form
of compromise, and call their Republican
associates in, so as to go through me
ence,' before making a report, 1T is the
purpose of the Republicans to 1nterpose
no unnecessary delay to the adoption
of a report. This of itself excites I'M
easiness in the minds of the managers,
as it denotes a desire to get the bill
back into the Seenate in any. shape, and
alton of being able then either to kill
it outright or to indefinitely postpone
the consideration of the conference re-
port, which amounts to the same thing.
SAVED BY A VOTE.
1t cannot be forgotten tina at least
three times in its perilous passage
been in such a position that one vote has
saved it. Senator Hill is keenly alive
to this fact, and yesterday sent a most
Trbyl Of ts segfh caT TO his u aalg; i bim fo
be in the Senate today without fail. 1t
is not the combination of the Louisiana
9 s5st Pi E %nst f sngsa gTTSo sy can s se heId
in effective check, it Is believed, by the
threat Of free sugar. which could be car
RED in the Senate and would receive an
overwhelming vote in its favor in the
House. 1t is other interests-the advoca-
ton of iron, coal and wooden duties
that are dreaded. Any of these disaf-
fected elements, uniting. with the Re-
~pubhcans and Senator Hill and Irby in a
motion to indefinitely postpone, could
carry the day.
in the early morning was overcast and
threatening. The absence of aquorum in
the Senate yesterday when Mr.. George
attempted to call up the bankruptcy bill,
was accidental. There were enough in
the comittee rooms and elsewhere to
make up the necessary forty-four If they
is being rapidly reached where the abb
sence of a quorum may be Intentional
and most significant. The appropriation
bills are now all out of the way except
two. A joint resolution to adjourn
might be passed in the Senate. The
House, of course, would refuse to con-
cur. Out In6 passage Oh SUCH d IeSOlu-
ton by the Senate and theabsence of a
quorum afterwards would effectually bar
the transaction of any further business.
1t is admitted that a quorum of the
Senate cannot be kept together many
mare days. Something has to be done
With the tariff bill Immediately or moth
ing will be lone at all.
THEIR BACKS STIFEENED.
1t is said this morning that the House
eonferees went into a conference this
morning with their position somewhat
- n,aa nv "a r1nccn frA tho wing nsL
today from the White House When ad-
journment was taken last night there was
a verbal agreement that should be re-
duced to writing and signed TINS morn
ing. It was that iron ore should be free
and coal be taxed at forty cents a ton.
the Senate rate-for five years, and then
ieet for contention. Last evening this
agreement, was taken to the Whlte
House and submitted to Mr.. Cleveland
for his approval. This Is
given by a gentleman of such standing
that there is no reason to doubt its au-
thentieity. According to him, the Presl,,
secured free iron ore, but greatly dis
pleased to learn that the House con
ferees had given their consent 70 the
leyying of a duty on coal. Mr.; olewe-
ferees to hold out a little longer, IN the
hope that they might secure both coal
Ao IDfEsTIERMINED TO END IT.
The Senate conferees appear to be nrm
in the intention this morning of ending
the controversy today To all arguments
advanced by their associates from the
House they have declined to listen ana
have warned them that unless the agree,
ment of yesterday is promptly carried
out they will go to the Senate and ask TO
be relieved from further duty as man
ayers on the part of the Senate. Thls
would precipitate matters and throw the
bill into the Senate. From a Democratic
authority comes the statement that the
first act of the Senate would be to re-
cede from it's amendments and put all
sugar on the free list. This, they clairn,
would receive the support of the great
bulk of the Democratic vote, and of such
Senators on the other side of the Cham
her as Stewart, Teller, Dubois, etc.
Democrats deny that sufficient votes can
be mustered to indefinitely postpone the
consideration of a conference report.
on the contrary, they assert that free
sugar will prevail. under the circum-
Stances just referred to, and hat the
House would take the bill and pass it
ia that shape, with both coal and iron
ore taxed.
Republican, leaders still insist that
there is a good chance to defeat the
bill, andlaughatthe Idea Of sugar being
put on the free list except it be done
as a means preparatory to the defeat Of
At ii:3o the Republicans had received
no noice of any meeting of the com
mittee, andwere officially ignorant of
any agreement that might have been
reached.