Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-09
And Coal Eventually-The Same Is
 the Present Outlook,
IN THE WAY OF COMPROMISE
While Sugar Still Stands as a Monster Demon of De-
 Struction.

row' upon which the tariff c3nferees have been for some weeks promising an agree ment at last gives promise of fulhllment When the tariff conferees adjourned at a few minutes before 6 o'clock tonight it was with the understanding that at the session tomorrow morning all the details should be arranged, and the republicans called in the afternoon and were informed of what their democratic colleagues had done.
 One of the most prominent managers on the part of the senate made the emphatic statement that tomorrow would see the end of the conference and that by nightfall tbere would be either an agreement or a general break up of tho conference. But one thing, he said, could postpone the re- suit any longer. Should the house con- ferees agree to an agreement and the arrangement of the de- tails consume such time as to run the work over into next day, that would be permitted, but otherwise the close of tomorrow would witness the end of the labors of the con ferees on the tariff bill. So little is yet to be accomplished, however, that there is very little likelihood that the republicans can be called in at an early hour, and there would be no surprise if the senate should have the report of the con. ferees at a reasonably early hour in the aft- ernoon.
 The hitch that still remains for settle- ment is iron ore and coal. So far as the principle is concerned, these items seem to be disposed of hnally-one of them is to be free and the other made dutiable. These matters were the subject Of three distinct changes today. At 8 o clock in the afternoon it was decided that iron ore should be made free absolutely, and that coal should re- tain the rate of 40 cents ton fixed by the senate for period of five years, at the end of which time it was to be free. Subse- quently proposition was made to fix sliding scale that should reduce the duty antagonized, but the house men, anxious to get as much in the way of concession as possible, persisted, and tho result was that this matter was left until tomorrow morning for final decision.
 At the conclusion of the conference all the members from both sides of the capital appeared to be h very happy frame of mind, and there appeared to be very good reason for their statements that an agree msnt would soon be made. One of the managers on the part of the senate said that if there was an agreement the sugar schedule would remain as 1t was published in these dispatches Friday of last week, to-wit Forty per cent on raw sugar, 40 per cent on the raw sugar in the refined ard 1-5 of cent differential on refined sugar.
 This senator also said tbat he had never heard of a proposition that gained some credence. two or three days ago to the effect that basis of collection of the duty on ref sugar was to be the duty col lected ehb105 pounds of raw sugar for every 100 pounds of refined sugar. AS far then as sugar is concerned, it has cut no figure In the conference, and is looked upon by the conferees as settled.
 Lead ore, about which there has been a great deal of quiet talk, is said to be in the same way. An effort was made in some quarters to have the house rate-which greatly reduced the duties restored, but this was not done. As indicated in these dispatches some days ago, the senate rate on tobacco will probably stand, and whisky, which was disposed of by the con- ferees some days ago, will be put back to $1 gallon, provided for in the house bill, with the proviso, however, that the bonded period may be extended from five to eight years by the payment, after the end of five years, of an additional tax of cents per gallon per year. It is also understood that the senate provisions on Woolens, cotton goods and the metal schedule have been cut into but little compared with the cuts upon which the house insisted.
 There are indications that the reason the conferees did not finally settle coal and iron ore tonight was that the senate members might have an opportunity of consulting with their colleagues to see how the propo- sition submitted in conference was re- ceived. The latest proposition is to put iron ore on the free list and reduce the duty ; ually reaches the free list, proposition that will not be nearly so acceptable as the other, which leaves it untouched for five years. careful canvass of the senate showed the senate confereeS that they could not touch coal without imperiling the whole bill, while iron ore might be tam pered with without having that disastrous effect.
 A prominent member of the conserva- lives was called upon by one of the con- ferees this evening for advice as to how he and his colleagues should act in this mat ter. and was told that the day for giving advice had passed. The conferees might now, this senator said, bring in any kind would vote upon it. Tomorrow will prob- ably see this report, but it does not neces- sarily follow that the senate will accept it. The conferees will meet promptly at 10 o'clock, but no one can tell tonight just when their republican associates wifi be admitted to the secrets of the conference room.
 It may be, however, that the senate con- ferees may have more trouble than they anticipate in removing the objections of their house colleagues to certain things that transpired in the committee room to- day. There was ample ground for the many conflicting rumors that were flying about concerning coal and iron. AL one stage of the proceedings the senate con ferees took the bull by the horns and told the house conferees they could have either coal or iron ere free and the house promptly accepted coal. Then began the canvass of the conservatives to see what would be the result of this compro- mise. It was seen at once that such a scheme doomed the bill to failure and made such men as Faulkner, Pugh, Camden and Gorman indignant. The senate conferees went back Sud told their associates that they could not grant the concession, and despair once more reigned in the commit tee room. Almost in despair the house men finally accepted free iron ore as a salve for their injuries, but subsequently, insisted