Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-07
A WAITING GAME
Plans for the Minority Of the Senate
Finance Committee.
The PROPOSAL TO RECOMMIT
The Majority Say Nothing, but
Keep at Work.
SOME OF THE CHANGES

The democratic subcommittee of the COM
mittee on finance charged with preparing
the tariff bill for the committee met again
In Senator Vests room at the Capitol this
morning, and continued its work upon the
tariff bill. The republican members of the
finance committee have not yet absolutely
decided what course they will pursue in
view of the decision not to grant hearings
on the Wilson bill before reporting 1t to
the Senate, but they are very much in
clined to take no action Until the bill shall
be reported to the Senate, when, II no
opportunity shall have been granted for
interested parties to appear before the COM
mittee, Trey will in all probability move
to recommit the bill for the purpose of TAX
Ing testimony on the merits of the bill.
They have canvasSed several plans but
evidently the leaning is in this direction.
Ihey say that resolution directing the
committee to grant hearings to those apply
ing would be premature, for the reason tina {
the committee nay yet possibly reverse it's
decision not to grant hearings, and that pos
sibility will exist until the report shall have
been made.
Senator Hale's resolution in the interest
or those wishing to appear before the COM
mittee will be discussed in the meantime
and some republicans are anxious for an
opportunity to vote upon 1t because of the
pressure which is being brought to bear
not look now as If it would be adopted.
The Republican Policy.
1t is evident that the republican policy, so
far as it has been decided upon, is to be for
delay, and the main purpose of postponing
any attempt to secure action concerning
hearings before the report of the committee
is made is in line with that policy.
A motion to recommit would afford an
opportunity for considerable debate, and If
CHI Ia ~, M.
prove to be demoralizing to the democratic
majority. The republicans, of course, real
ize that the chances are largely against
them on a vote. but they count upon some
democratic dissatisfaction with the bill
after 1t shall be reported, and consider that
there is a bare possibility of it's being sufti-
Gent to aid them in their purpose.
The democratic subcommittee is proceed
ing in its work with the utmost secrecy
The meetings are held in Senator Vests
room and the two doors leading to the room
are kept locked to keep out intruders. They
also avoid calling attention to the meeting
by failing to have on duty the sentinel
who is Usually placed on the outside of
committee room when a committee is in
session.
Plans of the Majority.
The indications are that the work on the
tariff bill is progressing very smoothly and
that the purpose to report the bill within
ten days after its receipt by the commit
hearings are denied suggestions of all
democratic Senators are heard and cOnsid-
cred 1t is believed that the only important
changes in the bill will be the imposition of
Cuty on sugar and on coal, and it is be-
Heved that whatever changes are made
Will be made in the committee and that the
committees report Will be sustained by all
democrats when IL reaches the Senate The
present duty on coal is 20 cents
The W llSOn bill puts il on the free list
The report Will probably be in favor OF
duty OF between 20 and "a cents, or the
equivalent of something less than lS per
cent al Talorem The sugar duty reported
by the committee is expected to be a cent
pound on raw sugar and one cent and
a quarter on the refined. 1t is not thought
that any other duties will be restored, but
that some of the higher duties of the Will
son bill will be reduced.
Now Being Printed.
1t is understood that a draft of the tariff
bill revised by the subcommittee of the
democratic members of the subcommittee
is now being printed at the government
printing Office. Among the changes which
are said to have been made is l cent per
pound all kinds of sugar, cents per
pound on coffee 30 cents per ton on coal
and duty on iron ore: also that the bonded
period for whisky is made five instead of
three years. 1t is also understood that the
in toni "a he.