The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-21
THE TARIFF SITUATION.

In reviewing the situation now once
more complicated by the disagreement
of the two branches Of Congress as they
We're represented in the conference
committee. and by the Intervention Of
the President in favor of the House
position as against the Senate, it is in
tsresting to note how the business
world regards the situation.
The leading exponent Of business con-
ditons in the newspaper world, Brad
streets, sizes the situation up from a
business standpoint.
1t says: Regarding the effect of
the disagreement upon the fate of the
bill, there seems to be no reason for de-
parting from the views already expressed
here. The Senate seems to have the ad-
vantage OF position, and tits probable that
its attitude will be the most potent fac.
tor in determining the character of the
new tariff bill If there is to be one. The
Senate members of the conference COM
mittee have acted with greater de-
gree of cohesion than the House
members Of the same side.
The members OF the majority party
in the Senate are, in addition, con-
siderably more united than are the
members of the same party in the House.
Furthermore, the margin Of the major
ity in the Senate is much smaller than
in the House, and for that reason the
opportunity for a change Of attitude is
considerably less in the former than in
the latter body. The votes of individual
members are of more consequence, of
course, where the margin of control is
small than where it is large, and there
fore the margin Of possible concession,
leaving inclination out of the question, is
correspondingly smaller. At the present
outlook. therefore, the Senate seems to |
possess the vantage ground, at least from |
the point of view of the power to pre-
vent action, and 1t is scarcely too much
to say that the bill must be framed after
a manner to commend itself to the Sem
ate or will be defeated-that is, if the
senate should determine to insist on its
notwithstanding the pref
renee for the House measure expressed
n President Cleveland's letter to Mr..
Wilson, read in the House on Thursday.
The possibility of a failure Of the bill is
lready being discussed, but the discus
ion seems rather premature as yet in
pite Of the existing cloudy outlook for
he bill. AT any rate, another week or
D must elapse before it will be safe to
szard conjecture upon the subject,
This seems to voice the general belief
mong business men that the tariff bill
5 it is today is practically dead. A new
leasure, distinctly compromise meas
re, is a possibility but hardly proba-
ility, and belief is rapidly gaining
round that no tariff bill at all will be
assed during the present session, unless
10 House recedes from its position, a
,ntingency hardly likely to occur. The
iances OF compromise were much bet
IT before Mr.. Cleveland interfered, and
lere are many who believe that his in
rference was part Of program decided
pom when 1t became manifest that the
fferences between the two houses had
,come irreconcllable.
In other words, as THE News has
ready suggested, his letter was intend
to increase this feeling in order that I
10 bargains already made could be car. n
ed out. II
Time alone is necessary to verify this :
spicion.