The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-04
THE TARIFF JUGGLE
Only One Interest Looked After
and That the Sugar Trust.
Dilatory Conferences to Patch Up Conn.,
promise Have the Main Object of
Satisfying the Trust.
NEW SCHEDULE PROPOSED
Which May Likely Result in An
other Disagreement.
Proposition Asked to Investigate Lynch
ings-Deficiency and River and
HarbOr Bills Settled.
NEW SCHEDULE PROPOSED
necial 70 the IndiananoI,s Journal,

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Aug. SIT seems safe
to say, at midnight, that the conferees on
the tariff bill will not make their report
before late next Monday afternoon, or
Tuesday morning. Senator Quay told the
Democratic managers this morning that
he desired to leave Washington for a few
days, and he was told by Senator Jones
that he need not return before Tuesday.
There two propositions the sugar
schedule before the cOnferees. 1t must be
remembered that the study of the conferees
from both houses is to give the Sugar
Trust all it demands, but to conceal this
servile surrender by a change of verbiage
of the Senate bill The first proposition
to levy duty of 40 per cent. ad
valorem on raw sugar and 42.1 per cent.
ad valorem on refined. When it is remem-
bered that the official statement issued by
the Treasury experts made 1t plain that
the differential of one-eighth accorded to
the Sugar Trust by the Senate bill was
equivalent to an ad valorem rate on re-
fined sugar of 1921, 1T will be recognized
at a glance how little the Sugar Trust
would lose if the House should adopt this
proposition.
The second proposition laid before the
raw sugar, and an elaborate and COM
plicated schedule by which the custom
house experts are to calculate the amount
of raw sugar represented in every 100
pounds of refined sugar. and to levy All
additional one-fiftn differential in addition.
1t is estimated that 100 pounds of refined
sugar represents 1O5 pounds of raw sugar,
on which 40 per cent would be levied but
it is none the less difficult to see where
the Sugar Trust would reap less advantage
unler this schedule than under the one
eighth differential system of the Senate
bill. In other words, all these various
propositions are simply transparent Jug
Cling of words and figures by which the
interest of the Sugar Trust are sacredly
guarded. This latter proposition, because
of its apparent reduction of the advantages
afforded the Sugar Trust, is the one more
likely to be adopted. Secretary Carlisle is
quoted tonight as saying that agree
ment has been reached by the conferees On
this basis.
The understanding among the tariff CON
ferees when they adjourned late this af
ternoon was that the session tomorrow
should bring about either agreement on
!, the sugar schedule or a decision 10 report
a disagreement. To-day was devoted by
the conference to a discussion of the sugar
question. This schedule, in detail pro-
vides for duty of 40 per cent. ad valorem
on sugar below 16 Dutch standard, and 40
duty the refined sugar to be collected
on the basis of the saccharine strength of
the raw sugar used In 1t, with 1-5 of a cent
differential on the refined and a discrmin-
ating duty equal to the export duty levied
by such sugar-producing countries as pay
bounty on sugar production. This sched-
ule was submitted TO the conference as
tors, coming through Senator Smith, of
New Jersey, and the House conferees were
given to understand that the schedule was
the nearest approach to the requirements
that the Senate could make with any as
surance that the bill would pass in the
Senate.
Some of the House conferees are favor
ably inclined towards the schedule because
they believe that it defines exactly the ex-
ira duty to be paid on refined sugars, and
is free from the objection urged against
the Senate Scedule that. owing TO the word
ing of the schedule, 1t was impossible to
tell beyond the one-eighth of a cent differ
entail what the duty would be on the re-
fined article. They are of opinion that the
duty in the schedule presented to-day will
be confined to the one-fifth OF a cent diff
ferential 1t is understood, however, that
while inclined to accept these figures as the
best they can get and while considering
that in this way they secure an advantage
over the Senate schedule, they indicated
desire to consider the question over night,
and that IL was on this account that the
decision which 1t was hoped would be
reached to-day was postponed until to-
morrow.
A report received from an inside source
is to the effect that some of the House con-
ferees found this schedule Objectionable
from several points Of view, and when the
time for adjournment was reached had not
only failed to indicate Willingness to ac-
cept the schedule, but had said that, SO far
as they have been able TO master it's de-
tails, they considered it unacceptable. 1t
was this expression of opinion on their part
which left the situation in such doubt when
the conference adjourned, and rendered it
possible that instead of an agreement be-
ing reached, the result might be disagree
ment. The pressure for a bill is so strong
in the party, however, that the probable
on some line.