Evening star., 1894-03-07
STILL UNSETTLED
Uncertain When the Tariff Bill Will
Be Reported.
1lll SILVER FIGHT OVER AGAIN
4 Free Coinage Amendment to the
Bland Bill.
NJ RE PLICATIONS

The finance committee don't themselves
Know today when they will report their
bill. The schedule is still unsettled and
50 Is the sugar market in New York The
committee are working with great diligence
u get their bill out, but the kickers in the
Sviidte. whom they are trying to win over
con seem 10 want TO be placated. 1t is
quite evident that there are Senators out
side Of the committee who are not vet
ready to nave the bill reported The re-
publcaas are hopeful that the bill is get
ting in such shape as Will make it possible
for them to defeat it altogether The
measure is. aside from the particular items
which are being manipulated in order to
secure the support of outside Senators, one
Of lower duties than the Wilson bill.
Lower Than the Wilson Bill.
1t is estimated that in the general sched-
ules there is an average reduction of duty
OF about twenty-five per cent below the
Wilson bill In the textile schedules,
especially in the woolen and cotton fabrics.
the cuts are hed.y. This will make more
apparent the inconsistency of special items
placed at a high protection for trading
purposes, and the committee are very re-
iaetant To depart from the general scheme
or thelr bill To secure votes, which, how
ever. they know they must have.
The republicans believe that the commit
tee will be between the devil ard deep sea-
that the kickers will vote against the bill
II they DO not get the protection they want.
and that the pOpulists and perhaps others
VIII vote against it if this protection IS
given The democrats in the House de-
clare that under no circumstances will they
go above tnree-qudrters of a cent a pound
on sugar and that they will not permit any
higher duty on the refined than on the raw
The Difficult Problem.
II. on the other hand. the bill cannot re-
ceive the approval of the Senate without
the duty which the sugar men there de-
mand, the problem seems to be the one of
the immovable body and Of the irresistible
force. Meanwhile there appears to be no
doubt entertained that the silver question
will be given precedence over the tariff I'm
the Senate. and how long this will delay the
consideration of the tariff depends upon the
physical power of the republicans to con-
tlnue the talk. The democrats hone TO hasten
the disposal of the silver question by giving
the silver men Of the republican side to
understand that the bill could be passed any
tme they are willing TO have vote taken,
anu the talk viii therefore be largely con-
fned TO those republicans who are opposed
10 silver as well to the, tariff
Free Coinage Amendment.
II Is proposed to amend the seigniorage
bill by adding free coinage amendment if
possible, and the silver men are very hone
ful that in the present disorganized condi-
tlon OF the administration forces in the Sem
ate this amendment may be adopted. 1t is
SAID that three or four republicans outside
az the silver ranks will vote to attach the
Tree coinage amendment and also to pass
the hlII WIN this amendment on il. A very
conservative republican expressed the opin-
len today that it was far from improbable
That ne segniOrage bill might ultimately
be Tassed with a free coinage amendment
More Complication.
This would only go to still more seriously
cOmplicate the situation for the democrats
and the republicans might look on with
considerable complaceney. The opinion Of
the republican leaders is that every day the
situation is becoming less favorable to the
passage of the tariff bill and if the passage
of a bill which would open up the silver
fight again in the democratic party is going
TO be had to the bewilderment of that party
the republicans will not be disposed to in
terfere.
1t was ascertained this afternoon that the
Senate finance committee will not be called
together today for the purpose of receiving
the tariff bill from the democratic members
Senator Voorhees, remark that the bill
would be reported ~Sithin few hours is
taken to have reference to tomorrow or the
next day.