Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-19
The Democratic Senators at Prog
ress on the Tariff Bill.
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION CEASES
But the Fight May Break Out
Again Later
ON SOME OF THE SCHEDULES

The adoption Of the order for the Senate
to meet at 10 o'clock after this week and
the progress made with the tariff bill yes
terday have greatly encouraged the demo-
Gratis. With the lack of unity Of purpose
which now characterizes the attitude OF the
republicans the chances Of the success OF any
attempt to long protract the fight are by no
means good. The republicans are not alto
gether sure that 1t would be good policy to
defeat the bill II they could do SO. They
have been unable to agree upon any policy
and have been merely drifting along. wait
ing for something to turn up that might In
dicatA what would really be best for them.
A&SN What Was Expected.
h NAhea this Congress convened there was
every reason to expect that a radical tariff
bill making a decided approach toward free
trade would be passed. The republicans
were prepared to resist 1t, but they had
very little hope Of preserving much protec-
ton. II such a measure had been brought
forth with the democrats united on 1t, the
republicans would have felt that they had
won a great victory In getting half the
concessions that the present bill gives to
protection. While this bill conforms close
ly to no party declarations. 1t comes nearer
the republican platform than to the demo-
cratic and Is vastly better for the protec-
tionists than they had any reason to ex-
pect In view of this, opposition to the
measure has not behind II that earnest sup
port from the manufacturers that would be
given II the reductions of duty were more
serious. 1t Is questioned whether in most
cases the reductions are sufficient to cause
the manufacturers great alarm, and 1t Is
said that In many lines great indifference
Is shown.
The Fight Not Abandoned.
The republican Senators have not aban-
doned their fight on the bill. as their course
yesterday. in letting so many paragraphs
go without challenge. has led some to be-
lieve. but the change in method was made
for two purposes. They felt that they had
gone a little too far in pressing their OBJ
jections by declining to let any Of the
amendments go in without debate and had
aroused the antagonism OF the democrats
to greater extent than they had intend
ed, and they concluded that nothing could
be gained by provoking friends OF the bill
into extreme measures. They have not,
however changed their purpose OF opposing
many OF the more radical changes which
the bill makes In the existing law, and II
is probable that they Will consume enough
time on these to compensate for the aggre-
gate time they might put in on all the
amendments.
willing for a Test Question.
It is also probable that they are willing
that a test question should be reached. and
1t is believed that the sugar schedule is
expected to furnish this test. Only a part
Of the metal schedule and the wood schedr
ule stand between the paragraphs already
disposed OF and the sugar question The
metal schedule as amended by the COM
promise provides for a reduction Of only
about one-fifth from existing rates. and II
Is not probable that many OF the para
graphs in this schedule will be debated
at great length. There is sure 10 be more
or less discussion Of the lead and lead-ore
duties. The wood schedule may also de-
velop a debate over the question of free
lumber Ali the indications are. however.
that the sugar schedule will be reached
next week. The debate on this schedule
| promises to be sensational and some of
the republican Senators have expressed
the opinion that this schedule will prove
| to be the weakest link in the tariff chain.