The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-07-29
SENATE BILL OR NOTHING
That Seems 10 b About tho Tariff
Situation at the
Capital
House Tariff Reformers Called TO
the White House by tho
President
conFsrees Oct Together DorIng the Day,
But DO Nothing Bsysnd Talk
the Matter over

wAsHSoToS. Jolly 2s-'yhen the thrifi
conference broke up the house members
wore disposed 10 hold out stllP for oonaid-
efabls ooncesalons on cutlery aud steel
rails. The prospects now are that the ratts
on rails will be lowered somewhat, bot that
tho cutlery rate will not be changed. Tho
aOnnts ooufsross probably will Hcospt the
house rate OF 81 Ter pound on wrapper
tobacco. retaining the senate phrassology
There will also be aome changes In the
wool schedule, tho most inn ortsnt OF which
piobsblI will be In iLs paragraph relating
10 cloth for msn's wear. Cotton cloth and
cotton yarns will probably be reduced TO
the extent Of about Ave ref cent. as will
laees aud smbroidsrioI. on which the rate
will probably be made forty Eve instead of
hfty cents. Tho rate on china and earth
snvare. which ara sliehily higher than
those OF the senate bill. will be accepted.
lhe Presidents desire TO see Mr.. Wilson
before ths conference opened. coupled with
Speaker Crisp's call attho White house yes-
terday. and the residents request OF Ne
MILAN to como 10 tho White house las.
night. were all accepted in congressional
circles as evidence that tho President was
willing TO let Chairman Wilson and Nc
MILAN know exactly what his opinion was
before the conference was resumed. When
the visit Of Nr. Wilson TO the White house
became known among members ID was felt
on both sidss that settled policy on the
part Of the administ alton had been agreed
on.
IL was tho almost unanimous expression
OF the members that but two courses were
open In visw OF tho attitude OF the senate
and the tie vote yesterday. viz: To ao-
cept practically the ssnate bill or TO leave
the Mckinley law stand. and the expres-
sions were quite general that as between
the senate bill, with such notifications as
could be obtained. and tho Mckinley Law,
the president aud 81. Wilson would reluc-
tantly ACCEPT the former. and thus end the
legislative panic and avert the probable
failure OF all tariff legislation.
A member whose relations with the pfesi
dent are very close, seid that while be could
not speak with authority he had no doubt
| thnt an agreement between tho confetees,
even though IL be the acceptancs of the
senate bill. with some modiioAt.ons, would
he acqniesced in BY the president as the
best thing obtainable.
Chairman Wilson saw several member
OF the houae du ing the early part OF the
day. and viii o he avoided direct commit
tai on the fight between tho house and the
senate. the members got the impression ia
n general way that MIR. Wilson regardt d
the e.tuHtion as extremely pTecarious, mud
hs presenting choice between the senate
bill. somewhat modified and a continuance
OF the Mckinley law. and that he rsgi dsd
the former as tue lvsser evil.
The early session Ia conference was de-
voted entirely to an exchange OF views on
tho situation, with the senate members do
ing the greater rart OF the talking. They
told the house mombsts that with the
~ esent feeling Ia tue senate il was out OF
tho question for tho senate conferees TO
make any concession on the principal a.
II, os In dispute, and that Ia their opinion
the conference ould have 10 sdopt practi-
oally the senate bill or there would be no
tArih legislation.
Ihe house democratic ooafsrsos went 10
the ways aud means committee soon after
tho general conference with the senator's
ended, and the four house conferees held q
secret session. 10 was the first they had
met In this y, and IL was tuken to indi-
cate u purpose TO decide on line OF nc-
tion. II wac stated : ositiveIy by the house
confeiees that the meeting with tho senn-
tors had been confined 10 general going
oyor OF the subject, and that no agreement
had been reached on iron. coal or sagaT.
| At 1880 p. m. the session OF tue house
conferess had assumed important proper
tions aud was regarded as the turning point
OF the tariff struggle. IL was said by those
| Ia a position 10 know that tho drift OF az
fairs bshind closed doc that the meeting
would last until five o'clock, and thar
| Chairman Wilson and his three associates
re face 10 face with the plain prouosition
OF whether OF not thsy would accept prAc.
tically tho senhte bill or nothing. The
democrats OF the conferences will meet OH
Monday again. and possibly In the after
noon the republican members will be called
iu.
Later. Chairman Wilson sent for the en-
tire why's aud means committee of demo
erats and rsI ublicAns. and SONS Renera Al
| legislation referred to the committee was
laksn up. Az tho eloso OF tho meeting In
! the ways End means committee loom,
/ Ch ifmRn Wilson said tho full COMMITTEES
hsd a. proved Representative Doolittls't
bill 90 admit certain exhibita to tho OF POSI-
ti0h at 1hcoma, Wash, free Of duty. Tho
chairman declined 10 state what the tariff
confereos had done az their secret session
Notices have been sont TO the republican,
members that tho :nli conference commit.
tes will meet on Monday at one o'clock.
NAVAL PROMOTIONS.