The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-10
Will Be Bitter When the
Senate Discusses Tariff.
FATE or The BILL UNCERTAIN.
May Possibly BE Forced Over to the
Next Session--Much Depends Upon
the Action That Senator Hill De-
cides TO Take.

WASHINGTON, March Undoubtedly
there will be q determined effort when the
tariff bill reaches the senate to have the
income tax feature eliminated, and II
looks as II the Democratic senator's who
are not satisfied with the bill would
make this portion of 10 their chief point
Of attack.
Senator Hill will lead of IN the assault
upon the income tax and he probably will
be supported by Senators Smith, Brice.
Murphy and q few other Democratic
senator's. as well ~ by majority OF the
Republican senators. The opponents Of
the tax claim that the bill will provide
sufficient revenue to meet the require
ments of the government without the
additional amount which the levy on in
come would give, and that because of
this fact there is no longer any excuse
for IL.
The majority, IL not all the Democratic
members of the finance committee, will
hold out stubbornly for the tax. One of
them has said that he believes it to be the
most popular feature of the bill. and while
they would expect to lose some Demo
cratic votes on an amendment to strike
out this portion of the bill, they would
get she votes of all three of the Populist
senators and of about 10 of the Republi-
can senator's.
Hard to Get Opinions.
There was less disposition among sena-
tors and especially among members Of the
finance committee to discuss the tariff
situation than at any time within the
past month.
Senators Allison, Sherman and AIdrich,
Republican members of the co.nmittee.
expressed no opinions when they received
the bill, but there is every reason to be-
lieve that they will adhere to their deter
mination, expressed previously, to ask n
full explanation from the Democratic
members of the changes made in the
tariff system by the pending measure.
They have heretofore expressed the
opinion that IL this request should be
granted IL would be impossible to report
the bill for three weeks after its receipt.
The Democratic mem bers, who by rea-
son of their superior numbers have this
matter largely in their own hands, have
not indicated just what concessions they
would make as to'time. Senator Voorhees,
has not indicated what time he consid-
cred ample, nor Mr.. Jones how far the
committee would be willing 10 allow the
Republicans 70 assume responsibility for
delay. tF
Some of the Republican senators ex-
press the opinion that IL the bill cannot
be recommitted, it may be possible to de-
lay it's passage until next FALL and possi-
bly, force it over until the next session of
congress.
Coupled with this statement is an as
sertion that some of the Democratic sena-
tors would not be unwilling to have it
suffer this fate, but the Democratic sena-
tors who are counted upon to aid In this
work are not expressing opinions upon
the question.
Much Depends Upon Hill.
Much interest is felt in Senator Hills
forthcoming speech. He said that he
could not yet say when he would deliver
1t. and repeated that he would not out
line his position until then. While open
ing the numerous kilograms this morn
ing, he remarked casually: Occasionally
you find a man who does not find the bill
perfect"
Men whose business interests are af-
fected by the bill and who did not receive
the consideration for which they had
asked at the hands of the Democratic
members of the finance committee are
still asking for hearings. There are
representatives of the glass. lumber and
wool interests here. The glass men were
especially urgent in requesting yesterday
that the committee should still grant an
opportunity to present their grievances.
Senator Voorhees, told them this would
be impossible.
1t is considered probable that the Re
publican members may present the repre-
sentations of some of these men to the
committee