The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-03
ACONPROMISE TARIFF BILL
Fair Progress Now Being Made by
the COnfeTeeS.

7, Will Be Two or Three Days Yet,
However, Before an Agreement Gan
Be Announced as Certainty Sugar,
Iron Ore and Coal Still the Principal
Bones of Contention.
Washington, Aug. 2.-The democratic
tariff conferees held an unusually long
session to-day, lasting from 10 O'Clock
3 n. until 80 p. m, and then, after
few minutes for lunch, continued through
the afternoon. No agreement had been
reached up to the noon recess. The con
ferees said, however, that fair progress
was being made. One of the House men
said it would take two or three days yet
before it could be said with certainty that
a bill would be agreed on. AS heretofore,
sugar, iron ore and coal are the items at
issue.
AS to iron and coal, there seems to be
good grounds for the report that sliding
scale compromise is under consideration,
by which the 40 cents per ton duty will be
reduced for four years until entirely ex-
tinguished. It is understood that this
plan commends itself to the President
and Chairman Wilson, as it will in time
pfLUE d ICdllIdllOA VI ALCC raw uldICEldlSs
JONES HOPEFUL.
Senator Jones came out of the tariff
conference committee room about u
o'clock to-day and said that the conferees
were still at work and he hoped that a
basis of agreement might be found. He
said that up to that time there had been
nothing done with view of preparing a
report, and he could say that nothing had
been agreed upon absolutely, He indi-
Gated that there might be some changes,
but maintained that the Senate cenferees
knew they could not depart far from the
Senate bill He believed the House confer
ees were beginning to realize this. feature
of the contest. and intimated that some
schedules would be rewritten. There
seems to be a general feeling among mem
bers of both houses that a compromise
between the conferees will be reached
within day or Two
THE CALL FOR A CAUCUS.
Chairman Holman of the House demo-
cratic caucus committee conferred with
Representative Springer as to the pro
posed caucus to-day, and then authorized
the following statement:
While the call for the caucus is signed
It has been considered desirable, after
consultation with Mr.. Springer, that the
caucus be deferred until the conferees
reach the conclusion that there is no hope
of breaking their deadlock. There has
never been the remotest desire to inter
fere with the conferees in their effort to
reach an agreement The caucus was
proposed and will be held only as a means
of considering remedy when the chance
of breaking the deadlock is hopeless"
THE COMPROMISE BILL.
In the compromise that it is suggested
may be agreed to- an effort will be made
TO meet the complaint that the ad valorem
gives the sugar trust special benefit in
addition to the one-eighth differential.
There is no probability of the one-eighth
being taken OFF.
AS to coal and iron ore, proposition is
made to accept the Senate rate of 40 cents
ton for this year, with provision for a
gradual reduction, until a the end of
four years all duties shall be abolished.
These propositions have not been agreed
to, nor are they the only ones being con-
sldered, but they appear to be the most
promising Whatever the Senate yields
on these three items however, is apt to
take so much off what the House might
otherwise expect to get as to other sched-
ules in the bill. AS lar as tariff legisla-
lation may effect the public, there
are other schedules in the bill
of greater importance than those
which are in public dispute,
but as public attention has been directed
CO"dLu tISSG GLGy are buS Qu6SGlOuS dJ
issue, and therefore there IS more politics
in them. On account of this situation the
House may sacrifice matters of more real
consequence IN trying to get concessions
on sugar, iron ore and coal.
SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS.
When the tariff conference broke up
this afternoon, the House members re
ported to their friends that substantial
progress was being made, but as usual de-
clined TO state in what particular.
One of the House conferees said to-day
that an agreement on coal, iron ore and
sugar would certainly be reached either
Saturday or on Monday next.
One of the Senate conferees said to-day
that the bill is now in such shape that an
agreement can be reached very speedily
If the House wishes, or the whole bill
may be defeated if the House insists on
it,