Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-28
THE SENATE BILL
1t Will Probably Be Accepted by
the House. ....,,~ --,..
THE TARIFF SITUATION CRITICAL
Either the Compromise Measure or
the Mckinley Bill to Stand.
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION


The democratic members Of the confer
ence committee on the tariff bill were
prompt in resuming their sessions today
The meeting was held in the room of the
Senate committee on interstate commerce
with all the members present except Chair
man Voorhees, who was absent on account
of Illness. From the best information OBJ
tsiEable the indications are that there will
be numerous changes in the less important
| schedules Of the bill. These were agreed
upon tentatively in the former conference.
ard it is considered improbable that the
basis Of agreement then arrived at will be
changed materially during the present con-
ference.
1t Is believed that there will be no ma
terial changes in the metal schedule. When
the former conference broke up the House
members were disposed to hold out stifly
| for considerable concessions on cutlery and
steel rails. The prospects now are that the
rates on rails will be lowered somewhat
but that the cutlery rate will not b.
changed.
Some Changes Agreed Upon.
The Senate cOnferees probably will ac-
cept the House rate of 81 per pound on
wrapper tobacco, retaining the Senate Ian
guage. There will also be some changes in
the woolen schedule the most important of
which probably will be in the paragraph
relating to cloth for mems wear. The SEN
ate bill provides a duty of 10 per cent on
articles of this class of less than 80 cents
per pound value and of 80 per cent on ar
ticlcs of greater value. The indications are
that the rate will be made A. per cent
straight. n similar change will probably
be made wooden articles not especially
provided for, but it is not believed that the
Encouragement will extend to womens and
children,s goods. The House rate on row.
inss and tops, % per cent. will be accepted.
cotton cloth and cotton yarns will prob
ably be reduced to the extent of about ;
per cent. as will laces and embroideries on
which the rate will probably be made IL
instead of 20 per cent
The House rates on china and ca arthen-
ware, which are slightly higher than those
of the Senate bill. will be accepted The
Senate probably will recede from it's in
crease OF the tobacco tax, and ii is said to
be probable that there will be a compro-
mise on the bonded period extension. the
tax being fixed at 81 and the bonded period
at five years.
The PresihenCs Position.
Chairman Wilson arrived from West Vir-
ginia this morning. and within a short time
received message from the Executive
Mansion requesting his presence there Mr.
Wilson was one of the earliest callers at
the White House. and he was with the
President for some time. He remained un.
TIL 1t was necessary to go to the Capitol for
the opening Of the second tariff confer
ence.
The Presidents desire &c see Mr.. Wilson
efore the conference opened, coupled with
Srta Crisp's call at the White House
yesterday and the Presidents request OF
Mr.. MCMtlln to come TO the White House
last night, were all accepted In congress-
ional circles that the President was willing
to let Chairman Wilson and Mr.. McMi!lin
know exactly what his position was before
the Informal conference was resumed.
When the visit of Mr.. Wilson to the
White House became known among MEM
bers 1t was felt on all hands that settled
policy on the part of the administration
had been agreed on, and there was intense
eagerness to learn which course it would
take.
but Two Courses Open.
1t was the almost unanimous expression
of members that but two courses were open
in view of the attitude of the Senate and
the tie vote yesterday. viz, to accept prac
tically the Senate bill or to leave tn Nc
Kirlcy law standing, and the expressions
were quite general that as between the
Senate bill, with such notifications as
could be obtained. and the Mckinley law
the Pr esident and Mr.. Wilson would re-
| luctantly accept the former. and thus end
the legislative panic and the probable fail
ure of all tariff legislation
No one at the Capitol was authorized to
say that this was the Presidents position
as stated to Messrs. Wilson and McMillin,
yet 1t was the consensus of opinion OF
members nearest to the President and to
the House conferees that this was the sit
uation. "A member whose relations with the
President are very close said that while he
could not speak with authority, he had no
doubt that an agreement by the conference
even though 1t be an acceptance of the
Senate bill, with some modifcations-would
be acQuiesced in by the President as the
best thing obtainabc. The Presidents let =
ter to Mr.. Wilson, said this member. had
pointed out clearly what the choice Of the
President had been. but it did not go to the
extent of committing the President irrevo-
| cably against the Senate bill if it WAS every
thing obtainable from a conference. ...... .
The Senate Bill to stand.
Chairman Wilson saw several members of
the House during the early part of the day.
and while he avoided a direct committal on
the issue between the House and the Sen
ate, these members got the impression, in
general way, that Mr.. Wilson regarded the
situation as extremely precarious, and as
presenting a choice between the Senate bill,
somewhat Modified, and a continuance of
the Mckinley law, and that he regarded the
former as the lesser evil.
Members of the House. in speaking CT ac-
cepting the Senate biIl" use the words as
meaning coal, iron and sugar, es there is
no doubt Of compromise many of the
other schedules. On these three items
House members feel that there may be
some slight change in the Senate rates, al
though the substantial features will stand.
1t was significant in this particular, that
q leading democratic member Of the House,
who expects to start tonight on a CAM
paign tour. prepared his speeches on the
basis Of practically the Senate schedules on
sugar, iron and coal.
ChuirMan Wilson Stronger,
Chairman Wilson goes into the second
tariff conference much stronger physically
than he was in the last conference his
stay in West Virginia having done him
much good. He no longer wears a ban
Iage around his head and over his face
The intense neuralgic pains in his head are
gone. His eyes are still somewhat swollen
and his forehead discolofed, but it Is a
great improvement from hiG condition a
week ago. He says he feels vigorous, and
this with his great stock of energy prom
ises to carry him through the tariff struggle
without the physical collapse imminent at
the last conference.
House COnfcrees TO Reply.
Just after l o'clock the democratic con-
ference adjourned, not to meet again today.
The House members however, intend to
have a meeting today to prepare a reply
to the ultimatum of the Senate conferees
Immediately after adjournment Mr.. Mont
gomery had conference with Speaker
t. tHax