Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-03

Gentlemen, the tartn bill has Just escaped
former republican Senator refrained from
voting. Now. you know the situation. 1t
is positive fact that the Senate bill and
nc other can pass. 1t will be unsafe to
trust 1t In the Senate with any change
Whatever. The only way in which there
can be any tariff legislation is for you gen.
tlemen to take this bill and pass IT,"
The session was very short. The Senate
conferees announced to their colleagues
that the House members said nothing The
House members held q short conference
emong themselves. No other meeting of
the full conference was held until Monday
The interval gave the House conferees
time to ascertain the sentiment OF the
Houses and on Monday they announced that
they were willing to confer and see II a
compromise could not be reached but
would not accept the Senate bill in its en-
tirety, as had been insisted upon Saturday.
They pointed out several defects in the
Senate bill.
First wavcring Senators.
There was. for the first ,ime. a wavering
on the part Of the Senators VINO had stood
behind what was known as the caucus bill
Many democratic Senators. not including
those known as conservatives. said that the
House was entitled to some consideration,
and that IL never was the understanding
that there should not be some concessions
to the House. There were SO many Sena-
tors who were OF the same opinion the
House conferees that they made themselves
felt, and instead CT adhering to the posi-
ton OF Saturday, viz, the Senate bill In its
entirety or no bill. the conference has pro-
ceeded with view OF adjusting differences
and making concessions, corrections and
changes. Neither side expects to get all II
wants. but both Senate and House confer
ees do expect a tariff bill.
The Main Point of Difference.
1t is true that the three main points OF
difference have not been adjusted. but that
hox- in f,t
the start the sugar schedule has been the
main point Of difference. While the House.
by its vote, made sugar free. It is conceded
now that duty is necessary for revenue.
The one-eighth differential in favor OF re-
llned sugar has been the obnoxious feature
OF the House, but to the conferees. who
nave been studying the question, the one
eighth VIII probably be accepted, as they
think that the advantage to the refiners IS
concealed in the ad valorem rate The dlf-
ference between the price of raw sugar and
reiined, which will regulate the amount of
duty to be levied, can be manipulated by
TIE trust TO Its great benefit AMI the injury
OF the consumer and the revenue of the
government. The Senate conferees tell the
House members to write the schedule SO AS
to prevent any such manipulat ton and il
will be acceptable il 1t remains tho same
outy ana protection to the sugar interests
contained in the Senate bill. l. ls this prob
lem that has been engaging the conferees
Tor Cay or two. and many PROPOSITIONS
have been presented md rejected but the
adjusted.
Iron and Coal.
The other main points Of difference. coal
and iron ore. have also been the subject
OF more or less discussion. with but little
success, as the points of compromise do
not afford as much latitude as the sugar
schedule. The fact that the democrats of
the House generally do not care much
about either OF these questions save as 10
the principle involved, has given the Sem
ators reason to believe that they can hold
them in the bill. but the House conferees
feel that tn ,y can adjust the matter by Sc
curing free coal. with a proviso that the
Serate rate, 40 cents a ton, shall be I'm
posed upon coal coming from those coun-
tries which refuse the free admission of
coal produced in the United States 1t Is
agreed that iron ore becomes less q matter
OF contention on both sides. and II is be-
leved that 1t will not be allowed to stand
In the way OF final agreement.
One Sugar Proposition.
1t is understood that one Of the sugar
schedules most recently submitted to the
tariff conferees is one providing for a duty
OF 4o per cent on raw sugar and on the
value OF the raw sugar which was used In
the manufacture Of the refined article, with
the addition OF one-ffth of a cent dtfferen-
tial on refined sugar. 1t il understood that
this schedule has been very seriously dis
cussed, but II cannot be learned whether il
is the one to be submitted as the best which
the Senate conferees would grant Ob1ec-
ton is made to IL that 1t would be very
difficult to determine the value Of the raw
sugar going to make up the MANUFACTURED
article. on account Of the different grades
Of raw sugar imported into the country.
This. II is understood. urged by its advo-
Gates, could be arranged by the treasury
regulations. The end which IT Is desired to
accomplish in this. as In all other propo-
sitions, Is TO prevent the refners from
obtaining any advantaged ad valorem rate
Gs applied to refined sugar. which II is
claimed by the House members they have
in the Senate bill