The Washington times., 1894-07-05
THIRD STAGE OF PROGRESS
Tariff Bill Is Now Before the House
for Action.
SPECULATION AS TO coNFEREEs
The House Is Not Obliged to Agree with
the Senate in the Number Of Them.
Chances for Delay-ways and Means Com
mittee Will Advocate Non-Concurrenoo.

The tariff bill will enter on the third stage
Of Its progress in its return to the House this
morning and the probable reference to-mor-
row to the Ways and Means Committee. It ts
possible that the bill will be taken up to-day
on unanimous consent, but this is improbable,
as it is usual to allow a bill returned to lie on
the Speakers table day before being taken
up, and there is no particular reason except
that of haste why the usual procedure should
not be followed.
If the Ways and Means Committee take up
the bill on Friday it is expected that they will
be able to report it back to the House with
recommendations for non-concurrence by
Saturday. 1t is likely, therefore. that the
conference can be appointed on that day.
There has been considerable speculation as
to whom these conferees would be- and what
would be the number The House is not
obliged TO agree with the Senate in the num-
Der of its conferees, but it is now generally
believed that the desire to give desired reeog-
milton to as many members OF the committee
as possible will lead to q committee OF seven.
They will probably be the first four Demo-
Gratis and the first three Republicans on the
Ways and Means Commiitee-Mess Wilson,
of West Virginia; McAlillin. of Tennessee;
Turner. of Georgia; Montgomery, OF Ken
tucky. Democrats; Reed, OF Maine; Burrows.
OF Michigan. and Payne. of New York, Re-
publicans. While this has not been fully de-
termined upon, it is the understanding among
those who have been talking about the SUBJ
iect.
NORTHERN DEMOCRATS PRESSING.
There has been a pressure brought to bear
20 tn hox al
ern Democrats selected, and Mr.. Bynum,
of Indiana, has been suggested, but this has
been met with the reply that he is too far
down in the membership of the committee.
Between him are Cochran, of New York, and
Stevens, OF Massachusetts.
There has been some talk of Mr. Stevens,
but as he did not vote for the bill when it
pas sed the House he has ruled himself out.
Chairman Wilson, of the Ways and Means
Committee, would like very much to have
Mr.. Breckinridge, of Arkansas. on the confer
ence committee. but he is the last Democratic
member, and his appointment probably would
displease Mr.. Montgomery. a warm friend
and political associate OF the Speaker Even
though Breckenridge is not a conferee, he will
be consulted as 20 the matters in dispute.
The Senate conferees already appointed are
Messrs. Jones. Voorhees,, Vest and Harris.
Democrats: and Messrs. Sherman, Aldrich
and Allison, Republicans.
The question OF interest now is how long
will it take to get the bill through conference
and to an agreement. There are chances for
delay at a number OF laces Mr.. Wilson's
formal motion for a reference to the Ways
and Means Committee is debatable and may
lead TO some attempts to instruct the commit
tee as to its course. This. however. is not
expected by Mr.. Catchings, of the Committee
on Rules, and it is intimared that in case OF
such attempts at delay II rul ewill be brought
in at once TO force an immediate vote ON the
motion.
The committee will advocate non-concur-
renee in straightforward way, and the
Speaker without instruction will appoint the
conferees. The recommendation OF nom
concurrence is of course debatable. The
same remedy of special rule may again be
invoked to prevent unnecessary delay.
REPORTS tKo,i TIME To TINE.
This will enable the conference committee
to get TO work Immediately, and it is in
tended to make reports from time to time as
upon. Such reports are always privileged,
and can be brought in in the midst of any
other debate or discussion. No time can be
predicted with certainty for the continuance
OF the conference but it is hoped that two
weeks will prove sufficient.
When the conference reports to the House
finally there will be full debate. There is
possibility at this stage of the proceedings to
give the conference specific instructions with
regard to important features. But again the
OF the Rules Committee will be
called into play. if necessary, to put an end
to obstructionist tactics.
Mr.. Catchings thinks the House will be
through its work and able TO adjourn early in
August. Other Democrats agree with him in
this statement. although if the bill actually
receives the signature of the President by the
middle OF August there will be no dissatisfac-
ton at the rate OF progress.
There has been some idle gossip during the
early part OF this week to the effect that the
President was SO opposed to the protectionist
features of the bill that he would refuse to
accept il.
A prominent member of Congress from the
Presidents state said yesterday, however, that
Mr.. Cleveland was as pleased as all other
Democrats at having gotten the bill through
the Senate, and that he would not dream of
vetoing the first tariff bill that has been pre-
;ented for the signature of Democratic Pres
dent since 1857.