The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-09
REPUBLICANS STILL HOPEFUL
They Believe Enough Votes Can
Be Had TO Defeat the Bill.
Several POpulists and Senator Hill Will
Not Approve the Measure-Vote
May Be Takeu To-Day.

to-day ii understood on all sides that
the Democrats would report to the full
conference tomorrow. Members of the
conference supported the general faith by
their statements which were more or less
sanguine or guarded, depending upon the
temperament of the speaker. While the ut
terances at the time of adjournment were
not strong as those which were heard
earlier in the afternoon, they were still
sufficiently assuring to justify the state
ment that, barring improbable contingen-
cies the Democratic members of the con-
ference will find themselves prepared
some time during tomorrow, or at the
latest on Friday. to call in the Repub-
lican members of the conference for full
meeting.
'I Will not say" said Senator Jones'
THAT we have agreed, for that would not
be true: but the situation is cheerful and
the indications are that we shall finish the
work tomorrow. If we do not come to
an agreement tomorrow 1 shall con-
slider the conference at an end. for do not
see the utility of continuing our inter-
views with the House conferees longer
This situation at the end of a day
which had started out with a determina-
tion the part of the Senate conferees
supported by the conservative Senator's to
bring the question at issue to a finality
during the day. and which later brought
the positive though unofficial announce
ment that this end had been accomplished
and understanding reached. The report
began to gain circulation about 1 O'clock
and it grew stronger and stronger without
receiving positive confirmation from those
in position TO know the facts until about
2:S0. when members of the conference and
Senators who had been closeted with them
confirmed it to the extent of saying that
Uhi nod
they felt confident that a basis had been
found upon which the conferees of both
houses could stand and terms actually
agreed upon which the conservative Sena-
tors would accept. Both Democrats and
Republicans accepted this as the approach
of the end and equal to a definite an
nouncement of agreement. The terms as
given out Were that the sugar schedule was
TO be as published last week. namely, a
duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem on raw
sugar. 40 per cent. on the value of the
raw sugar in the refined and one-ffth
of a cent differential on refined sugars, 40
cents a ton on COAL and free iron ore,
with slight changes in the metal, wooden
and cotton schedules.
CONFEREES FORCED TO HALT
When. however. the conference convened
at o'clock it soon developed that by no
means all the details had been arranged.
and also that there was more or less op-
position to the programme, and it was not
long before the conferees found themselves
bothering over many of the same PROPOSE
tions which they had been considering for
days 1t also became noised abroad that
the outlook was not so bright it had Ip-
peared a few hours before. 1t was under
stood that objection had been made from
the House the retention of the duty OH
mol md hat 81,
whom was Senator Pugh, of Alabama
had taken a decided stand against what
they termed the sacrifice of iron ore
These complaints were sufficient to cause
the conferees to halt for a time, and it Is
| known that some difficulties were +.ncoun-
| tered in adjusting the differences on other
| schedules.
The confeIees were, therefore, not as
| sanguine upon the adjournment of their
afternoon session as they were when the
forenoon session closed. They came out of
| the conference somewhat anxious, but still
| they asserted that tomorrow would see
| the final adjustment of their differences
| They stated, however, that the coal and
| iron ore rates were among those which
had not been fixed beyond recall. Indeed.
| sugar appears, from the statements given
| out. to be the only article upon which a
definite conclusion has been reached but
| it was understood that either coal or iron
| ore would go to the free list and che other
| would be dutable at the Senate rate Dur
ing the day it was first one and then the
| other of these articles that was to be free
| and finally it was left open until to-mor-
| row as TO which it should be- Outside of
| sugar, iron and coal very little is said
| about the other schedules, although the
| Senators say there will be few material
| changes in the manufacturing schedules as
| passed by the Senate. The House confer
ees fear that many changes would bring
| on another debate from Republican Sena-
| tors, whereas it is understood they will
not delay the passage of the bill if the Sem
| ate schedules upon which the Republicans
| have secured concessions are allowed 10
| prevail. The metal schedule will nave to
| be changed, however. to accord with free
iron ore, if it is finally concluded that this
article is to be selected for the free list.
| VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| Late in the day the report reached the
| House of Representatives that a final
agreement had been reached. Reports Of
this were so positive that they were dis
cussed as accomplished facts and the
Democrats of the House were more elated
than they have been for months. Routine
business was neglected and members gath
cred in knots and discussed the situation
House members representing large iron
and coal districts said that between the
two they would prefer free iron ore TO free
| coal. Some surprise expressed that the
| principle of free raw materials should be
] applied to one article and no. TO the other.