The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-09
HOPES AND FEARS.
The Tariff Tension Has
Got Very Near the
Breaking Point.
SUGAR NOT THE TROUBLE
The Free List an Effeetual
Threat-Coal, Iron and
Wool Men Feared.
Republicans Trying to Figure Out
Combinations for Indefinite
GPostponement.
SUGAR NOT THE TROUBLE

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8. 1ss4.-The ten
sion .Nof the tariff situation is SO great
that something must break within 40
hours. The strain canno be longer con-
tinued. This is admitted on all hands
by the friends of the bill and its oppo-
nents, by the hopeful adherents OF the
Wilson bill and the cautious trainers OF
the Senate compromise. All those who
are best informed are the most doubtful
of the outcome. 1t is only the theorists
who are %sanguine. The practical poll
ticians on both sides are filled with I'M
certainty. If the Democratic majority OIL
the conferrees should adopt the COM
promise that was discussed and partly
agreed to yesterday, or any other form
of compromise, and call their Republican,
associates in, so as to go through the
form of having a fun and free conIer-
ence," before making a report, II IS the
purpose OF the Republicans to mterpose
no unnecessary delay to the adoption
of a report. This of itself excites UNI
easiness in the minds of the managers,
as it denotes a desire to get the bill
back into the SENATE in any shape, and
on any terms, with the confident expect
alton of being able then eithef TO XIII
it outright or to indefinitely postpone
the consideration of the conference re-
port, which amounts to the same thing.
SAVED BY A VOTE.
1t cannot be forgotten that at least
three times in its perilouS passage
through the Senate rapids, the Dill HAS
been in such a position that one vote has
saved il. Senator Hill is keenly alive
to this fact. and yesterday sent q most
urgent telegram to his ally, Senator
Irby. of South Carolina, urging him to
be in the Senate today without fail, 1t
is not the combination of the Louisiana
that is most feared. They can be held
in effective check, it is believed, by the
threat of free sugar, which could be car
fied in the Senate and would receive an
overwhelming vote in its favor in the
House. 1t is other nterests-the advoca-
ton of iron, coal and wooden duties
that are dreaded. Any of these disaf-
fected elements. uniting with the Re
publicans and Senator Hill and Irby in a
motion to indefinitely postpone, could
carry the day
From every point of view the outlook
in the early morning was overcast and
threatening. The absence of aquornm IN
the Senate yesterday. when Mr. George
attempted to call up the bankruptcy Dill,
was accidental. There Were enough IN
make up the necessary forty-four II they
had chosen to come out. But a point
is being rapidly reached where the abb
sence of a quorum may be intentional
and most significant. The appropriation
bills are now all out of the way except
tYo. a joint resolution to adjourn
might be passed in the Senate. The
House, Of course, would refuse to con-
cur. but the passage of such a resolu-
ton by the Senate and theabsence OF a
Quorum afterwards would efectuaUy par
the transaction of any further business.
1t is admitted that a quorum of the
Senate cannot be kept together many
more days. S~arneihiug has 70 be done
with the tariff bill immediately or moth
ing viii be done at all.
THEIR BACKS STlFFENED.
1t is said this morning thai the House
confereeS went into a conference TINS
morning with their position somewhat
stiffened by a message that was receives
today from the White House. When adj
journment was taken last night there was
a verbal agreement that should be re-
duced to writing and signed this morn
ing. 1t was that iron ore should be 1ree
and coal be taxed at forty cents a ton.
the Senate rate-for hve years, and then
made free. Sugar was no longer a SUB
,ect for contention. Last evening this
agreement was taken to the Whlte
House and submitted to Mr.. Cleveland
given by a gentleman of such STANDING
that there is no reason to doubt It's au-
thenticity. According to him, the Presl,
dent was pleased that the House nad
secured free iron ore, but greatly dis
pleased to learn that the House con
ferees had given their conseHt to the
land is said to have urged the House con-
ferees to hold out a little longer, in the
nope that they might secure potn coal
anu pIGETERMINED TO END IT.
The Senate conferees appear to be nrm
in the intention this morning OF enoing
the controversy today. To all
advanced by their associates from the
House they have declined to listen anu
have warned them tnat unless tAt eicS,
ment of yesterday is promptly carried
out they will go to the Senate n ask 10
be relieved from further duty as man
ayers on the part of the Senate. rms
would precipitate matters and throw the
bill into the Senate. From a Democratic
authority comes the statement that the
first act of the Senate would be to re-
cede from its amendments and put all
sugar on the free list. This, they claim,
would receive the support of the great
bulk of the Democratic vote, and of SUCH
Senators on the other side of the Cham
Der an Stewart, Teller, Dubois, etc.
Democrats deny that sufficient votes can
be mustered to Indefinitely postpone the
consideration of d conference report.
on the contrary. they assert that free
sugar will prevail. under the circum-
stances Just referred to. and that the
House would take the bill and pass it
in that shape, witt both coal and iron
ore taxed. j.
there is a good chance to defeat the
bill, a~ndlaughatthe Idea of sugar being
put or the free list, except it be done
as a means preparatory to the defeat OF
the bill.
At 1870 the Republicans had received
no noice of any meeting of the COM
mittee, andwere officially ignorant of
any agreement that might have been
reached.