The Washington times., 1894-07-15
THEY AGREE TO DISAGREE
Senator Brice Predicts Report from
the Conferees on Wednesday.
SUGAR A STUMBLING BLOCK
Changes that Are Believed to Have Been De-
cided Upon Tentatively-Louisiana Con-
gressmen and Senators Firm-senate Con-
ferees Urging Necessity Of Concessions.

Senator Brice was laconic last night when
asked for information as to when the tariff
conferees would report. 1.-The report, he
said, will be made TO the two houses on
Wednesday of next week. The conferees
will report disagreement and both houses
will instruct for another conference"
When asked if he did not think there would
be partial agreement, he replied that he did
not, as no inclination had been manifested TO
make divided report. Other Senators also
predict that a report will be made during the
week. but they are not so positive as to the
day. and some Of the members OF the commit
tee in their conversation with newspaper rep
resentatiyes, whatever they may say TO their
fellow Senators and representatives. dis
courage the idea that report may be ex-
pected during the week. They say that 1t
is too early to say when q conclusion will
be reached by the Democratic conferees with
ont taking into consideration the possibility
of delay after the Republican members OF the
conference are invited TO participate in Its
proceedings.
REPuBIIcAN coSFEREEs WAITING.
On this latter point Senator Aldrich says
that If. when the Republicans are asked into
the conference, it should appear that the
Democratic Senatorial conferees had made
concessions sufficient to materially alter the
character of the Senate bill they would cer-
taiply ask for full information as TO the rea-
sons for the changes, and that in that event
the probabilities were that considerable time
would be necessary after the beginning OF the
full conference before the report could be
made.
II. however, Senator Brice is correct in his
prediction that there will not be divided
report, and that the report made will simply
state the fact of a disagreement, there would
seem to be no reason why the Republican
conferees should demand a prolonged con-
slderation in committee
HOLDING OUT on SUGAR.
With reference to the proceedings OF the
conference yesterday it can only be stated
that the sugar schedule has consumed the
greater part if not the entire time of the COM
mittee and that the work has been devoted
largely on the part Of the Senators to per-
suading the Representatives TO consent to the
retention Of the one-eighth OF a cent diiferen-
tial on refined sugar. Inquiries have also
been sent out by the conferees as TO how
much less than 10 per cent. ad yalorem VIII
satisfy the sugar producers. Louisiana MEM
bers of Congress say nothing whatever can be
sponse to the comferees was to that effect.
While It is true that during the week almost
every schedule in the bill has been under con
sideration, it is n fact that as yet few If any
rates have been fixed other than tentatively
and when members OF the conference say that
nothing has been absolutely agreed upon
they are technically within the bounds of the
truth. 1t appears from the best information
obtainable that q great part of the time has
been given to a representation to the House
conferees by the Senate members OF the neces-
sity OF making the most liberal concessions
possible in the interest of the final passage on
the bill through the Senate. The House con-
ferees have indicated in most, if not all, in
stances what they thought the House would
assent to, and it is the figures given in these
cases which have been accepted as agree
ments by those who have heard them re-
ported.
PROBABLE CHANGES THUS FAR.
The changes which it is believed have been
practically agreed upon thus far are an in
crease in pottery of per cent. restoring the
House rate. because of the settlement of the
pottery strikes. the operatives having asked
for the increase The cotton schedule ia
scaled down on an average OF per cent; the
wooden schedule about the same amount.
The coal and iron duty is left as it IS in the
Senate bill, 40 cents a ton each.
TOBACCO tue Sdilt rave 10 ItSlDItu III
wrappers, 81. 90 instead of S1.50 and S2.2
The income tax will stand with a possible
Limitation as to the time it will continue, OF
five years. The whisky schedule limits the
bonded period to five years and the tax at
S1.OO per gallon. 1t is believed, however.
that all these changes are to be regarded as
tentative and that they are subject to re-
opening at the desire of the conferees.
Senator Harris stated late in the afternoon
that it was absolutely impossible at this time
to say whether the Republicans could be ad-
mitted to the conference this week or not,
from present indications.
Several other Senators who are specially
interested in leading schedules, and who en-
Joy the confidence Of the conferees, made
similar statements. In several cases the use
of the word deadlock was objected to, it
being suggested that the matter bad rot
reached that acute phase, and that differ
ence'' was the proper word.