New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-30
CHANCES OF AN AGREEMENT
THEY SEEM TO BE SLIGHT. IN SPITE
OF ALL PREDICTIONS


IN pIsPuTE-THE QUESTION OF AID VALoREM
AND SPECIFIC DUTIES STILL UNSETTLED.
BY TELEGRAPH TIE TRIBUNE.
Washington July 29.There seems tn be gem
eral impression that II the conferrees on '"e
Wilson German bill can reach an agreement On
the sugar schedule and on iron ore ana coa' '"e'
will be able quickly and satisfactorily ID u'9PoSe
Of the other matters In controversy III 'dV" -
is asserted by many persons that the '"iic'''
have virtually settled everything except the rates
Of duty on the three articles above mch''o"'''
It is rather difficult to perceive upon what such
IMPRESSIONS and assertions are based 1T sho"'"
he remembered that there are ga amendments 10
m. tariff shedules in conference. and that most
NJ thon relate TO rates of duty and matters OF
classification and also that In many cases
single amendment covers several dliereht
changes of rate and classification
For example the Wilson bill imposes UNI
form rate Of q per cent al valorem on steer
ingots cogged ingots. blooms and slabs D"le's
and bars ETC. etc. Senate amendment No 90
of this paragraph imposes specific ratios ranging
from $40 of cent n pound on all OF the aru'les
included in the paragraph valued Az cent "
nouna or less TO 40 cents a pound on all valued
at above l6 cents pound, and thus makes
eleven changes in rates and classification and SIX
NJ the rates are higher than % per cent al
valorem Similar conditions hold good OF many
other Senate amendments 10 paragraphs IN the
metal schedule. To the cotton schedue the sui
ate proposes sixteen amendments. but these
amendments substitute sixty-six new rates or
duty In place of th,r,y-seven rates imposed 10y
the Wilson bill. the former rates being uniformly
higher than the latter while the number OF
| changes In classification Is about equal to the
number of changes in rate Many OF the latter
Il may be added. are also changes from ad
valorcm to specific rates. In fact. the number OF
cases In which the Senate has substituted spe-
cifc rates for the al valorem rates OF the Nlso.
bill is SO great to form most important
feature Of the measure and Of the controversy De
tween the Democrats of the House ana 'he 'e"
ate respectively.
In his speech on the first report Of the con,
fer7ees Chairman Wilson. of the ways ana
Means Committee. declared that the ad vaioTeh
system was Fundamental doctrine OF Demo
cratic political INTELLECTUALLY SO with free raw
materials"-and he denounced as bitter! anu
condemned as strongly the action Of the Demo
cratic Senate in favor Of specific rates OF uuty
as he did It's action in transferring IRON ore
coal and certain other so-called raw materials
from the free list TO the dutabe list The most
careful inquiries have failed TO discover tha' the
Democratic cOnferrees have made any progJ'SS
whatever toward the settlement OF ms dl'ict-
ence which Chairman Wilson regards as 50 radl-
cal and vital that they have even discussed
It in their dark lantern" conferences from Wtl,m
the Republican conferrees have been vigorously
excluded With what degree Of confidence theh
can anybody assert that the penocrhuc CON
ferrees have virtually" agreed upon matt,
which Chairman Wilson REGARDS as so Ni'a al"
which has not even been discussed?
Moreover there has been no asreemont "Vr'-
ual' or otherwise. upon any single item N con-
troversv between the Democratic representatives,
Of the two houses I'm the Conference Committee
This statement is made unreserv"dly on the au-
thority Of Democratic conf'rree VINO has n no'
present during every consultation that has been
held and who frankly said that 50 FAR az the
discussion Of rates had advanced y mas pe'."
confined 10 statements II the position ana rea-
sons Of the two sides. without any ocnhl" prop
ositions or concessions by either Side. except ~
to sugar iron and lead ore and coal. over wiich
there had been fierce and bitter contention WIN,
on, any indication that either side would yea
to the other. 1900,
Again more than three weeks have passeu
since the bill sent 10 conference. a,'.,n-
| ma MED by pledges from the chairman or 'he
! Wavs and Means Committee and the Finance
| Committee. respectively. that there should be
| "fuu and free conference" During the ehure
| perfod mentioned the Republican cohiFriecs nv
| heon narnitted TO attend exactly two meetings 81
this dfull and free conference. one OF 'he ~
,ings lasted an hour and was wholly oc'uWeu
nv \ general and somewhat desultory diScusEi'h
of several schedules. without any definite prop
! osifion or formal motion respecting any i'"'n ~
matter Of disagreement AT the other sitting
| which lasted fifteen minutes. the Repuhhcan con
| ,erroes were Informed that the majority had re-
| solved 70 report "a general Disagreement IN
| other words the first Full ana free c"hi''r.',
|
| ni,tee three weeks ago yesterday has yet 10 TAX"
nIace and more than Coo amendments are 10 ps
! considered and disposed Of IN an ora",N "'i'
I.g,tinste manner unless the pledges OF the lead
! ers and Spokesman OF the majority arc 10 DC "s
regarded and broken. And vet senator Joh"s, -,
| Arkansas representing the senatorial coIl."'I-
nuhilc,y expresses the opinion That the confer
ence Committee will be ready to report an aHiee
ment within the next two or three days -
| rha,e seams 10 be some misunderstanding IN
| regard TO the parliamentary status 81 'no con-
| ference report II one shall be made ne n anu n
! amendrnents are now In The possession "i uir
| senate conferrees and II report is aei""o 10 II
must first be made 10 the Senate ana ac'eh up1.
| hafore the House 81 Representatives can CONSIDER
and act upon It, II the Senate should vote -
| nn.,none consideration of the report untii hcA'
! December or any other time or even ind'ihlteIy
| 81 action would be regular and the only rem
edv that the House would have would De 10 pas
a new revenue bill. or series o' pop.guh pilis
| stronqIv advocates, and which Is understood 10
| he regarded with favor by considerable num-
| nor NJ Democratic Representatives.