Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-07
TARIFF CONFEREDS Feel More Hopeful of a Result
 Being Reached, SENATOR VOORHEES, TALKS Of the Compromise on Sugar. Thinks Coal and Iron
 Should Be Free.
SENATOR VOORHEES, TALKS

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-When the dem- acratic tariff conferees came from con- ference today there seemed to be better feeling among the conferees than at the close of the previous sessions. Members from both houses announced that the com mittee had been over the schedules and that progress was being made, but they did not indicate when a report would be reached, though some of the conferees expressed tue opinion that an agreement was in sight. For a considerable part of the day the senators were not in the con ference . room, but it was state that no significance was to be attached to that fact, as they were all working toward an agreement. These senators occas ional1y repaired to the committee room of Senator Vest, and some- times were in consultation with the demo- cratic managers in the room of the commit tee on appropriations.
 Considerable surprise was expressed by the conferees W hen they learned that call for caucus of tn house had been issued, and 1t was evide ntly very distasteful to the house members, who had felt that they were beginning to see an agreement. MT. Montgomery said that the caucus would make no difference so far as he was cou- cerned, and he would continue the work he
 
 different from that which he anticipated should be taken by the caucus. He said that while the caucus WAS in progress the onferees would be at work. z
 Senator Voorhees is still confined to his house, but tonight he gave out the follow- ing authorized interview as expressing the position Ire holds upon the question over which his colleagues are now wrestling: n
 ''It seems to me, o said he, "there ought to be but little if auy difficulty in reaching ar haf Q hOncaq The ways and means committee of the house did pot in the first instance report in favor of free sugar, but were overruled by the house, and free sugar was put in the Wilson bill. would gladly have concurred in this, but il. was soon ascertained with mathematical certainty that such a bill could not possibly pass the senate. On this point of difference between the two houses look upon the presidents letter 10 Mr. Wilson as help rather than a hin- drance toward a compromise settlement. The concession which the president ad- vises the house to make on sugar is liberal and ought to be at once satisfactory to every Legitimate sugar interest. 1 can en- certain no doubt that it will furnish the basis of successful sugar schedule.
 t'Mr. Caffery has announced iu the sem ate, as understand him, that Louisiana will accept i5 per cent ad vulorem without any reference to the trust, and especially if the bounty, or at least portion of it, is continued to the planters few months longer. Under these circumstances l am unable to see how the sugar issue can re- main any longer an obstacle to an agree ment.
 ''The only other points of serious trouble are em braced in the question whether coal and iron shall be free or have atariff duty laid on them of 40 cents per ton. These are exceedingly small and insignificant items of con troversy on which to defeat great national system of revenue reform, obstruct all Legislation looking to that end, disap- point and derange every business of the country, greatly emberrass the democratic on all classes of people. If leg islation shall entirely fast at this time owing to a stubborn disagreement as to whether there shall be small duty on coal and a small duty on iron ore, or whether these two articles shall be on the tariff free list, the men who make that re- suit Inevitable may rest assured that they will be held in everlasting remem brance and everlasting execration; that they will be burned in efiigy from ono ocean to the other and their names will be pillorled in the estimation of the American people.
 ''There i s so little ground in my mind now for a final disagreement that those who continue to insist of small things and thus accom- pllsh such disagreement will be held as criminals by all just m inded people.
 ''The sugar question being practically | out of the way, as have shown by conces- sion, the senate ought, in my judgment, l to concede free coal and free iron ore, and l of cou rse it would do so but for the mem- | bership in that body which can be counted | upon the fingers of one hand. l have | no disposition to reflect on the mo- l tives of those who differ from me | in opinion, but this small minority Of 1 the senate having substantially carried | their point on sugar, can very easily and | very hon orably afford to make concessions l on coal and iron ore. Such action on their | part and the great results which would follow would be hailed by the American | people as a blessed deliverancs from the present crisis in our aff iirs.''