Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-08-09
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
IU.ruNcroS Anp. =. 1884.

signed this morning. III was lhaO ~.
ore should be tree and coal be taxed al
20 cents a ton-the Senate rate-loF
five wears. and then made free. sugar
was no longer a subject for contention.
Last evening this agreement was taAep
10 The White House and submitted 10
Mr.. Cleveland for his approval. Inns
information Is given by gentleman Of
such standing that there Is no reason
10 doubt lis authenticity. ACCORDING
to him, the President was pleased that
The House had secured free iron ore,
but greatly displeased to learn that the
House conferrees had given their con-
sent to the levying OF q duty on coal.
Mr.. Cleveland is said TO have urged Inc
House conferrees to hold out lit
lie longer, in the hope that they
might secure both coal and iron 'ree.
The Senate conferrees appear TO DC
firm in the intention this morning OF
ending the controversary to-day. 10
All arguments advanced by their asso-
ciates from the House they have de-
clined to listen, and have warned them
that unless the agreement OF yesterr,,
day is promptly carried cut they VIII
20 TO the Senate and ask 10 be relieN-
ed from the duty as managers on Inc
part of the Senate. This would preclP-
tate matters and throw the bill into
the Senate. From a democratic au-
thoritv comes the statement That the
first act OF the Senate would De 10 re-
cede from its amendments on sugar
and put all sugar on the nee hsl.
This, they claim, would receive the
support of the great bulk OF the demo-
cratic vote. and of such Senators Oh
the other side OF the chamber as Stew
art. Teller, Dubois, etc. Democrats
deny that sufficient votes can be mus
tered 10 indefinitely postpone the
consideration OF conference report.
On the contrary they assert that free
sugar will prevail, under the circum-
stances just referred 10, and that the
House would take the bill and pass II
in that shape, with both coal ana IRON
ore taxed. Republican leaders sun IN
sist that there is good chance TO de-
feat the bill, and laugh at the idea OF
sugar being put on the free list, except
il be done as means preparatory TO
the defeat OF the bill. Up to noon the
republicans had received no notice OF
any meeting Of the committee, ana
were, officially, ignorant OF any agree
ment that might have been reached.
After tie adjournment OF the confer,
ence. Senators Vest and Jones repaired
10 a private room and sent tor Senators
German. Murphy aud Smith. The
first two named replied TO the sum
mons. but Mr.. Smith could not De
found. Mr.. McAlillin made the posi-,
tive statement that if the President mad
vetoed any arrangement the committee
NAV have made Yesterday, he, for one,
NEW nothing of it. Mr.. McAlillin
went further and said there had been
no reference to such report at to-day
session OF the conference, lie was
confident the conferrees would com
plete their labors this evening, or to-
morrow at the latest, although II was
inferred from what Mr.. McAlillin said
that the conierrees had run against a
n z that prevented their coming to-
gether after further discussion
At 1915 the conferrees adjourned Tor
lunch without having reached an agree
ment. There are indications OF gen
eral breaking up of the conference, al
though the members deny that any
thing unusual has happened. They
say they expect TO reach an agreement
this afternoon. The story that the
President has interfered is repeated
with additional details, and as the
story goes now, he was willing to ac-
ccpt the agreement yesterday, but over
night changed his mind, with the result
that no agreement appears now to be
in sight. 1t is now said that if this con-
dition of affairs be maintained much
longer the Senate conferrees will go to
the Senate and ask to be dis
charged. This action, if taken,
will be done on q motion to
reconsider the motion by which a
conference was granted at the request
of the House. Should this carry-and
it is believed it will-the bill would
again be before the Senate for action,
aud in parliamentary way that would
leave it open for any action the senate
might take. Motions would then be IN
order to recede or, if the majority was
at hand, to indefinitely postpone the
bill. Since the adjournment the con-
ferrees there have been numerous con
fe,ences of Senators and at some Of
them both democrats and republicans
have been present. There are evil
dences of desire on the part OF the
Senate to settle the whole matter, and
it is not altogether improbable that
decisive blow may be struck at any
time. At 2:30 prominent member OF
the managers or the part of the Senate
made the statement that it looked at
that time less and less like an agree
ment. The House conferrees are not
contending so much for free coal as
they are that the entire metal and
wooden schedules be revised and the
rates lowered. This was the subject OF
much discussion this morning, and as
soon as the conferrees adjourned for
lunch, Senators Murphy, Brice,
German, Jones and Vest held q con-
sultation, at which it was shown that
the conservatives would not agree to
anything that looked like a material
reduction on these schedules. 1t is said
that Mr.. Smith was sent for and that
be refused to attend, sending back
word that the conferrees knew very
we'll the position that he assumed in
regard to those schedules and how he
would act if they were interfered with.
When the conference returned to the
committee after lunch they were made
acquainted with this ultimatum.
The bill allowing the Mt. Vernon
Railroad the use Of certain streets in
this city. which nassed the Senate yes