Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-08-10
Washington Notes.

Thursday was another day of consulta-
tions and counter propositions. The Dem
ocratic conferees of both houses seemed
disposed to face the situation; were in ses-
sion for several hours, and sugar was the
main bone of contention. More than
score Of compromise schedules were pre-
sented, but the differential duty stood in
the way of acceptance. No decision could
be reached that would suit the combine, p"
and the senate conferees would not desert
the men whose votes are absolutely neces-
sary to pass any bill. Coal and iron ore
were discussed and a proposition offered
limiting the time during which they shall
be dutiable. Demands were made by the
House for reduction in the woolen
schedule. There is also wide divergence
between the two houses on the whisky tax.
The cotton schedule will likely remain
practically unchanged. But, with all this
discussion, no conclusion was reached on
anything. While manifesting a disposi-
ton to get together, they remained widely
apart.
During the session of the Senate that
day, Senator Gray of the Investigating
Commi ttee made his report, a lengthy doc
ument which practically exonerates every
body.
Summing up, the committee say, mo
charges have been filed before them al
leging that the action of any Senator has
been corruptly or improperly influenced
in the consideration OF the tariff bill and
no attempt has been made to so influence
Legislation"
All the testimony taken by the commit
tee is submitted as part of the report.
Senators Davis and Lodge, Republicans
made minority report, which concludes
rs follows:
at is a matter of complete indifference
to the trust what duties are leyied upon
sugar so long as the form is ad valorem
and a sufficient differentisl is given in ia
var OF refined sugar.
1.-THE Sugar trust, by the evidence of its
president and treasurer, has contributed
freely to the state and city campaign funds
of both parties, and their contributions
have been made in years when national
elections were held. This is a thoroughly
corrupt form of campaign contribution, for
such contributions being given to two op-
posing parties are not for the purpose of
promoting certain political principles, but
to establish an obligation to the giver on
the part of whichever party comes into
power. The trust does not give to politi-
cal parties for the promotion of political
principles in which it believes, but for the
protection of its own interests, as appears
by the same testimony. The fact that it
gives to both parties is sufficient proof of
the purposes of its contributions and of
their dangerous nature For these rea-
sons the undersigned have felt it impOr
tant to lay before the Senate aud the coun-
try the fact that the sugar schedule as it
now stands is, according to the testimony,
in the form desired by the trust and TO
point out also the methods by which the
sugar trust reached what it desired and OBJ,
tanned, substantial victory"
On Friday the Conferees seemed to be
no nearer an agreement. 1t was stated
that the Senate Confereees had prepared
an ultimation on the Sugar Schedule
40 per cent and differential duty on re-
fined.
On Sunday there was an informal meet
ing of the Conference Committee, and
President Havemeyer of the Sugar Trust
sent word that the new sugar schedule
purporting to give the refiners differ
ential of one-fifth of a cent pound would
not suit him.
On Monday the Conferees wrestled with
the coal and iron schedules but agreed
upon nothing The House Conferees re-
fused to yield an inch. A call was issued
by Chairman Holman for a caucus of
House Democrats Wednesday afternoon
At the Democratic caucus of Tuesday
afternoon Chairman Wilson and his as
sociate house tariff conferees scored a
victory when the caucus, called with a
view of terminating the tariff struggle
by instructing or advising the house con-
ferees, adjourned without taking any ac-
ton. The effect of this was to leave the
house conferees to proceed as they saw
best, and show conspicuously that the
effort to advise them had failed. The
friends of Mr.. Wilson found that they
had the cancus so well il hand that they
could have passed tie Livingston reso-
luton expressing confidence, hut there
was no desire on the part of the sup
pOrters of the cOnferees to take this
course.
Speaker Crisp and Chairman Wilson
expressed themselves as gratifed with
this conclusion. and among the rank and
file of the house the sentiment was gen.
eral that the movement inaugurated to
bring about an acceptance of the senate
bill had resulted in materially strength
ening the opposition to the senate bill.
The caucus was called to order by
Chairman Hilman. The roll call disclosed
the presence of 166 members. Speaker
Crisp sat among the members on the floor
of the house. Near him were Chairman
Wilson and Representative Mcmillan,
and Messrs Bynum and Springer, who had
urged the caucus together in conference
throughout the meeting.
On Wednesday it was reported that the
tariff conferees were nearing an agree
meet-that the senate sugar schedule was
to be retained, and that a duty was to be
put on iron ore and coal.