Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-04
AGREE TO AGREE.
Tariff Bill Sugar Schedule al
Last Disposed Of.
But As It Contains No Protection to
Louisiana Sugar Industry,
II Is Hard 10 See How The Democrats Can
PADS The Bill.

OF the caOlnet, To-Day, 10ur members an
nounced, each to . different person, that an
agreement had been reached by the Sc s.a
snd House conferees on the tariff bill. The
basis of the agreement was not discl sed
but one of the most distinguished en- Der
of the cabinet said to press repitsent l.
tive: "You can announce that the Pre- 81
dent will sign tariff bill within 10 fsys.
The press bulletins, today, ann, unc lg
the tariff adjustment, spread r.piily
through the city and csvsed much excite
ment. No one of the cabinet officers who
spoke of the settlement would divulge the
terms, but the inference was strongly con-
veyed that the Senate bill, with not very
material concessions, is the basis. of the
agreement. The paramount reasons that
seem to have brought about the agreement
were stated to be the absolute necessity for
the cessation of the period of uncertainty
in order that the government finances might
recuperate, gold exports stop, and the coun-
try be given an opportunity to resume bust
ness, which has almost come to standstiil
because of the long delay.
If any faith can be put in the signs that
manifest themselves about the Capitol, to-
morrow will see the beginning of the end of
the tariff conference. There is every indi-
cation that the Democratic members will
get closer together, tomorrow, than they
have at any time yet. This is due to the
fact that the sugar schedule is practically
out of the way. Every member of the con-
ference denies that there has been any
agreement, but sufficient has leaked out to
show that there can be no longer any rea-
son to doubt that they have agreed as to
what they will do when the time comes to
act.
The House conferees have always held
that there was hidden away in the schedule
Of the Senate bill protection to the trust
that greatly augmented the differential of
that was given them, and they
have contended that this should be removed.
Upon this basis they made the demand that
the text of the bill should be changed. In
the spirit of concession, the Senate to that
extent yielded.
As now prepared the sugar schedule will
provide for the leyying of the following
duties: On all raw and refined sugars 40
per cent. ad valorem, the same rate as here
tofore, but with this difference, that the
duty will be based, not on price per pound
it may be, or the mere pound of
the article purchased, but upon the sacchar-
inc strength of sugar found in the total
amount.
If the sugar is raw, the duty will be col
lected upon only the pure sugar that it con-
tains, and when it comes to collection of
duty on refined sugar, instead of a collec-
ton being made upon the value of the re-
fined article, it will be based upon the value
and amount of pure sugar necessary to
make the refined product.
In this way, it is claimed, there will be
absolutely no hidden protection for the
trust and that nothing can accrue to them
through the process of refining. The re-
finer will be given the differential duty OF
one-ffth of cent pound on re fined sugar
and discriminating duty will be levied
against such countries as pay an export
bounty on refined sugar equivalent to the
amount of that bounty.
1t is figured by those who advocate this
luty that it is not any better for the trust
han the former schedule, although this is
lenied in other quarters. 1t is also said
hat the House conferees will accept this as
, solution of the problem and that they will
claim it as victory, because it does away
with alleged hidden protection. The next
'tep after the House agreed to accept this
was to find out if the refining in
erests would take it. 1t is understood that
he senators who have cared for this inter-
'st were consulted and that they
accepted the sched ule as the best
that could be had and agreed that it would
not be antagonzed. If this schedule
S finally determined upon, tomorrow-for
here is always possibility of a change at
he last moment-it is probable that the re-
nainder of the bill may be speedily dis
posed of and there is hope that full con-
ference may be had, Monday, and report
made to the Senate early in the week.
Most of the day was consumed in discus
lion of the other schedules and there is now
/. pretty clear understanding as to what
hail be done with the rest of the bill.
1t is said, tonight, that the Louisiana SEN
ators, Messrs. Allen and Kyle, the latter
representing the beet sugar interest, will
not accept the proposed schedule. If this
De true it is not apparent how the Demo
rats expect to pass the bill. There is no
provision in the schedule for tine
bounty of 1894 and both the Louisiana SEN
ators have declsred that unless this bounty
be put in the bill, they cannot support it.
It is probable that by tomorrow night the
outcome will be known with some degree