Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-24
TWO BILLS READY.
Republican Reply to the Last
Special Message.
BONDS AND A TARIFF INCREASE,

The Former Promising Payment In "Coin''
tie. ON Wool, woolens, Lumber and
"Farm Truck" and Horizontally ON Ev-
erything Else-How the Bulls Arc Viewed
both said To He Safe I'm tho House.
WASHINGTON, Dec 24.-The house Re-
pubiicans will introduce on the day after
Christmas and pass within the week two
bills in response to President Cleveland's
message Of appeal for help for the treas
ury. One of these two will be a tariff bill
to increase the revenue, the other flnan-
cial plan to maintain the gold reserve and
prevent alleged existing trouble with the
grcenbacks. The plan has been perfected
by two meetings of the Republican MEM
bers Of the ways and means committee,
the first held Saturday night with the CO.
operation of Speaker Reed and other
leaders, the second yesterday afternoon.
Although strong efforts were made to
pres rye secrecy concerning the details of
the plan its features have been obtained
by the Associated Press from unquestion-
able authority.
Synopsis of the Tariff BILL.
The tariff bill viii be entitled "A bill to
increase the revenues and to prevent de-
flcits in the treasury" and will go into
effect when signed by the president, if he
signs it, and remain in effect until Aug. /,
1898, when by its provisions its operation
will cease. Its items follow: A duty on
wool Of 60 per cent. of the Mckinley law
rates. A compensatory duty on wooden
goods OF GO per cent. of the Mckinley law
rates. A duty of 90 per cent. of the rate
of 1880 on lumber. which will be from 10
to Is per cent. ad valorem. An increase
of % per cent. from the Wilson German
act rates on cereal breadstuffs. dairy pro-
ducts, and live stock, including poultry.
A horizontal increase of Is FER cent. from
the WilsOn-Gorman rates on all other
schedules, with the provision that in no
case shall the duty exceed the Mckinley
rates except where the Wilson.Gorman
rates exceed those Of the Mckinley law.
Bill for the Issue of Bonds.
The second bill will provide for two
issues of bonds. The first will be an un-
limited amout of per cent, f1ve-year
''cOin" bonds to protect the gold reserve.
with the provision that the currency re-
deemed by the proceeds shall not be paid
out for current deficits in the revenues
unless the expenses of the government are
in excess OF the revenues (Which it is ex-
pectcd they will not be if the first bill is
in operation). In addition, the second
bill will provide for one year 2 per cent.
treasury certificates of indebtedness, not
to exceed $50, 900, 900 in amount, and to be
disposed of ut the discretion of the score
tary of the treasury to meet current de-
ficits in the revenue. These are to be Of
fered for sale at tho sub treasures and de-
positOries of the government.
Silver Men Against the Bonds.
1t is possible"also that there may be
added to this bill plan to increase the
currency by authorizing national banks
to issue circulation to the par value of all
the government bonds deposited BY them
with the government rs security for their
notes. The plan outlined above was not
agreed upon without much reconciliation
of differences and compromises, but the
leaders are assured that both bills will
pass the house without material opposi-
ton, having made a thorough canvass by
state delegations, and there are strong
hopes that the senate will act upon them
favorably. There will be Republican free
silver votes against the bond bill, which
will be made up for by Democratic Sound
money" votes, so it is expected
Have Hopes of the Senate.
By the same division the house Repub-
licans hold some hopes that their plan can
carry in the senate, mastering all of the
Republican and two Populist votes for the
tariff bill, and combination of Repub-
licans and Democrats for the bond bill,
although the supposed free silver ma
jOrity Of the senate makes the success of
the second bill much more doubtful.
There have been conferences of Repub-
licans from both houses preliminary to
the present plan, so that it is not alto
gethcr the product Of Speaker Reed.
Among the rank and file of house Repub-
licans there is a movement to hold eau
Gus Thursday morning to pass opon the
bills, but the leaders look upon the eau
Gus with distrust for fear combinations
may be formed to change the tariff fea-
lures and that would lead to much delay.
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