The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-12
WOOL BECOMES PROMINENT
The Most Likely Subject for Tariff
Legislation.
TEST OF CLEVELAND'S MIND
A Horizontal Increase Is Pr0posed-If
the President vetos Such q Bill
No Tariff Change Is Possi.
bio at This Session.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE tariff ques-
tion came up in the Bayard debate yes
terday, Mr.. Crisp insinuating that the
Republicans would do nothing with it
in spite of their big majority. Mr..
johnson of Indiana, retorted that what
ever the party did. it would not make
the same show of incompetency made
by the Democrats of the last congress-.
This expresses the situation very well.
There are unquestionably din erences of
opinion, wide ones too. among the Re-
publican leaders on the tariff question.
Quay. Platt and Reed are all supposed
to oppose any attempt at tariff action
on the ground that the president has
not asked for it, and would surely veto
it. On the other hand, many Republi-
cans. Western men especially, think
something should be done. The first
place in this something is always given
to wool and woolens. So strong has
grown the feeling of this item that the
Eastern Republicans seem likely to
yield In regard to 1t and pass a bill
placing a tariff on wool for revenue
purposes and changing the woolen
schedule from an ad valorem to a
specific basis. There are not ten Re
publicans In congress who will serious
ly oppose this policy.
Wonli Probably Pass.
Such a bill will pass the house with
flying colors, and the general belief is
that 1t will also pass the senate because
the Populists. hailing from wool grow
ing states. would hardly care to face
their constituents If they voted against
the restoration of duty on WOOL
Two different ideas prevail as to what
this duty should be. The Wool Grow
ers' Association wishes to replace the
Wilson woolen schedule by the McKin-
ley woolen schedule in its entirety.
Another idea is more moderate. being
merely to place a duty of five or six
cents a pound on wool, arranging the
duties on wollen goods in proportion, but
in a specific basis. 1t is likely that the
latter idea will prevail. though 1t Is not
favored by the majority of the members.
1t seems likely that the wool bill will
contain nothing else. The Republicans
are genuinely anxious to relieve the
treasury and will content themselves
with bill that the president may possi-
bly-though not probably-sign.
A moderate wool bill would be test.
If the president vetoes that he will veto
anything that might be passed. If he
signs 1t a more comprehensive measure
might be sent to him later.
a Horizontal Increase.
Another test of the presidents good
faith in expressing in his message his
Willingness to cooperate 'in every pa
triotic endeavor to further the interests
and guard the welfare of our country
men" has been proposed This is in the
shape of a horizontal increase of 10, Il
or 20 per cent. in the present staff. This,
it Is held should convince the president
that 1t Is the earnest desire of the Re-
publicans to aid the government in pay
ing its monthly liabilities without hav-
ing recourse to further bonded indebt-
edness. Should the president continue
to increase the debt he will certainly
bring upon the Democratic party a
greater degree of Odium than It even yet
has to bear
However, when all is said and done
few really believe that the president
will sign bill increasing the tariff on
anything. To do so would be confes-
sion of error that Mr.. Cleveland Is not
great enouph to make