The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-12
Program for Its Prepara-
ton Approved.
Democrats Have Received
Notification of Plan.
Some Features of the Bill Have Been
Already Agreed On.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE progrom or
the ways and means committee TO pre-
pare a tariff bill for the extra srssicn or
congress was the only topic OF discus
sion about the house yesterday, and met
with general approval among the Re-
publlcans. II is expected that the bill
will be brought forward very early in the
extra session and passed under a rule
fixing time for debate, so that its fate
will be IN the hands Of the senate early.
All OF the Republican members OF the
ways and means committee have been
reelected 10 the next congress, ana 1t
is assumed that Mr.. Reed Will be again
chosen speaker. and will not change the
personnel of the committee; so that there
is no probability that any effort viii be
made TO do the work over again.
Yesterday Chairman Dingley had a
conference with Mr.. McMillin OF Ten
nessee, TIE senior Democratic member
OF the committee. and officially stated
the Republican plans. MIR. Dingley said
that the hearings probably would begin
with the holiday recess and continue
through the holidays. To prevent them
from dragging along Indefinitely.
limited time may be assigned for testi-
inony relating to each OF the most i'm
portant schedules. Ii Is probable that the
Democratic ways and means members
will have q consultation upon the tariif
within day or two. although, of course,
any opposition they might see fit 10 offer
to the tariff program would be merely
O matter of form. They are not pleased
ar the suggestion that Mr.. NewlaEd, the
Independent silver member from Me-
vada. who is protectionist, be given
Mr. Crisp's chair at the committee table.
Speaker Reed seldom consults with the
minority about committee appointments,
and has not done so in this case.
Certain features of the new tariff bill
have been practically decided upon al
ready by the Republicans. Chairman
Dingley Is authority for the statement
that the bill will be framed to prevent
the use of the bonded warehouses by
importers -eseape-the payment Of
higher duties as they were used when
the Mckinley bill was passed. To effect
this there will be a clause providing
that goods In storage i'm bonded ware
houses when the new law goes into ef-
feet will pay the rates OF that law and
rot those OF the Wilson act, in operation
when they were entered.
lhOSt otnClhltS VI tnt NllsoH INV
which have proved satisfactory, II is
said will not be disturbed. member
of the committee spoke OF the cotton
schedule as the most likely to remain
unchanged. Having been guarded by
Democratic protectionists in the senate,
h said, it's effects had been satisfactory
TO manufacturers and operatives, and
the duties being specified were in accord
son act ad valorem features will be done
away WITH IL goes without saying.
The reciprocity system may be af-
fected by the establishment Of two
schedules OF articles on which conces-
sions are desired from other countries.
one scedule for goods when imported
from countries which agree 10 reciproc-
ity treaties, the other schedule for those
which do not. Several conferences OF
the Republican ways and means men
are expected before the hearings be-
gin.
1t Is suggested by one of them that
they may decide upon the schedules of
the Wilson act which they will continue,
gnd perhaps some Mckinley act rates,
which will be re-esta ablished, and will
give hearings only on the remaining
schedule. inviting the parties interested
to furnish the committee the informa-
tion which II wants. To finish the bill
before March Is the committee will be
obliged TO work faster than the ways
and means committee did on the Nc
kinley bill, and II might not be able to
frame the new bill by the appointed date
if hearings are given on all schedules.
The meeting of the WAYS and means
committee OF the house to formally
adopt the program for work on a tariff
bill will be held on Monday instead Of
today. as had been intended. Chairman
Dingley learned that Mr.. Turner of
Georgia, one Of the Democratic leaders.
could not attend n meeting today. and
therefore decided TO postpone the call.