The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-19
MAY VOTE THIS WEEK
On the Tariff Bill as Agreed to by
y the Oonferrees.
THE COMPROMISE ON SUGAR

VIII Probably be AssaiIed by Demo-
tack Other Portions of tho Amended
Bill-rho Debate to be Briof.
Washington, July 19.--The indica-
tions are that the tariff bill, as agreed
to by the Republican conferrees on Sat
urday, when senators yielded in the
main to the house sugar schedule,
probably will have passed both houses
Of congress and be law at the end of
the present week. Delays and compli-
cations. now unantlcipated. might
somewhat prolong the final struggle.
The Republican conferrees worked
hard all day yesterday consulting and
arranging the details Of the report.
which they now believe there will be
able to submit to their Democratic col
leagues today. The bulk of this work
has fallen upon the shoulders Of Sena-
tor Allison and Representative Ding
ley, who are preparing the statements
OF the effect of the changes made by
the conferrees which will be submitted
TO their respective houses. They had
small army of clerks at work through
out the day in the room Of the senate
committee on finance, preparing the
bill for the printer. 1t is quite likely
that the debate will begin In the house
this afternoon.
1t Is not believed that there will be
- any disposition on the part of the
Democratic members of the conference
to delay the bill in full committee. but
the Democrats have had no meeting
to determine their course of action on
this point One or two of the Demo-
Gratis are inclined to insist upon day
for deliberation on the changes, but
they, of course, realize that they are
helpless IL the majority desire to re-
port the bill over their protest, and in
asmuch as the Republican leaders OF
The house have decided to give two
full DAYS for the discussion of the re-
port in the house, they probably will
acuuiesce in the decision Of the major
ity to make the report today.
An along the Republican leaders have
been disposed to allow but one day
for debate in the house, and while
they still believe one day would be
sufficient, after discussing the question
last night they decided, more to dis
arm lnG pTOtGStS tllc "oulh
be sure to make and the possible
criticism that the report was to be
dragooned through the house. to give
two full days for debate. The report
must, of course, be acted upon by the
house before it is considered in the
senate The committee on rules met
this morning and prepared rule which
Will bring a vote on the report before
adjournment tomorrow.
The program in the senate Is much
more indefinite on account Of the wide
latitude allowed for debate and the alb
sence of any parlamentry method of
bringing the report to vote. The
Democratic senators, It Is safe to pre-
sumo. intend TO assall the compromise
on sugar to which the conferrees
agreed, and to make pretty stiff fight
against the restoration to the dutiable
list Of cotton baggng, cotton ties, bur-
laps, etc. which they succeeded, with
the aid of the Populists and one or two
Republicans. in placing on the free list.
They also will make strong opposition
to the restoration of white pine to the
house rate of 50 per thousand. Some
OF the Democratic senators discussed
the possibility Of defeating the report
in the senate on the presumption that
: : they might be able to secure as many
votes against the report as they did
to place those articles on the free list.
But no one imagnes seriously that the
report is in any danger in the senate
when It comes to final vote. And,
moreover, the most prominent of the
Democratic senators freely express the
opinion that the fight in the senate,
though II may be spirited, will be brief.
They believe a vote will be reached
within three days in the senate.
The parliamentary procedure on con-
ference reports may have an important
bearing on the course Of this debate in
the senate. A question has arisen as
to the parliamentary practice. 1t Is the
established procedure to consider con-
ference reports as an entirety. so that
no vote can be taken on a separate
feature of the report. This report must
be accepted or rejected as a whole.
This practice becomes important in
view of the desire among those oppos-
ing the bill to secure separate vote
on sugar, lumber. cotton ties, cotton
bagging and other items which have
aroused exceptional interest. One Of
the conrerrees, who Is an authority on
parliamentary procedure, said this
morning:
"Thcre can he no doubt that the con-
ference report must be considered rs
an entirety. The rulings of Speaker
Blaine, Speaker Carlisle and others
have placed that beyond controversy,
and the same rule has been observed in
the senate The only question before
the house is: Shall the report be ac-
cepted or rejected as whole. For that
reason no motion relating to sugar,
cotton ties, cotton bagging or any
-, other item of the report Is in order.
The vote will be taken on agreeing 10
the entire report, and it Is only by de-
feating the report as whole that it
would be possible to reach any special
item"
Some of the opponents of the bill in
the senate hold that a motion to re-
commit, with instructions as to sepa-
rate items, would be in order before
the vote Is taken on accepting the re-
mort as an entirety. but the best par
~ liamentarians in both branches say
~'~ that the practice Is well settled, and
that the vote must be taken first on
the adoption or rejection Of the report.
II rejected, then any other motion
would be in order.
Entombed For Fourteen Days.
pboopiy r. JUly 1Q-JameS Ste