The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-10
Gossip at
the Capital
Special Correspondence Of The Tribune.

Special Correspondence Of The Tribune.
Washington, July 9.
The week has been one of unusual re-
joicing in Washington. The tariff bill
having passed the da1ser point in the sem
ate, where the Republicans are without
a majority, there is good reason to be-
leve that il will receive the signature of
the president by the end of another week.
The more the bill is studied the more
thoroughly satisfactory it becomes TO
those examining it. That 1t was especial
ly satisfactory to the people when it left
the house, is beyond question, and as its
discussion in the senate brought it nearer
to the form in which it was passed by the
house, the responses from the country
have indicated that it was meeting with
popular approval.
The questions most at issue between the
two branches of congress are the sugar
and wool schedules, though both of these
have been brought so nearly in line with
Tie house bill that there will be little Diff
ticulty probably in reaching an agree
ment, and whether that agreement af-
fects the house or the senate schedule or
strikes a compromise between them the
country will be satisfied because of the
fact that these features of the senate
have been brought 20 nearly in line with
the house schedules. The most bitterly
disappointed men in congress are those
who hoped to make capital out Of the cry
of trusts" and especially sugar trust.
The bill, even as it passed the senate,
destroys this orrcrtrnity, and is accept
ed by the people as an evidence that how
ever much the sugar trust may have con-
trolled the Democratic party in framing
the Wilson law, it does not and cannot
control the Republican party in its legs-
latlYe duties.
The Democrats made it necessary that
the Republicans abandon the beet-sugar
bounty proposition. As is well known,
the Republican presented an amen lment,
after the other features of the bill had
been completed, proposing to pay
bounty of quarter of a cent a pound dur
ing a five years period from the passage
of the bill. This, II was felt, would in
sure the establishment of the beet-sugar
industry in the United States. 1t is by
this pros that European countries have
not only encouraged the production of
| beet sugar but actually established a sys-
| TEN which supplied more than half the
sugar of the world by a process a gener-
alton ago unknown. 1t was felt that this
slight encouragement in this country
similar to that utilized in other countries
might enable the farmers of the United
| States to produce the hundred million dol
| lars worth of sugar for which we are
| now sending our money abroad. But the
| Democrats opposed the proposition, as
| they do everything which emanates from
| the Republicans, and gave notice that
| they would delay the bill by a long and
| indefinite discussion, making 1t probable
| that months would elapse before vote
could be had, If the bounty proposition
were pressed by the Republicans. The
| result was that the Republicans were
compelled to either abandon the PROPOSE .
tam fapa NIL no rN in
| suspense with reference to the tariff bill
| for months. They therefore determined
| TO withdraw their sugar-bounty amend
ment and offer it as a separate measure
| in the hope of getting a vote upon it at
| next session.
| Conditions were similar with reference
to the antitrust amendment. The Re-
publicans would have gladly inserted an
| amendment Of this character in the bill,
| but ii became so apparent that 1t would
be made the vehicle for lengthy discus
sion and further delay of the bill that it
| was round necessary to make the anti
trust proposition an independent meas
ure rather than delay the tariff for its
| discussion
The stride of the coal miners has
| brought to- Hhe public attention some i'm
portant facts as TO the effect OF the VIII
|
| Wilson law. II will be remembered re-
| duced tie rates of duty on coal 80 cents
per ton II having been 70 cents per ton
| unde: ihe Mckinley law and reduced "a
| 40 cents per ton under the Wilson law
| Curously President Ratchford, of the
| United Mine Workers association, states
that the wages of miners have been re-
duced about 35 cents per ton since 1898
the very year in which the free trade
congress met and began framing the VIII,
son act, which reduced duties 81 cents
per ton. The moment the Wilson law
passed coal from the Nova Scotia mines
began invading the markets on the At.
iantlc coast, especially New England
aCd drove out Of those markets the Wes,
Virginia coal. which had always found
an outlet at fair prices. This West Vir.
ginia coal was thus compelled to seek a
market in the west In competition with
the Goals Of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. Ken,
lucky. The result was a sharp competi.
tion, fall In prices, a ruinous rate war
not only between mine-owners, but also
between the railroads. ana as a conse,
quence "a reduction In the wages of min,
ers. Thus the very low wages of the Goa
miners of the country who are now strik
ing for an advance are directly and log,
ically traceable to the operations of tn,