The Portland daily press., 1897-05-25
JUNE %, 1se2-vOL. 81.
DISAGREE ON SCHEDULES.
Republican Senator's Talk Over Tariff
Bill.
WILL BE SUBMIT
TED TO CAUCUS.

Senator Aldrich Explains the Sugar
schedule-Senator Lodge Opposes Duty
on Hides-Western Senators Think
Wool Not Sufficiently Protected-No
Threats of Boiling.
Washington, May 24.-The Republican
caucus today emphasized the fact that
there is wide divergence of opinion
among the Republican Senators on rates
of duty fixed in the various schedules of
the tariff bill. The Senators were in eau
Gus nearly four hours The only official
announcement that was made after the
caucus adjourned was that it was decided
to appoint three Senators, in addition to
the Republican members of the finance
committee, who are to act as committee
to assist in getting the tariff through the
Senate. 1t was generally stated, how
ever, that an agreement had been reached
that there should be no set speeches on
the bill from the Republican side except
that of Senator Aldrich which is to be
delivered tomorrow. A resolution or
memorial offered by Senator Burrows was
agreed to which sets forth that the sense
Of those present, there not being full
attendance of the caucus was that Repub-
lican Senators having amendments to
offer should present them to the Rep ubli-
can members of the finance committee
and if the amendments are approved by
the committee they are to be offered in
the Senate. Ii disapproved the Senators
presenting them are to have the right to
submit them to the Republican caucus
which is to be called upon each schedule,
ifssamendments to it are proposed.
The finance committee is to hold ses-
sions each evening for the purpose of
hearing propositions from Republican
Senators and to decide upon the advisa-
bility of presenting such amendments in
the Senate.
The object of this proposition is to
prevent the Republicans from dividing
upon various schedules which might be
presented. The necessity of this agree
the various contentious Of Senators.
In the early part of the caucus Senator
Aldrich was called upon for an explana-
tion of the bill and some of the amend
ments. During the remarks Senator
Cullom called for a statement of the sugar
schedule, over which there had been so
much controversy. The explanation pre-
sented was largely technical, but the
Senators who heard him understood that
the House schedule would largely exclude
the coarse asnd low grades of sugar from
Java, the Philippine islands and other
points. The protection in the Senate bill
was rs per cent and equalized the high
pro lection on low grades and high
grades. The effect of the House schedule
hr +r,c cIytfr laI,
er grades of sugar, the system of COM
pound duties presented by the Senate
bill being for the purpose of making this
equality. The average rate in the Senate
bill was Is per cent, with differential
of one-eighth of cent on refined sugar
Senator Aldrich said that this was not
as advantageous to the sugar refners as
to cause general satisfaction, at least no
one questioned the Senator further.
There was some discussion upon the
length of time the bill shall be under
discussion in the Senate. Senator Mason
suggested that as soon as the opening
speeches were made, move should be
taken towards having vote on the bill
in two weeks.
1t was decided to ask that after the
debate had run along for week, that
the Senate begin its sessions at II O'Clock
and last until $50 and have evening
sessions from to II p. m.
Debate on the various schedules con-
sumed the time of the caucus a great
deal of opposition was developed to the
increased tax on beer and duty on tea.
Senators Platt of New York, Hanna of
Ohio and Spooner of Wisconsin, were
especially vigorous in ther opposition to
the increased tax on beer. 1t was pointed
out that the Democrats had already
stated their proposition to this tax and
would make an effort to have the Senate
committee amendment eliminated. They
thought it would be wise to have an
arrangement effected which would relieve
Republican Senators of embarrassment
1t was determined that an effort be made
to secure the revenue both from beer and
tea by a stamp tax which would accom-
plish the same result.
Senator Warren of Wyoming appearing
as the spokesman for the wool growers
of the West, said that the duties proposed
by the committee, were, In his judge
ment, inadequate and he thought there
should be increases on the lines of
amendments proposed by western Sena-
tors.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts spoke
against the duty ON hides and western
men said that if such a method was pro-
posed they would be compelled to vote
for placing certain articles on the free
ta1o VI IOA AOetuSiAS oi1O ueioy u pun oiioIi.
They did not expect that the Democrats
would vote with them to increase duties.
The westerners announced that to set
tie with the eastern men who voted to
reduce duties on their products, they
would vote to reduce the duty on articles
which their people purchased and did
not produce 1t was this state of affairs
that brought forth the proposition of
Senator Burrows to submit proposed
changes to the Republican members of
the finance committee, then to the eau
Gus. There was no talk of bolting and
no Senator said he would vote against the
bill as a whole. 1t was on the matter of
schedules that they disagreed.
The question of abrogating ..the Ha-
waiian treaty caused a lively debate.
Senator Aldrich stated that the commit