The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-07
CONFEREES CAN
NEVER AGREE
SO the Dingley Bill Must
Pass as 1t Leaves
the Senate.
Com parative Statements OF
Old and New Tariffs Are
Being Printed.
One Expert Declares the Measure
VIII Produce All the Revenue
Require

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 6.-The Re-
publicans of the Senate and House have
had no conference looking TO the adoption
of g programme Tor passing the tariff bill.
Venturesome members of the lower
branch, ike Grosvenor, continue to de-
nounce the Senate bill, but Reed, Dingley
and other leaders remain silent. Demo-
Gratis are also still emphatic in their de-
nunciation OF the measure, but profess to
be entirely sincere in stating they will
offer no factious opposi ton in the Senate.
The announcement of the intention OF
finally disposing of the bill by having the
House accept it as passed by the Senate
has aroused an interesting discussion as
TO whether this programme will be car
ried ou'. Leaders are unwilling to state
at this early stage that the plan adopted
for passing the Wilson bill is 10 be fol-
lowed, but privately they admit ulti-
mately this Will he necessary.
1t may be deemed impolItic for the
Senate to refuse the Houses request for
conference committee, but it is apparent
even now that If the conlerees be ap-
pointed they would fnd no basis OF agree
ment and would be compelled 10 per-
functorily report the fact from to time
apI ask either for further instructors or
to lie discharged.
This was the case with the Wilson bill,
1t wentto conference committee, but no
attempt was made to agree, because the
views of the Senate and the House were
radically opposed. The bill, OF course,
will be materially amended during the
debate in the Senate. But 1t is the gen.
eral opinion it cannot be made acceptable
10 the House so as to be approved in the
ordinary course by the conference COM
mitGee and that its acceptance as passed
by he Senate is the only logical outcome
OF the difference of opinion.
As announced in the Senate by Allison
to-day the bill Is being printed in such e
way it can be readily compared with the
Dingley bill and the present law. This
comparative statement will be ready by
Saturday, and the Democratic members
OF the Finance Committee will immedi-
atelv begin the task OF informing them
selves on its details in readiness for al
lacking the measure in the Senate. In
the meantime it is thought Chairman
Dngley or some member OF the Ways and
Means Committee, speaking for the Re-
pubIicans of the House, will formally ez-
press an opinion OF the bill as it stands.
Several mem bers - of both houses have
tariff experts now engaged in estimating
the amount of revenue that would be de-
rived from the bill as now framed. The
most interesting statement of this kind is
that OF T. s. Snaretts of the Board OF Gen
eral Appraisers, who says:
In nv opinion the bill will prod
sufficient revenue to meet the demands of
the Government. The duty on tea will
aggregate $4,000, 600 while the increase
provided in the beer tax will amount to
from So, 600 900 to $14 600. 600 more. The
increased duty on sugar will result in a
material gain TO the volume OF revenue
over that produced by the act Of 1894.
Indeed. this increase alone would be al
most sufficient, il times were prosperous,
to produce the additional revenue neces-
ssry TO support the Government, as def
cheney under that act was largely due to
depressed conditions. l estimate the in
crease Of the sugar duty over the Wilson
law to amount on the average to about 30
per cent. I dent believe the increased
rate will materially affect the volume of
importations. There will also be large
addition from wool think the increase
from this source will exceed the possible
decrease from manufacturers of wool due
to the rate being prohibitive on lower
grades OF wool mixed goods. The cotton
schedule shows very little change from
the Wilson law, and The same may be said
Of :he me tai fax and sundries schedules
The increased revenues on articles in
Guided in these schedules do not exceed
5000, COO / think there will be falling
off in tobacco. for the reason that while
rates are the same as in the Wilson bill
there is Z. limitation on the tariff OF to-
bacco suitable for wrappers contained in
fuller bales which will necessarily work a
reduction in the revenue from this source
The change reduces the percentage from
Is to per cent. This reduction will re-
suit in causing a very large proportion of
Havana tobacco to be imported"