The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-16
Outlook for an Agreement
on the Tariff Bill.
The House COnfereeS Are Still
Obdurate, However.
Duties on Sugar and on Wool Are
the Bones of Contention.

Washington, July 16.-The tarin con-
forces are in a more hopeful mood. and
one of the leading representatives of the
senate expresses the opinion that the
Republicans will be able TO conclude
their labors today. and TO summon the
Democratic members by Saturday.
This view, he said, is justified by the
present appearance of things. but. he
added. there are still many contingen-
cies that may arise to prevent SO early
an agreement, and that is is impossible
to say precisely when the end will be
reached. I'VE shall come out all right,
however. and / think soon" he added.
I'VE have a tedious job. but ii Is not
hopeless one. and there is no founda-
ton to the reports that we are In danger
of not reaching an agreement"
Yesterday was spent in considering
minor details OF the bill which have
been passed over with an occasional
reference TO the differences on the sugar
schedule, which is still the stumbling
block. There was some discussion OF
a compromise on this schedule and the
general impression about the senate was
that the changed aspect in the COM
mittee was due to the fact that there
was a more yielding disposition on the
part OF the representatives of both houses.
Senators. not I'm the conference. but in
close touch with the members Of IL. ex-
press the opinion that the contending
factions are very near an adjustmnet
which will compromise the differences
on the sugar schedule.
la a. h. l.
among those in close touch with the con-
ferees IL is asserted with the most posi-
tiveness that the house conferees have
no intention of yielding anything to the
senate on the sugar schedule. and the
opinion is freely expressed that the
deadlock will cIptinue indefinitely until
the senate yields. The house conferees
they say know that they have practi-
cally the unanimous support of the house
Republicans back of them in their con-
tention for the house schedule. and.
moreover they claim that many OF the
senate Republicans agree with them on
this point.
The tariff conference committee has
made the discovery that there will be
still further difficulty in arranging the
wool schedule on account of the OBJ
Jections Of the carpet manufacturers
II appears that while the makers OF the
more expensive grades of carpet gave
their assent 10 the compromise OF and
s cents. the makers OF the cheaper car
pets are not pleased, and ask that the
aate on the lever grades of wool be re-
duced TO cents. The wool men are
not willing TO concede this demand. The
worsted manufacturers are also maxi
Ing trouble over the senate amendment
putting double duty on wool OF the
second class. which may have been
washed. Heretofore there has been no
additional duty on the washed article,
and II liz claimed that the change will
work q material hardship.
The Democratic side of the chamber
Is somewhat disturbed over the vacancy
caused by the death Of Senator Harris.
Il fear" said Senator Jones OF Arkansas.
In discussing the question, that the
vacancy may, IL not filled before the
time. occasion no little embarra ssment
when we reach the vote. on the confer
ence report 1t will be remembered"
he continued, that some Of the articles
on which we succeeded In reducing the
rate of duty, as on white pine lumber.
and on some which we succeeded in mt
ting on the free list. we have had a ma
Jority or only one vote. Some OF the
other articles, as burlaps. cotton ties.
paris green. etc, are of immense I'm
portance to the farmers. and IL would
be regrettable indeed from our stand.
point, IL the absence of senator from
Tennessee should cause us 10 lose any
OF them by giving the deciding vote 20
the vice president.
The senator said in reply TO a question
that he had heard nothing indicative OF |,
the intentions OF the governor of Ten
nessee ia the matter Of the appointment
DnC1, A L L - IL