The times., 1897-06-24
TO DISCUSS THE TARIFF.
Republicans VIII Meet to Consider
SEIZED uIes IN Dispute.


Schedules fn Dispute.
The Republicans of the Senate VII hold
a CAUCUS tonight In the marble room at
the Capitol, and it is their hope that this
will be the last caucus they Will have on
the pen6ing tariff bill.
There are several odds and ends upon
which ala expI ess.on of opinion Is sought.
The subject of wool is thought to have
been settled By the adoption VI the amend
ment relative 10 tliItFcIass woods Tues
day and the laying on the table of Mir.
Quay's amendments yesterday. Hides.
tobacco, reciprocity, anti-trusts, and
half a hundred paragraphs that have teen
passed over are still TO lie dsIcsed Of, and
these VIII consume the time OF tie caucus.
The placing OF duty cn hides meets
with determined opposition among the
New England men, and Senator Lodge has
just returned to tile city TO renew the fight
Oh tina titein. There is absolutely no doubt,
however. that the duty VIII remain, fer
the managers are afraid /" antagonize
not only Mr.. Jones OF Nevada, who made
the demand, but the Western Wool tlen,
who by their votes the ether day showed
tIity Wett nDt Htlu TIE Win
harness that was any too strong. Tue
proposition is made by some to change the
specific duty proposed on hides 10 an ad
yaloIem rate, but the Western men, afraid
CT this move, win have none OF it. They
VIII insist upoE the specific rate. and it
Is quite certain that the item viii remain
as now III the bill. SO sure are certain
Senators of this that they have Notified
constituents interested in this schedule
that 1t is hopeless to attempt u yeapDve
the pfoposed duty on hides.
The duty on wrapper tobaHco IL also
a stumbling block, and both Senators
Foraker and Fairbanks, representing
STATES that depend largely upon this tu-
bacco, are making d strong fight for
reduction in the duty. In Connecticut,
and i'll some parts of Massachusetts, New
York and IennsyIyania, a native leaf
is raised that is sought to be substituted
for Sumatra wrapper, and the Sen itors
from these States are, therefore, favorable
to the higher duty, so that the use of
the native leaf may be encouraged. Be
tween the two, therefore, there is a con
flict. Senator Hawley of Connecticut aGd
others agreed to a compromise, fixing
the duty at 81 70 a pound, but refused
to agree with Senator Fairbanks that this
shoulG he the rate when the bill get into
conference and when it came out. Mr..
Fairbanks refused TO accept this, and de-
clarcl his intention OF carrying the fight
into the caucus This subject will, there
fore, cause much discussion in the caucus.
The reciprocity provisions, it is thought,
will be along the lines OF the amendment
offered by Mfr. Burrows, which authorizes
the President to remit percentage OF the
duties, not exceeding % per cent, in CON
sideration of commercial privileges that
may be granted to this country through
any reciprocal treaty that may be nego
uated
Itis Admitted that the managers cannot
escape the insertion OF an antitrust clause
IN the bill. One something after the order
Of that proposed by Mr.. Pettus has been
considered by the Republican members #
the judiciary Committee, and will oe re-
ported to the caucus tonight In some
form or other an antitrust amendment IS
almost certain to be agreed TO.
No one disputes the fact that the In
creased beer tax will be stricken out, as
will also be the duty OF o cents pound
on tea. Just what shall take the place
of these articles and yield the revenue thus
lost has not been determined. Many Of
the influential Republicans are opposed
to the imposition of stamp tax, and be
lieve IL would he even more unpopular
than the proposed increase in the beer tax
II the caucus expects to deal with every
contested paragraph in the bill at this
one caucus. it VIII have a hard nights g
work before it, but the chances are not
favorable to a final disposition OF the
whole question at this single sitting. The
struggle over wool, however, being out
of the way, the pathway OF the committee
has been cleared of its largest obstacle. and
much headway may be made. Senator
Aldrich VIII probably return in time to
attend the caucus.