Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-14
TARIFF CONFERENCE.
MEMBERS SPEND A BusY DAY Ar
THEIR WORK.
SUGAR AND WOOL SCHEDULES.
Almost the Entire Time Devoted To
These Parts of the Bill, ana No
Final Agreement Is Reached ON
Either.

WASHINGTON, July 1s.-The repre-
sentarives OF the two houses OF Con-
gress in the conference on the tariff bill
spent busy day. devoted for the most
part to work in the conference-room.
There were occasional consultations with
other senator's or members OF the House
upon points at issue, but these were
| brief, so that comparatively little infor-
nation as to the progress made found its
way to outsiders 1t is known that almost
the entire day was devoted to the sugar
and wool schedules. and the best infor-
nation obtainable is that a final agree
ment was not reached upon either.
Senator Platt. Of New York. who has
been absent most of the time since tho
bill went into conference, returned and
was In close conference much OF the day
with Senator Quay.
At one time during the afternoon the
Senate and House conferrees separated.
the House men repairing to the ways
and Means Committee-room. 1t was
generally believed that this action on the
part of the House men was for the pur-
pose Of deciding upon line Of policy
on sugar, but they declined to give out
any information.
Contrary to published reports, II Is
positively asserted that the sugar sche-
dule has not been agreed upon, and, In
fact, that all the big questions before the
conference which have seemingly been
settled are only tentatively agreed to.
one side or the other insisting that they
shall be held open. Nothing will be
finally closed so far as matters OF I'm
portance are concerned, untfl all have
been decided upon and the conferrees are
ready TO come to a complete agreement.
WOOL.
1t is said the wool schedule, which has
occupied the attention OF the conferrees
more or less to-day and yesterday, can
now be settled whenever other matters
have reached a stage for final ADJUST
ment. The Senate conferrees are ready
to compromise the differences on first and
second-class woods by making them both
| dutiable at IL cents, and a compromise on
| third-cass woods has been suggested By
! House members of the conference, con-
| cerning which they express the hope that
| II will be satisfactory to both the wool
growers and" the carpet manufacturers,
but this Is not assured. This compro-
mise proposition looks to fixing a rate OF
3 cents n pound on all wool OF the value
| of less than 10 cents a pound, of cents
| on wool valued at more than 10 and less
| than IL cents a pound. and OF cents on
that above iS cents a pound In value.
| This proposition was submitted to the
| representatives in the Senate of both
wool-growers and carpet manufacturers.
and both Sides took the matter under adj
| yisement Senator Penrose, representing
the carpet men, telegraphed for some or
them to come TO Washington for a con-
| ference.
| The question OF jute, jute bagging. bur-
laps, cotton bagging, and cotton ties.
which the Senate placed on the free list.
is causing much trouble. The House con-
ferrees insist that these items shall go
! back on the dutiable list, and the Senate
conferrees plead that IL they are put back
delay must be the result in the Senate
| II the conferrees can reach a complete
| agreement by Friday. one Of them said
to-day, he would be more than satisfied.