The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-05-25
SENATOR'S AND THE TARIFF
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS NOT ENTIRE
 LY HARMONIOUS.

No Republican Senator to Make Any
 Set Speech on the Measure Save Senator
 Aldrich-Most Amendments to be Acted
 on in Caucus-Bill to be Reported To-day.
 Washington, May 24.-The republican caucus to-day emphasized the fac- that there is wide divergence of opin- ion among the republican senators on rates of duty fixed in the various schedules of the tariff bill. The sena tors were in caucus nedrly 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 regular republican members of the finance com mittee, who are to act as a committee to aid in getting the tariff bill through the senate
 It was established, however, 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 deliver ed tomorrow. A resolution or memo randum 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 republican senators having amendments to offer should present them to the republican members of the finance committee and if the amend ments are approved by the committee, they are to be offered in the senate If disapproved, the senators presenting them are to have the right to submit them to the republican caucus to be called. The finance committee is to hold sessions each evening for the pur- pose of hearing propositions from re- publican senators and to decide upon the advisability 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 ment was developed by the debate and the various contentious of senators
 In the early part of the caucus Sena- tor Aldrich was called upon for an ex- planation of the bill and some of the amendments. During the remarks Senator Cullom called for statement on the sugar schedule, over which there had been so much controversy The explanation presented was largely technical, but the senators who heard him understood that the house sched- ule would largely exclude the coarse and low grades of sugar from Java, the Philippine Islands and other points The protection in the senate bill was 75 per cent, and capitalized the high protection on low grades and high grades.
 The effect of the house schedule would be to shut out the lower and cheaper grades of sugar, the system of compound duties presented by the sen- ate bill being for the purpose of nak- ing this equality The average rate in the senate bill was 75 per cent. with a differential of five-eights of a cent on refined sugar. Senator Aldrich said that this was not as advantageous to the sugar refiners as the house bill. The explanation seemed 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 Ma son suggested that as soon as the open ing speeches were made a move should be taken towards having vote on the bill in two weeks. It was decided to ask that after the debate had run along for a week the senate should begin its sessions at II o'clock and sit until 5:45, and have evening sessions from to II o'clock.
 Debate on the various schedules con- stunned 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 their opposition to the increased tax on beer. It was pointed out that the democrats had al ready stated their opposition to this tax and would make an effort to have the senate committee amendment elim- mated. It was determined that effort should be made to secure the revenue both from beer and from tea by a stamp tax, which would accomplish the same result.
 Western senators referred to the wool schedules. Senator Warren of Wyom- ing appearing as the spokesman for the wool growers of the west, said that the duties proposed by the committee were in his judgment, inadequate, and he thought there should be increases on the lines of amendments proposed by western senators.
 Senator Lodge of Massachusetts spoke against the duty on hides, saying he did not see how he could avoid vot- ing for an amendment which proposed placing hides on the free list. This statement raised storm among west ern men, who said that If such a method was proposed they would be compelled to vote for placing certain articles on the free list or for reducing
 the duty upon them. They did not ex- pect that the democrats would vote with them to increase duties. A propo- sition was made by Senator Burrows to submit proposed changes to the repub- lican members of the finance committee and then to the caucus. There was no
 talk of bolting and no senator said he would vote against the bill as whole It was on the matter of schedules that they disagreed.
 The question of abrogating the Ha- waiian treaty caused a lively debate. fn,. A 11r,inh ct Tod hot f1,n