The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-15
NO AGREEMENT.
COnfereeS on Tariff are
Drifting Apart.
Interference of Speaker Reed
Causes Resentment.
The House Committee Objects TO
the Proposed Duty on Hides.

Washington. July 15.-The conferees
on the tariff bill find themselves ap-
parently farther apart than they were
at the beginning OF the conference.
There was no immediate prospect Of
agreement and more than one member
states that the ENHANCEMENT is such
that the settlement may be indefinitely
prolonged. They state in a very re-
served manner that there are numerous
questions of difference, but refuse to
go into details even to the other SEN
ators and members.
From all that can be learned, how
ever, there has been a general recess
sion from the partial agreements. In
the more important articles, until sugar,
wool, hides, etc, can be definitely fixed.
Sugar is still the principal contention.
The best reports represents the house
conferees, with Speaker Reed behind
them, holding out for the house sugar
schedule, without change whatever. and
the senators as quite determined not to
yield 10 this extent. The house con-
ferees insist that this schedule must be
definitely fixed before other questions
shall be taken up.
One OF the other questions Of second
ary importance upon which sharp diff
ferences have arisen is the senate amend
ment for stamp tax on stocks and
bonds. The house opposes the amend
ment, but the senator's while not welded
to II insist upon IL as necessary for
revenue. The house is also resisting
strenuously the 20 per cent duty placed
upon hides, and is at the same time
persistently holding out for a restora-
tion of gunny bags, cotton ties, etc.. to
the dutiable list.
senator who talked with one OF the
conferees said; They are in a tenn
porary deadlock and are tied up all along
the line. II looks as If the situation
might remain unchanged for week."
While this appears TO be a correct out
line OF the situation, the prevailing i'm
preston is that settlement OF one or
two important schedules would be i'm
mediatelN followed by a complete ad-
Justment of all Of the differences.
The senate conferees are disposed to
resent the efforts of Speaker Reed to
influence the action Of the conferees.
The senators are inclined to construe
the speakers participation In the pro-
ceedings as unwarranted. and are ap-
parantly more determined. than before
his attitude was made known, to hold
out for the senate figures.
The contending forces on the wool
schedule. the carpet manufacturers and
the wool growers, outside the confer
once. have practically reached an agree
ment which II Is presumed will be rati-
fled by the conference. This agree
nlent provides for the restoration OF
the house rate, OF II and 12 cents respec-
lively on first and second class wools
and on the third class article the wool
men agree TO the proposition of the car
pet makers to extend the dividend line
from 10 To IL cents, making the rate on
wool of this class worth less than 4,
cents dutiable at 4 cents a pound and
those worth more than IL cents duitable
at cents. This increases the rate on
all the higher grade woods. which is
agreeable TO the wool men and holds the
carpet wool down to a figure acceptable
70 the manufacturers.
The conferees remained in session nm
I'll after o'clock and then adjourned.
emitting the usual evening session.
They had not reached a point where
they could call I'm the Democratic con-
ferees, but all said progress had been
made. II was impossible to say whether
the senate or house had the advantage
OF the days work. as both sides looked
weary and troubled The outlook for
final agreement was said to be at great
distance.