The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-11
The REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
SENATOR'S COME TO AN AGREE.
MENT ON SUGAR DUTY.
An Amendment to the Senate Finance
Committees Schedule Adopted-Other
Matters in Dispute not Settled Tho
Hawaiian Treaty Brought Up But Not
Settled-An Republican Senators to be
Bound by the Decision eff the eau

Bound by the Decision eff the Caucus.
Washington, June S.-The republican
caucus today was well attended, nearly
every republican senator in the city being
present. Great interest was manifested in
the caucus because it was known that an
effort was to be made to secure a new
sugar schedule, and one which all repub-
lcan senators could support. Senator AL
drich, of Rhode Island, was present and
after the caucus adjourned said it was
very successful, and that he felt that the
republicans were going to stand together
on all schedules of the bill and that an
agreement would be reached where differ
ences of opinion existed.
Almost the entire time of the caucus
was devoted to consideration Of the sugar
schedule; other features where there are
differences were not reached.
No agreement was reached in regard to
the Hawaiian treaty and the committee
is expected to reach some amendments
that will not leave the matter in any un-
certain condition, or absolutely abrOgate
the existing reciprocity provisions of the
treaty.
An important feature of the caucus was
the determination reached to vote to-
gether S a party, which inSureS favorable
action all contested schedules and the
passage of the bill approved by the
majority. This determination was reach
ed upon a suggestion made by Senator
ThurstOn. The suggestion led to the most
interesting incident of the caucus. There
had been several references to the met
ing as conference" Senator ThurSton
objected to this designation, saying that
conferences never bound any one and
that he wanted it definitely understood
whether this meeting was to be binding
or a friendly chat without further results
for if it not to bind all senators on
all schedules he would not agree to abide
This speech brought Senator Hanna to
his feet with an earnest plea for party
harmony and united effort on all the
features of the bill. He referred to the
apparent divisions at present existing in
the senate and said it Was high time that
a perfect understanding was reached.
Senator ThurStOn then put his sugges-
ton in the shape of a motion to the effect
that the agreement of the caucus should
be binding upon all republican senators,
and it was carried by a large majority.
The main propositions on the sugar
schedule We're those fixing the rate Of
refined sugar. There were three of these
rate at 1.95 cents per pound in place Of
1875 fixed by the house was suggested
by Senator spooner. Senator w. Perkins 1,akia
the rate of the house bill.
The last two amendments were voted
down viva voce and the Spooner amend
ment accepted by almost unanimous
vote.
There was no special effort to retain the
amendments originally OHereQ Dy the
senate finance committee and no PROPOSE
tion was made to that effect by anyone.
Senators Allison and Aldrich expressed
the opinion that the schedule as prepared
by their committee was equitable, and
that it's provisions were misunderstood:
Senator Aldrich, who is generally credit
ed with the authorship of the hnance com
mittee provisions, had been expected to
stand out stiff1y for the amendments. but
he did not do so. He said that his inter-
est in the success of tariff revision as a
,nln prjn tn n a
particular schedule: that he had no pride
in the rates fixed by the committee and
that, notwithstanding his conviction that
the committee rates were equitable and
in the line of republican policy, he was
willing to subordinate his judgment to
that of the majority.
The announcement was received with
demonstrations of approval. Speeches
were made by almost all the senators
present Senator Hoar made vigorous
plea for unity of action. but said the
sugar schedule should be definitely agreed
upon at this time and put in such shape
as to terminate the unfriendly criticism
that had been aroused.
Senator Frye asked the caucus to con-
slider the necessity of protecting the Ha-
waiian reciprocity treaty and made a
speech in that behalf. This occurred
early in the proceedings and the Hawaiian n
question was apparently lost sight OF IN
the subsequent proceedings over the main
features of the schedule.
The caIrcus was compelled to adjourn
at noon when the senate met and was
unable to take up any other question. In
deed, senator's generally were Of the opin-
ion that with the Hawaiian question un-
disposed <f, the sugar question was not
finally se1tled, but there was no agree
ment for u future caucus.
The text of the new sugar schedule
is as follows:
ard in cSiIor, tank bottoms, syrups OF
cane juice, melada. concentrated melada,
concrete and concentrated molasses, test
ing by the polariscope not above q de-
additional degree shown by the pelarl-
scopic test, three one lhundredths OF one
cent per pound additional. and fractions
of a degree i'm proportions: and on sugar
above No. 1G, Dutch standard in color.
and on all sugar which has gone through
process OF refining, one cent and ninty-
five one hurndRaffths ofDnse cent per pound :
molasses testing above fGrty degrees and
not above So degrees, csents per gallon;
testing Sc degrees and above. cents Iser
gallon: sugar DRAWINGS and sugar sweep
ings shall be subject to duty as molasses
or sugar as the case may be- according
to pOlarisc0Ilic jteStS. Sugars, tank bot
toms. syrups. cane juice, scr beet juice,
melada. concentrated melss1a and con-
crete and ccslcentra ted molaases, the pro-
duct OF any country which pays directly
or indirectly. a bounty on the export
thereof. whether imported dirsctly. and in
condition exported therefrofn, or other-
{ wise. shall pay in addition To- the lore
soing rates. duty .eaual to such bounty.
or so much thereof as may be in excess
of any tax collected 10y such country upon
such exported article, or upon the beet
or cane from which it was produced
A neg paragraph is added residing as
fellows: ''That the duty on tSolasses
ciayed toggery and other sugars testing
not above 81 degrees by the polariscope
shall be .one-tenth of one cent per pound
less than those imposed 10y the preceding
paragraph on the corresponding tests or
sugar"
Fatal Street Duel.
Jamestown, Miss, June S.-Ex-Mayor