The record-union., 1897-06-09
An Agreement Will be Reached Where
Differences Exist.
The Sugar Schedule the Only Subject
Under Consideration = The Com
mittee Expected to Report Some
Amendments or Provision Which
Will Not Leave the Hawaiian Treaty
Matter in Any Uncertain Condition,
or Absolutely Abrogate 1t.

WASHINGTON, June S.-The Repub-
lican caucus to-day 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
which all Republican Senators would
support. Senator Aldrich of Rhode
Island was present, and after the eau
Gus adjourned said it was very sue
cessful, and that he felt that the Re-
publicans were going to stand together
on all schedules of the bill, and that
an agreement would be reached where
differences of opinion existed.
Almost the entire time of the caucus
was devoted to consideration of the
sugar schedule. Other features over
which there are differences We're not
reached. No agreement was reached
in regard to the Hawaiian treaty, and
the committee is expected to report
some amendments or provision which
will not leave the matter in any I'M
certain condition or absolutely abro-
gate the existing reciprocity treaty.
was the determination reached to vote
together as a party, which insures
favorable action on all contested sched-
ules and the passing of the bill as APP
proved by the majority The determi-
nation was reached upon a suggestion
made by Senator Thurston, which led
to the most interesting incident of the
caucus. There had been several refer
enceS to the meeting as a conference"
Mr.. ThurSton objected to this designa-
ton, 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
was not to bind all Senators on all
schedules he would not agree to abide
by the decision upon the sugar ques-
ton.
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 ex-
listing in the Senate and said it was
high time that a perfect understanding
was reached.
Senator Thurston then put his sug-
gestion in the shape of motion to the
effect upon the agreement of the eau
Gus should be binding upon all Repub-
lican Senators, and it carried by a
| large majority.
The main propositions of the sugar
schedule were those fixing the rate on
refined sugar. There were three Of
these propositions. The one adopted
fixing the rate at 195 cents per pound
in place of 1875. as fixed by the House
bill, was suggested by Senator Spoon
err Senator Perkins suggested ] 3-16
and Senator Wellington the rate of the
House BILL The last amendments were
voted down viva voce and the Spooner
amendment adopted by an almost I'M
animous vote.
There was no especial effort to main
tain the amendment originally offered
by the Finance Committee and no prop
osition was made to that effect by any
one. Senators Allison and Aldrich ex-
pressed the opinion that the schedule
as prepared by their committee was
equitable and that it's provisions We're
misunderstood.
The text of the new sugar schedule is
as follows: Sugars not above 16 Dutch
standard in color tank bottoms, syrups
of cane juice, melada, concentrated mo-
lasses, tested by the polariscope, not
above So degrees, / cent per pound, and
for every additional degree shown by
the polariscopic test, three one-hun-
iredths of one cent per pound addi-
tional, and fractions of a degree in
proportion, and in sugar above No. 16
Dutch standard in color and on all
sugar which has gone through pro-
cess of refining, one cent and ninety
five one-hundredths of one cent per
pound; molasses testing above 40 de-
grees and not above Sc degrees. three
cents per gallon; testing SO degrees and
above, six cents per gallon. Sugar
drawings and sugar sweepings shall be
subject to duty as molasses or sugar,
as the case may be, according to polar
iscopic test. Sugars. tank bottoms,
syrups, cane juice, melada, concentrat-
ed melada and concrete and concentrat-
ed molasses, the product of any country
which pays, directly or indirectly. a
bounty on the export thereof, whether
imported directly and in condition as
exported therefrom, or otherwise shall
pay in addition to the foregoing rates
uuly Ciuai " SuCl bounty, or so
much thereof as may be in excess of
any tax collected by such country upon
such exported article or upon the beet
or cane from which it is produced.
A new paragraph is added, reading
as follows: That the duty on mo-
lasses, clayed, joggery and other sug-
ars testing not above 81 degrees by the
polariscope shall be one-tenth of one
cent per pound less than those imposed
by the preceding paragraph on the
corresponding tests of sugar.
The failure of the caucus to- take
steps looking to the protection of the
Hawaiian reciprocity treaty has caused
considerable comment, but the friends
of Hawaii in the Senate say that the
omission was due to no other reason
than the want of sufficient time. They
feel confident that if the point had been
reached an amendment similar to that
proposed by Senator Davis continuing
the treaty in force would have been ac-
cepted They base this assertion upon
the manner in which Senator Frye's
speech was received and the side re-