The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-05-25
TARIFF AND
SENATORS !
Wide Divergence Of opinion Among the
Republican Members.
REPUBLICAN PARTY CAUCUS
Decides to Avoid an Exhaustive Debate in
Open Session Of the Senate, and
Republican Directors Will
Appeal to the Senate
Finance Committee.

tors on rates Of duty fixed on the var
ious schedules of the tariff bill The
senators We're in caucus nearly four
hours. The only official announce
men that was made after the caucus
adjourned was that it was decided to
appoint three senators, in addition to
the Republican members of the finance
committee, who are to act as COM
mittee to assist in getting the tariff
bill through the senate. 1t was gen
orally stated, however that an agree
ment had been reached that there
should be no set speeches on the bill
from the Republican side except that
of Senator Aldrich, which is being de-
livered today.
A resolution, or memorandum, offer
ed by Senator Burrows was agreed to
by those present, which sets forth that
the sense of those present, there not be-
ing a 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 il the
amendments are approved by the COM
mittee they are to be offered in the SEN
ate. If disapproved the senators pre-
senting them are to have the right to
submit them to the Republican caucus,
which is to be called upon each sched-
ule if amendments to it are proposed.
The finance committee is to hold ses-
sions each evening for the purpose of
hearing propositions from Republican
senators, and to decide upon the ad-
visibility of presenting such amend
ments in the senate.
The object of this proposition is to
upon various schedules which might be
presented. The necessity Of this ar
rangement was developed by the de-
bate and the various contentious of
senators.
In the early part of the caucus SEN
ator Aldrich was called upon for an
explanation of the bill and some of the
amendments. During the remarks Mr..
Cullom was called on for a 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 from Java, the Phillip
pine islands and other points. The pro-
lection in the senate bill was rs per
cent, and equalized the high protection
on the 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 COM
pound duties presented by the senate
bill being for the purpose of making
this equality,
There was some discussion upon the
length Of time the bill should be under
| discussion in the senate. Senator
| Mason suggested that as soon as the
| opening speeches were made a move
| should be taken toward having a vote
/ on the bill in two weeks. 1t was decid-
ed to ask that after the debate had run
along for a week the senate begin its
! sessions at IL o'clock and sit until $3.50,
and having evening sessions from 8
to IL.
Debate on the various schedules con-
sumed 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 Wiscon-
sin were especially vigorous in their
/ opposition to the increased tax on beer.
1t was pointed out that the Democrats
] had already stated their opposition to
! his tax, and would make an effort to
| have the senate committee amendment
/ eliminated. They thought it would be
wise to have an arrangement effected
! which would relieve Republican sena-
/ tors Of embarrassment. 1t was deter
mined that efforts should be made ia
/ secure the revenue both from beer and
tea by a stamp tax, which would ac-
complish the same result.
Western senators referred to the wool
/ schedules. Senator Warren, of wy
oming, 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, say.
Ing he did not see how he could avoiG
voting for an amendment which pro.
posed placing hides on the free list
This statement raised a storm among
western men, who said that If such q
method was proposed they would bC
compelled to vote for placing certain
articles on the free list or for reduc
; ing the duty upon them They die
not expect that Democrats would vot,
with them to increase duties, The west
erners announced that to settle Will
the eastern men who voted to reduc,
duties on their products they woul(
vote TO reduce the duty on articles
which their people purchased and did
not produce. II was this state Of af
fairs that brought forth the PROPOSE
tion of Senator Burrows TO submi
S proposed changes to the Republican
. members Of the finance committee an,
S then to the caucus. There was no tall
of bolting and no senator said he woul
vote against the bin as a whole 1t wa
on the matter Of schedules that the
3 disagreed.
r The question of abrogating the Ha
waiian treaty caused a lively debate
Senator Aldrich stated that the com
mittee intended to bring in an amend
ment TO this portion of the bill. Sena
I, tor Frye opposed the abrogation 1
the strongest possible terms, Will
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota, made
st vigorous speech in SUPPORT Of the CON
mitteee amendment, declaring that tt