Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-30
SENATORS APART
On the Subject Of the Report Of
the Tariff Bill.
DEMOCRATS INSISTING on DELAY,

While They Look Over the Measure in
Committee, While Jones Of Nevada Con-
tinues To BE an Uncertain Quantity
ing to Save Time-Spanish Queen Re-
gents Decree for Cuban Autonomy.
Washington, April 30.-FOur Republic
ans and four Democrats Of the senate
finance committee met yesterday to
talk over the tariff bill. The Republic
ans asked that a time be fixed for re-
porting the bill to the senate, but the
Democrats did not agree to fix a date.
saying they wanted a reasonable time to
consider the bill and that there would be
nc undue delay. The Democrats were
not shown a copy Of the bill, ner did
they receive any information Of its char
acter. The discussion was confined en-
tirely to the proposition of the Repub-
licans to permit the bill to be reported
direct to the senate and the alternative
proposition to consider 1t very briefly in
committee. The Democrats declined the
first suggestion, but said with reference
to the second that they could make no re-
uHtll AlCy ShouAo hdNC OLA OPPOi lu-
nifty to see the bill. They stated. how
ever, that under the circumstances they
would expect to be given sufficient time
to thoroughly examine the bill before
consenting to its being reported. Be-
yond this they would ask nothing, as
they would not seek unnecessarily to de-
lay the bill for a day.
Tired with the Work on the BILL.
The Republicans stated their reason
for making the request to be that they
were much fatigued with their work in
committee, and admitted also that they
were desirous ofavoiding the importantly
to which they knew they would be sub
jected when the contents Of the bill
should become known. They also stated
that their work was not sufficiently ad-
vanced to permit the presentation of
copies of the bill to the Democrats. but
they vouchsafec no information in re-
gard to changes beyond stating that they
were generally in the line of reductions.
The discussion was of a conversational
character. and was participated in by all
the senators present.
Not Sure of Jones of Nevada.
One fact developed during the confer
ence was that the Republicans did not
feel absolutely assured of the vote of
Jones Of Nevada in committee. On the
other hand the Democrats express con-
ffdence that he would stand with them
at least to the extent Of seeing that they
lad time for consideration of the bill in
committee. The Republican members of
the finance committee do not accept with
good grace the refusal Of the Democrats
to permit a speedy report Of the tariff
bill. They say that the position Of the
Democrats is unprecedented, the rule be-
ing to allow the majority to bring in
and present its amended bill without ef-
fort on the part OF the minority to
change the result in committee.
Scheme to Heat the Democrats.
There is chance that they may evade
the demands by reporting the Dingley
bill back to the senate without any
amendments whatever. This could be
accomplished blythe adoption Of a resolu-
ton by the senate discharging the
committee from further consideration OF
the bill and ordering it to report it back
They say the amendments could be pre-
sentcd from time to time in the senate
and they fe9 that there would be one
great advantage in this course in avoid
ing the necessity of getting the assent OF
Jones Of Nevada to every change made
before presenting the bill.