Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17
Tariff Conferees Have Practically
Reached an Agreement.
SENATORS YIELD ON SUGAR RATES
Representatives Found Themselves
Sustained by the People.
CONSEQUENTLY WERE FIRM

1t is understood that the tariff confcrees
practically reached an agreement this
morning. They at least have got so near
to an agreement that the statement was
II ade to some of their colleagues in the
Senate that the conference report would
certainly re made Monday.
One member of the conference, after in
timating that the report would be made
Monday, said positively that there would
be no disagreement reported. The state
ment Is made that the report will show
that the Senate conferees have yielded to
the House on sugar.
There would be no chance to make a
report before Monday If one were reached
today. The House has adjourned until
Monday and the Senate is without n quo
rum, and it would be little use to report to
that body. But as the House consented to
conference, the bill must be reported
back to that body first and hence moth
ing can be done ur Ill Monday.
Attitude of the Press and the People.
1t is especially gratifying to the House
conferees and Speaker Reed, as well as
the members of the House. to notice with
what unanimity their stand in regard to
the sugar schedule is supported by the
press and the people. Every paper they
pick up advises them edtorially to stand
firm. saying that the people are with them
in the fight and knowing this. the con-
ferceS from the House went into session
this morning exceedingly confident of win
ming. As stated yesterday, there is a
weakening on the Senate side and the two
men who have been here all winter repre-
senting the sugar trust, and who have
rooms at certain hotel are now talking
compromise, where they hitherto said only
the Senate schedules. Visitors to these
gentlemen are distinguished, and some of
them excite great deal of comment .spe-
cially after adjournment of the conferees.
The news from the sugar trust parlors Is
as anxiously awaited in some quarters as
the news from the finance committee room.
1t was said late yesterday afternoon that
disagreement might he reported to the
Senate, and when the bluff was made the
House conferees called it with such una
nimlty that the senators backed down. The
House conferees at that stage of the game
would have liked nothing better than to
have the bill reported as agreed to on all
amendments except the sugar schedule, for
they know that If the Senate was given a
chance to vote directly on this question it
would recede from Its amendment and ac-
cept the House schedule.
The two senators who have been stand
ing out stoutly for the Senate amend
ment were worried over the prospects of
reporting a disagreement, knowing the
situation, and tactics were employed to
stiifen up the Senate by informing the va
rious senators who have had concessions
given them in the bill that these conces-
sions are in danger if the sugar schedule
fails. They further state that it would be
difficult to get the simple question of the
sugar schedule before the Senate, as to
get test vote, on account of the small at
tendance of the republican senators.
Absent Senator's.
The difficulty about maintaining quorum
In the Senate is notice to the conferees
that an agreement must be had speedily
Already, number of the senators have
gone away for good, and Tuesday Senators
Cullom and Kyle depart for Europe. Sena-
tor Hetfeld Is going home this afternoon,
and will remain in Idaho for the rest of the
summer. Other senators are preparing to
leave, claiming that the weather in Wash
ing;on is detrimental to their health, and
that they are already ILL., Senator Foraker,
VINO has been ill from the heat, went to
Cincinnati yesterday afternoon, but eX-
poets to return in time for the session Mon
day. Several of the New England senators
are away, Wnile DOtn the Maryland Sena-
tors are sick at home. Senator Murphy of
New York came back last week, expecting
a vote on the conference report, but his
health would not permit him to remain in
Washington If this exodus continues. the
Senate confereeS will not have much to fall
back on, and as the House stands firm,
they Will have to agree to what the House
demands The senators are willing now for
compromise, but it has got beyond that
point, Tor the House confereeS refuse any
cOmDrOmiSp. demand
the House schedule nothing.
What Senate Conferees Say.
The Senate conferees on the tariff bill
were called into the Senate very soon after
II o'clock today by a summons to make
quorum. They had not been in the cham
Der five minutes before a rumor gained
currency that they had agreed upon a re-
pert. The runor was in the main confirm
ed by the admissions of the conferees
few minutes later. They would not say
to representatives of the press that they
had absolutely agreed upon all the items of
difference, but admitted that the conference
was SO far advanced that they hoped to
summon the democratic members of the
committee by Monday. They told the
democrats themselves that they would GER
tainly want them by that time, and even
stated to them that they would like to
have them sit with them tomorrow If the
democrats would agree 10 a Sunday session.
This the democrats declined to do. The
hope of the republican conferees is that
the democrats will agree to allow the
report to be made after one session, and 1t
is believed that the House will pass upon
the bill at its session Monday afternoon
providing the report can be made in time
for that day.
Details to he Settled.
The confeIees stated in conversation with
brother senators there was still consider
able in the way of detail to be done, but
that there was nothing unsettled which
could possibly prevent completion of the
bill in tine to allow of the presentation of
the report on Monday. They We're especial
ly chary of information In regard to the
sugar schedule. saying that this was one
of the schedules upon which all the de-
tails had not been completed.
Enough leaked out, however, to leave no
room for doubt that the House had won
its point on this schedule, leaving the diff
ferential on refined sugar 1-S of a cent as
fixed in the House bill and making no
provision for a lower rate on sugar below
81 degrees shipped from the Pacific Islands.
such as taggery and clayed sugar. 1t is
understood. however, that some verbal
amendments will probably be made in the
schedule at the instance of the Senate con-
ferees.
The House cenferees refused to discuss