New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-29
a RETTER PROSPECT.

Action in the Senate brings light and nope
There is apparently a majority Tor the larl'l
hill and while some important FEATURES ma! oe
changed the measure whole seems sure 10
rass. 1t may be modified by committee OIL
Conference, and perhaps wisely. III the HOUSE
stands TO its convictions, it will be. But there
is the great advantage that the passage OF ihe
hill with or without desired inodincatiohs'
seems reasonably certain. If this or that leat-
IRE does not suit some. they viii yet be anxious
10 have the new tariff instead Of the old. ana
will take care that 1t does not fail. Even II the
sugar interest does not get all that 1t wants. IL
has. at any rate, many millions TO gain by the
enactment OF either the Senate or the House
hill advancing duties because it has enormous
stocks imported in advance and would lose those
millions If the advance in duties should 1al
It is not likely to urge any man TO vote Whch
will sacrifice that gain in an effort 10 OBTAIN sun
larger profits.
Thus the field is brighter and more clear. 1t
is also gratifying that the prospect of change
I'm the Senate bill is made brighter. because II
no longer appears indispensable that every feat
ure of the bill should be retained just as ii came
from the committee. The Advisory Committee,
embracing Senators Plat from New-l0rk,
Snooner from Wisconsin and Wilson from
Washington is probably inclined to give the
Repubican Senator's in Congress opportunity TO
PASS upon doubtful questions and the more II
the bin as framed by the Republican majority
in the Senate will be adopted. 1t is not on one
detail or another that the votes of Senators ap
pear essential The main fact is that there is
strong and sufficient majority in favor of the
general provisions Of the bill.
While there is yet reason for Republican Sen
ators to improve the measure as far as they
can before il leaves thef hands. they no longer
have 10 feel that q change in this or that par
ticular duty will wreck the bill. This seems
10 be the most encouraging feature that has yet
appeared SO long as II was supposed that one
or two votes could defeat the measure, there
was some natural anxiety lest the price demand
cd for those votes should be too high. But it
now seems probable that the bill can be passed.
even II one or more Senators representing the
sugar or other interests should be disposed 10
vote against It. That interest as well as every
other has much TO gain by restoration Of public
prosperity and much TO lose by preventing IT..
Under such circumstances the best Judgment Of
Republican Senators can be freely expressed on
each doubtful item Of the bill
The Republicans OF the House have also q
reason for greater confidence in the action Of
the Senators thus far. Their deliberate judy
Inept regarding certain features Of the bill might
have been shaken or sacrificed II there had been
n prospect that the bill could be passed in the
Senate only by single vote or two. But bill
not the best, and not strictly protective tariff
at all the House might have found it hard 10
put through. Since 1t knows that the majority
In the Senate will support protective tariff, not
because of this or that special favor, but because
II is the best for ali interests f the country, tho