The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-13
TARIFF CONFERENCE
Struck a Few Unexpected
Snags.
AFRAID OF THE SENATE
HOUSE OONFEREES WANT THEIR
SCHEDULE ON WOOL.
THE PROPOSITION TO COMPROMISE.
The Democrats Determined to do What They
Can to Secure Free Cotton Bagging
For the People.

Washington, D. c., July 12-The tariff
conferees have struck snags in their
work. The minor matters were easily ad-
| justed, but on all important features
| there has been no agreement, and the
outlook to-day was that several reports
| would have to be made before an ad-
justment could be reached. The House
cOnferees are standing solidly by their
| bill and the Senate conferees are no less
! tenacious.
The Senate conferees have laid before
the House members the condition in the
| Senate where there is not an actual ma
| jority of the Republicans, and where 9TH
| er than Republican votes are necessary
to pass the bill or adopt conference re-
port. They asserted that in 1894 the
| Democrats were in better shape in the
Senate than the Republicans now, and
that they had an actual majority, yet
| the House was finally compelled to ac-
| cept the Senate bin in order to pass it.
| The mebers of the House are stand
| ing by their bill nevertheless, and have
told the Senators that they cannot ac-
| cept the Senate amendments on many
important items.
| Burlaps, cotton ties and other items
which were placed on the free list by
| the Senate met with great hostility from
| the House conferees, and so far nothing
in the way Of a compromise offered by
| the Senate members has been accepted.
| The House conferees are also insist
ing upon compensatory duties on manu-
! facturers of cotton on account of the
| duty of 20 per cent on raw cotton The
| House members have maintained that
| the House bill has been commended
I IunY.a than tho Sono 70 ~T;lI opI +br
| conference should get as close to it as
/ possible The Senate conferees in addi-
| ton to presenting the present political
complexion of the Senate have pointd
out the difficulty that will occur if sew
eral reports of partial agreements and
disagreements are made. They have told
| the House members that it will lead to
endless discussion that they have no
power to force a vote, and that there
is not a majority in the Senate to keep
the Senate in session in case of a fill
buster against the conference report
The noon recess of the conferees was
devoted largely to a conference with
individual Senators in which the House
representatives in the conference partici-
pated. These conferences developed the
fact that the wool schedule had been I'M
der especial consideration during the fore
noon session and that the House men
had shown a decided disposition to hold
on to the House rates. There was evil
dent apprehension that if this conten-
ton was granted there would be diff
Guilty in getting the bill through the SEN
ate and it is not believed that this appre-
hension was changed by the results of
their inquiries.
There was also a hurried conference
between the Republican representatives
of the Senate in the conference and the
Democratic members of the Finance COM
mittee in regard to the probable course
of the Democrats in case the articles
which they were especially instrumental
in having placed on the free list should
be made dutiable. These articles include
cotton bagging, gunny bags, burlaps, cot
ton ties, paris green, floor mattings, etc.
The House is insisting upon their res
troaction to the dutiable list and some of
the Senate conferees are inclined to
yield because Of the need for the rev.
enue they would produce.
The conference with the Democrats
was by no means reassuring. The Re-
publicans were told that if these changes
were made they Ghe Democrats) would
be disposed to insist upon full explana-
bate in the Senate which might indefi-
nitely prolong the session.
The committee is meeting with its
greatest difficulty in reaching an under
standing on the wool and the sugar
schedules. On sugar, Senators Aldrich
and Jones, of Nevada, are holding out
especially for the Senate schedule, and
are supported by the entire Senate repre-
sentation.
The House conferees are just as firm
in their demand, for the House rates.
The indications when the conference ad-
journed tonight were that compromise
would be necessary which would split
the difference between the two Houses
on the differential on refined sugar and
lit was stated upon apparently good au-
thority that an agreement to this effect
had been reached.
The House conferees are standing
stiffy for the House schedule ON wool
contending that the Senate Rites would
be most oppressive upon manufacturers.
The Senate classification Of third class
woods is especially Objectionable to the
carpet manufacturers and Senators Pen
rose and Gray have been active during
the day in their efforts to secure an ad-
vance to IL cents in the value of wool
that may be admitted at four cents.
The Senate schedule makes ten cents
the figure of demarcation in value, fixing
(Continued on fifth page.)