The herald., 1897-03-12
Given Due Consideration by
Tariff Tinkers
THE SENATORIAL SITUATION
Pnzxies the Managers Of the New Ad-
ministration
Tbe New Senators Are Perforcs Content
With the Explanation Given Of
Why They Can't Play
Associated Press Special wire

WASHINGTON. March 1.-THE Re
publican members of the ways ant
means committee devoted today to thu
consideration of the wool schedule o.
the tariff, and although considerable
progress was made. one or two more
days will be required to finish it. Fore
most in importance of the work done
today was the practical readoption o.
the Mckinley rates on wool; raw wools
Of class /, which includes merino, down
clothing woods and other soft qualities
are made dutiable at II cents pound
Wool of class 2, which includes Leices-
, ter, Cotswold and Lincolnshire, IL cents
q pound, and the washed woods of these
classes at % and "a cents, and secured
at SO and S6 cents a pound.
The Mckinley rate of SO per cent ad
valorem on woods on the third class CT
carpet woods is retained.
The classification on woods was some
what changed by raising few varieties
formerly classed as carpet wools to the
clothing wool classes. Among them arc
China lambs wool, Egyptian and Mo-
rocco
The American Wool Growers associa-
tion asked for a IL cent duty on woods of
class /, but the committee has not ap-
proved its request.
The tariff situation is giving the Re-
publicans some concern. They feel sure
that their bill can pass, but it is now
believed that the debate is going to be
extended in the senate. 1t is known TO
be the intention OF the Democrats to talk
on every subject of the bill.
After the schedules of the bill become
known, it is believed that there will be a
great increase in imports.
After the new bill goes into effect
there will be suspension of imports for
several months and consequent falling
off in receipts, and the bill, which was
designed to increase the revenues, they
say. as a matter of fact. will show de-
crease.
This view is taken by quite number
of Democrats. who say II is their policy
to have the bill passed. but not until
after it has been thoroughly discussed.
without an active majority in the sem
ate, the Republicans will not be able to
hurry the measure along. The Repub-
lican silverites have indicated that they
will not prevent tariff bill from passing,
but are not opposed to the policy of de-
lay.
The Republican senators now feel the
new bill will have to be amended ma
terially by the committee on finance OF
the senate. 1t is known schedules hive
been submitted to the members of the
finance committee, one being the chem
ical schedule. Without making close
examination it is understood that sena-
tors think the rates are In some cases
higher than the law Of 1890. As soon as
the new bill is presented the Repubi-
can members of the finance committee
will begin consideration of it even be-
fore 1t passes the house in order to have
it brought before the senate at an early
adate as possible. There was some talk at
one time that the Republican members
of the finance committee would be con-
suited by the ways and means commit
tee while the latter was at work on the
tariff in order that a measure might be
framed which would require as little
amendments by the senate as possible.
This has not been done nor was it ex-
pected by the senators.
At present the only definite part of the
program of the Republican senators is
to bring the tariff bill before the senate
as soon as possible and press It with all
possible speed.
SENATORIAL SITUATION.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Re-
publican committee on the situation in
the senate held meeting this afternoon.
Besides the full membership of the
committee there were present the new
Republican senators Foraker, Penrose,
Wellington. Plat, Mason, Spooner,
Fairbanks and Hanna.
The conference with the new senators
was for the purpose of advising them
Of the difficulties in the way of filling
committee assignments. At present
none of the new senators have commit
tee places. and If there is no re-organi-
xation they will be without places. The
situation was explained by members of
the committee as being one of consid-
cradle Importance. The Democrats in
sist that in making up the committees
all the Silver Republicans and Popu-
lists should be included in the majority
assignments ana all the minority places
conceded to the Democrats.
The Republicans, said one of the COM
mittee to the senators, must give places
to silver Republicans and Populsts who
would not act with them, but on the
other hand would be likely to vote with
the Democrats in committee and in the
senate on many of the questions to come
before that body Nor was there the
slightest understanding that silver Re-
publicans and Populists would support
the party ostensibly in control on q
single proposition. There was entire
agreement and harmony on the part of
all who participated in the conference
today, the new senators recognizing the
0ificulty that exists in the situation.
While no definite conclusion was
reached it was probable that for the
present nothing will be done and the
committees will remain untitled. Mean
while the Republican committee will
have further conference with the
Democratic committee.
As result Of the several conferences
held not only by Republicans but by
Democrats. it may definitely be said
that the men who have been appointed
by the governors in states where legis-
latures have had an opportunity to
eject will will not be admitted. The Re-
publican managers say that it would be