The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-08
Besides the Important Stamp-Tax Pro-
vision and the Antitrust, Reciproc-
ity and RetaIiatOry Sections.
GEN. GROSVENOR SANGUINE
THINKS THE BILL WILL BECOME
LAW IN EIGHT OR TEN DAYS.
Features of the Closing Debate-Ex-
plantations and Criticisms from
Free-SiIver Republicans.
peclal to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.


Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, July THE tariff bill
passed the Senate to-day. With the end in
sight and only a little ways off, the Re-
publicans feel that they can afford to be
patient while the conference committees of
the two branches of Congress consider the
bill carefully and perfect the measure so
that there will be no need of further rev.
enue legislation for years to come. Inter-
est from now on will center in the confer
ence committee. which will be formally
named tomorrow, although the personnel
is already known. The joint committee will
consist of sixteen members-eight from the
Senate and eight from the House-and it
can be said without prejudice that the
House Republican representation is the
stronger of the two. Dingley Payne, Dali
zell Hopkins and Grosvenor are all tariff
experts and specialists In the Senate Alli-
son, Aldrich, Burrows and Plat of Con-
necticut are we'll equipped, but, with the
exception of the two first, they are not the
equals of the House conferees. Jones of
Nevada, who is as much high protec-
zionist as any of his straight-out Repub-
lican colleagues. has a profound antpathy
to work, and, outside of few matters Of
concern to certain interests, he will not
bother himself much. OF the Democrats
in the Senate. Jones of Arkansas, Vest and
White active, aggressive and well in
formed on tariff matters and, while they,
with their Democratic friends on the House
committee-Bailey McMillin and Wheeler
will not count much in actual results, still
they cannot be ignored and will make
things lively while the conference lasts
They will be overwhelmed numerically but
they will keep their Republican friends very
busy from beginning to end.
Estimates continue to vary widely as to
the time which will be occupied in confer
ence. General Grosvenor is the most san
guine among the Republicans, and he
thinks that the whole business will be over
and Congress away in a week. Senator
Aldrich processes to think the same way.
but in private conversation he says that
the country will be lucky If Congress is
not here two weeks from now. The ma
jority opinion leans to the. notion that the
final vote will be reached in about ten days
or two weeks.
When the bill leaves Congress it will be a
distinctly Republican measure. Republic
ans, as rule, are well satisfied with it,
and they expect to be better satisfied when
it is completed and rounded out Senator
Mantle condemned it this afternoon as be-
ing rotten bill, but so much better than
the existing Wilson law that he would have
to vote for 1t. Teller and Cannon repre-
senting the free-silver Republicans. were
full of grief because they had not been con-
suited as to the framing of the bill, and
they thought it was very badly construct
ed. The other Populists were apparently of
the same mind. Six free-slver Republicans
and Populists declined to vote, which ac-
counts for the majority being apparently
so large. 1t is plain, however, that on a
complete showdown of all hands there
would have been a majority of from to Z.
The first meeting of the conferees on the
tariff bill will be held tomorrow as soon
after the representatives of the House are
named as it is possible for them to as
semble. This and subsequent meetings are
expected to be held in the room of the SEN
ate committee on finance and the meetings
after the formal gathering tomorrow will
be as nearly continuous the physical
endurance or the members of the confer
ence will permit. The minority in the House
Will make no opposition TO the Republican
programme of sending the tariff bill to con-
ference at once. Both the Democrats and
Populsts that nothing can be gained
by the interposition OF factous opposition.
No definite arrangement has yet been made
as to the time TO be allowed for debate
when the bin is reported back from confer
ence but little difficulty is anticipated on
this point AS the conferees are the ranking
members of the committee from each side,
the conferees of the House will be Chair
man Dingley of Maine, Messrs. Payne of
New York, Delzell of Pennsylvania, Hop
kins of Illinois and Grosvenor of Ohio, Re
publicans, and Messrs Bailey of Texas, Nc
Millin of Tennessee, and Wheeler of Ala
bama, Democrats.
AS to the length of the conference an
A~.-- 1s,+.. I fS.l-
difference of opinion among the House con-
ferees. Chairman Dngley, speaking of the
conference on the Mckinley bill said il
lasted two weeks and that there was not
as vital points of difference between the
two houses then as now. General GroSVen-
or, on the other hand, predicts that the bill
will be a law q week from Saturday if the
bill goes into conference tomorrow. The
rumor afioat to-day to the effect that the
House managers had agreed to accept the
bill as it passed the Senate and thus avoid
all possible delays is pronounced absolute
ly without foundation. After the bill has
been in conference tWenty-fOur hours and
the Republicans have had an opportunitq
TO go over their differences and ascertain
the temper of each side with regard to the
main points in controversy, it will be much
easier TO prognosticate the time that will
be required TO reach fun agreement. Prob
ably the most difficult problem the con-
ferees will have to solve will be the sugar
schedule, which they claim has been re-
ceiyed with approval by the Republicans
and the Republican press OF the country
generally. On the subject Of hides the
House conferees are disposed to yield but
not to the full extent of the duty imposed
by the Senate The Senate fixed the duty
at 20 per cent. ad Valorem. Some of the
members of the House talk Of d compro-
mise at 10 per cent. compromise on wool
rates also appears probable
The Republican representatives of the
Senate in the conference express the opin-
ion that the conference Will be very brief
I'VE ought to conclude the conference in
four or five days" said Senator Aldrich
"and be prepared to adjourn by the 18th
of the month.
adjust all our differences in a weeks time
at the most" Mr.. Allison said.
The Democratic conferees did not take so
sanguine a view. Senator Jones, of Arkan-
sas, predicted that fully week would