New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-12
cONFEREES GET on WE'LL.
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS MADE WITH
THE TARIFF BILL YESTERDAY.

NONE OF THE IMPORTANT POINTS REACHED. But
Roth SIDES SHOW A coNcILIAToRY SPIRIT.
Washington. July H.-The conferrees on the
Tariff bill! held a four-hour session to-day. The
anxiety TO reach a complete agreepent as early
as possible induced them to meet\on the Sab
bath and tonight both the House and Senate
conferrees appear satisfied with the progress
that has been made. Several hundred of the
minor amendments have been agreed upon,
many OF them mere changes Of phraseology.
and on large majority Of these the House
conferrees' naturally have yielded. None CT the
really important problems in the BILL however.
have yet been solved. All Of them have received
more or less consideration. and there has been
a free exchange Of opinions. The temper and
disposition Of the Senate and House conferrees
on these importan; matters have in this way
been ascertained. In several cases the con-
ferrees are very close to an agreement
Both sides one Of the conferrees said to-
night. show a commendable spirit Of concil!a-
ton. and while in several instances each side
seems TO be holding out strongly for its con-
tention as to rates. he said there had not yet
appeared the horizon anything which por-
tended such difficulty as would not in time be
surmounted. There is the best of reasons for
believing that several of the main points Of con-
tention will be compromised This Is especially
believed TO be true Of lumber. hides and wool,
and possibly sugar. though on the latter the
House conferrees are standing particularly firm
for their schedule. On the subject Of reciprocity
the drift of opinion seems to be In the direc-
ton Of the Senate substitute. but with certain
Of the House provisions; that is. that the list Of
articles which can be used a. a basis for reel
procty treaties will be broadened but that the
Senate provision requiring the ratification Of
the treaties will be discarded
Several of the lawyers in both branches Of
power conferred upon the President by the Sen
etc reciprocity provision. The stamp tax on
bonds and stocks provided for in OF the Sen
ate amendments has not yet been accepted.
The revenue afforded by 1t furnishes a strong
argument for its acceptance in view of the
heavy anticipatory impOrtations and there is
talk of widening its scope not only to in
clude tax on actual transfers. but on all re-
furnishes strong argument for the restoration
Of the House rates on imported tobacco.
1t is impossible TO estimate yet when final
agreement will be reached, and although various
will remain in conference. ranging from Tues
day TO q week from tomorrow, one of the
most influential Of the conferrees said tonight
that all estimates were necessarily pure guess
work. He said that the decisions on the matters
of transcendent importance in the bill so
interdependent that an ultimate decision on one
might involve a complete agreement the
others. and this final agreement might
a. any time after the rest of the matters Of Sec
cndary Importance were out of the way
When the report is completed il will at
go 10 the House, where il is not likely that
more than one day will he allowed for debate.
The anxiety to get the bill on the statute books
and the great loss of revenue involved in each
twentyfour hours delay. it is argued justify
the Republican managers in declining to give
more than single day for discussion.