The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-14
SUGAR is STILL IN II
THE CONFEREES HAVE NOT AGREED On
SEVERAL ITEMS.
Wool Appears to Be a Source of Trouble
Little Reliable information Can
Be Secured as Yet.

Washington. ID. c., July 13.-The rep
resentati tives of the two houses of Con-
gress in the conference on the tariff bill
spent a busy day, devoted for the most
part to work in the conference room.
There were occasional consultations with
other Senators or members of the House
upon points at issue, but these were
brief so that comparatively little lnfor-
nation as to the progress made found
its way to outsiders. 1t is known that
almost the entire day was devoted to the
sugar and wool schedules. and the best
information obtainable is that a final
agreement was not reached upon either.
Senator Platt, of New York, who has
been absent most of the time since the
bill went into conference. returned and
was in close conference much of the
day with Senator Quay.
At one time during the afternoon the
Senate and House confereeS separated,
the House men repairing to the Ways
and Means committee room. 1t was gen.
orally believed that this action on the
part Of the House men was for the pur-
pose of deciding upon a line of policy
on sugar, but they declined to give out
any information.
Contrary to published reports it is
positively asserted that the sugar sched-
ule has not been agreed upon, and in
fact that all the big questions before
the conference which have seemingly
been settled are only tentatively agreed
to, one side or the other insisting that
they shall lie held open. Nothing will
be finally closed so far as the matters
of Importance are concerned until all
have been decided upon, and the con-
ferees are ready to come TO Il complete
agreement.
1t is believed that the wood schedule
which has occupied the attention of the
conferees more or less to-day and yes
terday can now be settled whenever 9TH
er matter have reached a stage for final
adjustment. The Senate conferees are
ready to compromise the differences on
first and second class woods by making
them both dutiable at II cents and a
compromise on third class woods has
been suggested by House members of
the conference concerning which they
express the hope that it will be astisfac-
tory to both the wool growers and the
carpet manufacturers, but this is not
assured. This compromise proposition
looks to fixing Il rate of three cents a
pound ON all wool Of value less than
10 cents pound; OF five cents on wool
valued at more than 10 and less than IL
cents a pound, and Of 8 cents ON that
above 13 cents a pound in value. This
proposition was submitted to the repre-
sentatives in the Senate Of both the
wool growers and the carpet manufac-
turers and both sides took the matter
under advisement. Senator Penrose, rep
resenting the carpet men, telegraphed
for some of them to come to Washington
for conference. The question Of jute,
jute bagging, burlape, cotton bagging
and cotton ties, which the Senate placed
on the free list, is causing much trouble.
The House conferees insist that these
times shall 60 back on the dutiable list,
and the Senate conferees plead that il
they are put back the delay must be the
result in the Senate. If the conferees
can reach a complete agreement by Fri
day, one Of them said to-day he would
be more than satisfied.