Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-21
THE TARIFF BILL.
The Probable General Character o.
the Measure.
PLAT NOMINATED FOR SENATOR.
The New York Republican Gets 147 Votes
to for Joseph IL. Ch0ate-The
Wichita Reservation to he
Allotted at Once.

|
WASHINGTON, Jan. l5.-The repub-
lican members held no meeting on the
tariff bill yesterday, but will consider
the chemical schedule to-day While
there has been little discussion of the
general character of the measure two
or three underlying principles are un-
derstood. There is no question but
that specific rates will be levied wher-
ever possible. The bounty scheme, it
is understood, will be abandoned with
an adequate duty on sugar The prin-
cipal OF free raw material will be dis
regarded Wool is considered by the
republicans as the farmers finished
product, which shall be protected as
the manufacturers products are, and
lumber Is also regarded as quite as de-
serving of protection us other articles
in which labor is a large element of
cost In the Mckinley bill the lumber
rates were reduced ON the supposition
that the United States lumbcrmen were
too powerful to be affected by Canadian
competition, and the same view was
taken by those in charge of the Wilson
bill, but the republicans think that ex-
perience has not sustained this view
A prominent member of the committee
said yesterday.
Two impressions are being nstilled into the
public that should be corrected. One OF them
is that we are merely re-enacting the Mckinley
bill, with few immaterial amendments, the
other is that the exorbitant demands of some
OF the manufacturers ind other representatives
OF special interests who appeared during the
present hearing will be granted them. The
committee is preparing m independent bill
based on present conditions OF business md
experience Of the past. 1t will not be the
Mckinley bill. Rates Of former nets which
appear TO be consistent with present
conditions will be retained or re-incorporatcd
in the bill, but present business conditions have
changed In many lines In recent years ind the
present condition will be the first factor consid-
cred, When the bill il finished and IN average
Of rates struck II will be below the Mckinley
bill The republicans are not unmndful Of the
fact that they IRE under obligations TO those
democrats who were their allies on the iinan-
cial issue in the campaign. Where some defer
ence to their wishes for low tariff rates is justi
fed by the conditions their views will receive
consideration. As for the demands Of special
interests the committee will not take any state
ment by parties for granted. In carrying the
principle Of protection into effect We will secure
our information on business conditions, cost Of
production materials and labor In the United
States and foreign countries from the most re-
liable source and so far Ms possible from dlsin-
terested parties, and act in accordance with our
judgment
PLATT NOMINATED FOR SENATOR.
ALBANY, N. Y, Jan. l5.-Without
the usual formula of nominating
speech with no word of eulogy, but
with strength of votes that was over
whelming, Thomas c. Platt was named
as the republican candidate for United
States senator last night by n vote of
147 to 7 for Joseph II. Choate. Few
men have been more in the public eye
during the last Is years than Thomas
Collier platt. He was elected to the
United States senate in succession TO
Francis Herman, his term beginning
March 4, 1881. In May Of the same
year in consequence of a quarrel with
President Garfield over the distribution
Of patronage in New York state, Sena-
tors Conkling and Plat resigned from
the senate, expecting to be reelected,
instead of which the places they had
vacated were given to Messrs. Lanham
and Miller. He has been u delegate to
all of the republican national conven-
tons, beginning with that Of 1876 and
including that Of last year. He has
been the recognized director of the re-
publican party organization In New
York state for the last l.. or ID years,
and though his title to supremacy has
frequently been attacked he has as
often demonstrated his ability to hold
1t against all corners. Mr., Platt is the
president Of the United States Express
Co. He is in his 6ith year.
THE WICHITA RESERVATION.
Washington, Jan. l5.-Ihe allotting
agents for the Wichita reservation will
be named at once, This does not mean
that the reservation will be opened to
settlement in the immediate future.
On the contrary, it is expressly stated
that Secretary Francis and President
Cleveland have definitely decided
hat no attempt will be made
% open the reservation before
he close Of the present adj
The issuance of the
declaring the lands Of |
he Wichitas available for settlement
~ the landless will be left to President |
After carefully considering |
very phase Of the somewhat involved |
problem of which is the best way to
'roceed, the president and the secre-
airy Of the interior have decided that |
he lands ought to be allotted at once.
his preliminary work will be inaugu-
ated by this administration. It's com