The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-06-03
TARIFF IS A TERROR
Republicans in Caucus to
Discuss the Bill.
NO VOTE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS

NO VOTE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
Vuch Opposition to the Beer Tax
Western Senators Want Duty
on Wool Increased.
Washington, May 26.-The Republic
can caucus today emphasized the fact
that there is wide divergence of opin-
ion among the Republican senators on
rates of duty fixed in the various sche-
dulles of the tariff. The senators were
in caucus nearly four hours. The only
official announcement that was made
after the caucus adjourned was that it
was decided to appoint three senators
in addition to the Republican members
of the finance committee, who were to
act as a committee to assist in getting
the tariff bill through the senate. 1t
was generally stated, however, that an
agreement had been reached that there
should be no set speeches on the bill
from the Republican side, except that
of Senator Aldrich, which is to be de-
livered tomorrow.
A resolution of memorandum, offered
by Senator Burrows, was AGREED to by
those present. It sets forth that in the
sense of those present, there not being
full attendance of the caucus, was
that Republican senators having
amendments to offer should present
them to Republican members of the
finance committee, and if the amend
ments are approved by the committee,
they are to be offered in the senate; if
disapproved, the senators presenting
them are to have the right to submit
them to the Republican caucus. The
finance committee is to hold sessions
each evening for the purpose of hearing
propositions from Republican senators
and to decide upon the advisability of
presenting such amendments in the
senate.
The object of this proposition is to
prevent the Republicans from dividing
upon various schedules which might
be presented. The necessity of this ar
rangement was developed by the de-
bate, and the various contentious of
senator's.
In the early part of the caucus, Sen
atOr Aldrich was called upon for an ex-
PLANTATION of the bill, and some of the
amendments. During the remarks,
Senator Cullom called for a statement
on the sugar schedule, over which there
has been SO much controversy. The
explanation presented was largely tech
nical, but the senators who heard him
understood that the house schedule
will largely exclude the coarse and low
grades from Java, the Philippine ISL
ands and other points. The protection
in the senate bill was rs per cent, and
equalized the high protection on low
grades and high grades. The effect of
the house schedule would be to shut off
the lower and cheaper grades of sugar,
the system of compound duties pre-
sented by the senate bill being for the
purpose Of making this equality. The
average rate in the senate bill was rs
per cent, with a differential of one
eighth cent on refined sugar. Senator
geous to the sugar refners as the house
bill. The explanation seemed to cause
general satisfaction; at least, no one
questioned the senator further.
Debate on various schedules con-
sumed the time of the caucus. A great
deal of opposition was developed to
the increased tax on beer, and duty on
leather. Senators Plat of New York,
Hanna of Ohio, and Spooner of Wis
consin, were especially vigorous in the
opposition to the increased tax on
beer. It was pointed out that the
Democrats had already stated their op-
position to this tax, that they thought
it would be wise to have an arrange
ment effected which would relieve Re-
publican senators from embarrassment.
It was determined that efforts should
be made to secure the revenue both
from beer and tea by tax which
would accomplish the same result.
Western senators referred to the wool
schedules. Senators Warren, of Wy
oming, appearing as the spokesman for
the woolgrowers of the West, said that
the duties proposed by the committee
were, in his judgment, inadequate, and
he thought there should be some in
creases on the line Of amendments pro-
posed by the Western senators.
This statement raised storm among
the Western men, who said that if such
q method was proposed, they would be
compelled to vote for placing certain
articles on the free list, or reducing the
duty on them. They did not expect
the Democrats would vote with them
to increase duties. The Westerners
announced that to settle with the East
ern men who voted to reduce the du-
ties on their products, they would
vote to reduce the duty on articles
which their people purchased and did
not produce. It was this state OF
affairs that brought forth the PROPOSE
ton Of Senator Burrows to submit
proposed changes to the Republican
members of the finance committee and
then to the caucus. There was no talk
of boiling, and no senator said he
would vote against the bill as whole.
It was on the matter Of schedules that
they disagreed.
The question of abrogating the Ha-
waiian treaty caused lively debate.
Senator Aldrich stated that the COM
mittee intended to bring in an amend
ment to this portion Of the bill. Sem
ator Frye opposed the abrogation in the
strongest possible terms. while Senator
Nelson made vigorous speech n sup
port Of the committee amendment, de-
claring that the revenue which would
be raised from the duty on Hawaiian
sugar would be greater than that which