New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-08
A TARIFF CAUCUS CALLED.
REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO CONSIDER
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
NOTIFICATION OF THE FINANCE coMMlTTEEs >
SUGAR SCHEDULE. RECIPROCITY WITH
HAWAII AND THE HIDE AND WOOL.
DUTIES AMONG THE SUBJECTS FOR
DISCUSSION YESTERDAYS
rrIr- MI
PROGRESS on TIE BILL
tDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

tDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington June THE crucial schedule OF
the pending Tariff bi-that which levies duties
ON raw and refined sugars-having now been
reached. the Republican Senators have decided to
meet n caucus tomorrow TO determine whether
.he scale Of rates adopted by the Finance Com
mittee is to stand OF whether as matter OF
party policy 1t shall be modified so as to ap-
proach more nearly TO the scheme Of classhca-
tion and taxation which received the assent Of
he House OF Representatives.
There is undoubtedly strong undercurrent
Of opposition on the Republican side to the
schedule framed by the committee. and this op-
position has perhaps been encouraged by intima-
tions whether founded or unfounded that the
pending compound rates are more friendly 10
the Sugar Trust than are tie specific duties OF
The original Dingley bill AS a matter of fact
not half dozen members Of either branch or
Congress can thread their way through the
mazes into which any discussion Of the compl-
Gated problems Of sugar duties leads. and II Is
consequently comparatively easy TO pre)udice
the average Congressional Judgment for or
against any given scale of duties by raising the
cry Of favortism TO the Sugar Trust. In a gen.
eral way. Republican policy sustains the impo-
sition of specific instead of ad valorem duties
rule in Republican tariff legislation. The House
sugar rates, being specific, have therefore GER
tain margin of advantage to the lay political
mind over the compound and partially ad
valorem rates in the Senate's revision OF the
Dingley bill Besides. the House duties are ac-
ceptable TO the protectOnist Senator from
louisiana Mr. McEnery, whose vote may De
useful 10 the Republican side in a pinch whie
the present Senate schedule fails 10 command
The Republican caucus would, under ordi-
nary circumstances. be disposed TO ndOrse
without much question the painstaklng ana IN
tell:gent work Of Mr.. Allison, Mr. Aldrlch ana
their Republican associates on the FINANCE
Committee: but any sugar schedule is so
wrapped in fog and obscurity, and so many out
side cOnsidera lions Of prejudice and policy have
10 be faced by the Republican plurality in the
Senate that no decision the caucus may make
tomorrow is likely 10 excite either surprise or
wonder.
In addition to making some declaration on the
subject of sugar rates, the caucus VIII also
probably be called on 10 decide whether or not
the House provision continuing the operations
Of the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty snail pe
restored Other disputed questions which must
be settled tomorrow or at subsequent meet
ing include Mr. Platt's proposed substitution
Of a stamp tax on checks and other negouaple
paper for the increased tax on beer; the ursen.
protest Of the Massachusetts Senators against
the duty on hides, and the demand or the l'.r
Western Senators for higher duties on Wool
Mr. Ald~ch who is still confined 10 his rooms
at the Arlington. may not be able to attend the
caucus tomorrow. In that case no deilnlle re-
suits may be expected from its deliberations.
The Senate spent several more hours to-ddy
in a rambling discussion OF the wood schedule
Of the Tariff bill, the Democratic side renew
ing its assaults Of last Saturday with uneX.
pected vehemence diverting element OF
humor was impaired TO the debate by a coIloquy
netvaen Nfr Hoar on one side and Mr.. Bacon
and Mr. Caffery on the other, on the para
doxical attitude taken by these two Southern
Senator's Mr. Bacon. who supports the duty
ieid bv the Finance Committee on Georgia pine.
WAS assailed by Mr.. Caffery and other Demo
cratic colleagues as a "protectionlst WhlIe' IN
return Mr. Caffery was accused by MI bacon
- Forgettjng his free-t trade principles whenever
Louisiana sugar was concerned. Mr. Hoar de-
pictcd the embarrassments Of his two Demo
cratic opponents with CHEEKY relish ana oe-
Nghtful irony.