Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-07-14
STRIKE. SOME SNAGS.
Disagree on Some Schedules Which
it was Thought Gould be
Hurried Through.

Washington, D. c.. July 1.-THE tariff
conferees have struck some snags III
their work. The minor N tiers were
easily adjusted, cut on all important fea-
lures there has been 10 agreement and
the outlook today was that several re-
ports would Lav. to be made before an
adjustment could be reached. The house
confeEeCS are standing solely by their bills
and the Senate conferees are no less tena-
cious.
The Senate conferees have laid before
the House members the condition in the
Senate. where there Is no actual ma jority
of the Republicans, and where other than
Republican votes are necessary to pass
the bill or adopt a conference report. They
asserted that in 1894 the Democrats were
in better shape in the Senate than the Re
pubE~ans now. rs thy had no actual ma
jOrity. yet the House was finally cons
PEELED to accept the Senate bill in order
10 pass It.
The more important features Of the bill
are not settled and the conferces find
trouble on it outside of sugar, weol, coal
and lead Lumber has been in dispute
and the House conferees have insisted
that the House rate on white pine must
be accepted and they have been sup
ported in this by Senator Burrows of
Michigan. The House rate was 50 and
the Senate reduced it to 81. The Senate
conferees say that if the House rate is
restored it viii provoke long discussion
III the Senate, and that no one can tell
when the bill would get out Of the Senate
again.
Straw mating, which the Senate put
on the free list is an item of contention
The House cOnfereeS have refused to ac-
cept even the rate which was originally
reported in the Senate bill and stand for
the House rate. Burlaps. cotton and
h. - IL, L 81
free list by the Senate. met with great
hospitality from the House conferees and
50 far nothing in the way Of a cOmpro-
mise offered by the Senate members has
been accepted.
The House cOnferees are also insist
ing upon higher compensatory duties Oh
manufactures from cotton on account of
the duty of 20 per cent. on raw cotton.
L he House members have maintained
that the House bin has been commended
more than the Senate bill and that the
conference should get as close to it as
possible. The Senate cOnferees, in addi-
ton to presenting the present political
complexion of the Senate have pointed
cut the difficulty that will occur if several
reports OF partial and disagreements are
made. They told the House members
that it viii lead to endless discussion,
that they have no power to force a vote,
and that there Is not Il ma jOrity in the
Senate to keep he Senate in session in
case of a fiibu5terer against the confe-
ence report.
The noon recess of the conferees was
devoted largely to a conference with in
dividual senator's, in which the House
representatives in the conference partici-
pated These conferences developed the
fact that the wool schedule had been
under especial consideration during the
forenoon session and that House men
had shown a decided disposition to hold
Ia Z he
dent apprehension that if this contention
was granted there would be difficulty in
getting the bill through the Senate, and
it is not believed that this apprehension
was changed by the results of their in
Quiries.
There was also a hurried conference
between the Republican representatives
Of the Senate in the conference and the
Democratic members of the finance COM
mittee IN regard to the probable course
Of the Democrats III case the articles to
which they were especially instrumental
In having placed on the free list should
be made dutiable. These articles include
cotton bagging, gunny bags, burlaps, cot
ton tiles. paris green, floor mating. The
House IS insisting upon restoration to the
dutiable list and some of the Senate con-
ferees are inclined to yield because of
the need of the revenue they would pro-
duce.
The conference with the Democrats
was by no means reassuring. The Re
publicans were told that if these changes
were made they (the Democrats would
be disposed TO insist upon a full expIana-
tien in committee and an elaborate debate
in the Senate, which might indefinitely
prolong the session.
The result Of the inquiry as to the eff
feet of restoration of the House rate
on white pine lumber was far from reas-
surfing The sena tors from the middle
GT.th S4 81 iall in
holding the Senate rate and tie cCnferees
have been notified that any yielding of
this question will result in no little delay
The problem is giving the committee
considerable concern.
The advocates of a low duty on cyan
ide potassium feel confident from reports
from the conferees that the Senate
rate Of 1215 per cent. will be assepted
tHNERf{I ALTON IN | PANIC