The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-15
IN CONFERENCE
Both Sides Stubborn-No Agreement
in Sight

WASHINGTON, July H.-The con-
ferees on the tariff bill found themselves
today apparently further apart than
they were at the beginning of the con-
ference. There was no immediate pros
pSot of agreement and more than one
member stated that the ENHANCEMENT
was such that the settlement might be
indefinitely prolonged. They stated in
very reserved manner that there are
numerous questions of difference. but
refused to sc into details, even to other
senators and members. Nothing can be
learned although there have been par
tial agreements, until sugar, lead and
lumber can be definitely disposed of.
The best reports represent the house
conferences with Speaker Reed behind
them as holding out for the house sugar
schedule without any change whatever,
and the senators as quite determined
not to yield to this extent. The house
conferees insist that this schedule must
be definitely fixed before other questions
shall be again taken up
One of the questions of secondary i'm
portance upon which sharp differences
have arisen is the senate amendment for
a stamp tax on stocks and bonds. The
mouse lutulDtIS OppUs6 lllt
but the senator's, while not welded to
it, insist upon it as necessary for rev.
enue. The house is also resisting siren
uously the 20 per cent. duty placed upon
hides and is at the same time persistent
ly holding out for the restoration of
gunny bags, cotton ties, etc, to the duti-
able list.
A senator who talked with some of the
conferees said: They are III deadlock
and they are tied up all along the line
1t looks as if the situation must remain
unchanged for a week.
While this appears to be a correct out
line of the situation today the prevail
ing impression is that a settlement of
one or two important schedules would
be speedily followed by complete ad-
justnlent of all other differences.
The senate conferees are disposed to
dissent from the efforts of Speaker Reed
to influence the action of the conferees
The senators are inclined to construe the
speakers participation in the proceed
ings as unwarranted and are appar-
emily more determined than before his
attitude was made known to hold out
for the senate figures. The contending
forces on the wool schedule, the carpet
manufacturers and the wool grower
outside the conference, have practically
reached an agreement which it is pre-
sumed will be ratified by the conferees
This agreement provides for the restora-
ticn of the house rate of II and u cents
respectively on first and second class
woods and on the third class article two
of the men agree to the proposition of
the carpet makers to extend the divid-
ing line from 10 to u cents, making the
rate on woods of this class worth less
than II cents dutiable at cents pound
and those worth more than l. cents du-
table at cents This increases the rate
on all the higher grades of wool, which
is agreeable to the wool men, and holds
the carpet woods down to a figure ac-
ceptable to the manufacturers
The conferees remained in session un-
til after o'clock today and then ad-
journed until tomorrow, emitting the
usual evening session. They had not
reached point where they could call
in the Democratic conferees but all said
progress had been made 1t was impos-
sible to say whether the senate or the
house had the advantage of the days
work. Both sides looked weary and
troubled
The outlook for final agreement was
said to be at great distance