The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-25
Differences AmOngRepub-
liCan Senator'S.
No Set Speeches are to Be
Made, il is snow Understood.
Amendments 10 the Bill are 10 Be
Submitted 10 the Caucus.

Washington. May 25.-The Republican
caucus yesterday emphasized the fac
that there is a wide divergence of opin
ion among the Republican senators OF
rates of duty fixed in the various sched
ules OF the tariff bill. The senator's were
in caucus nearly four hours. The only
official announcement thai was made
after the caucus adjourned was that II
was decided to appoint three senator's
IN addition to the Republican members
OF the finance committee. who are 10
act as a committee 10 assist in getting
die 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
bin from the Republican side, except
that Of Senator Aldrich, which is 10 be
delivered this afternoon.
A resolution or memorandum offered
by Senator Burrows was agreed TO,
which set forth that the sense of those
present, there not being a full attend
ance of the caucus. was that Republican
senators having amendments 10 offer
should present them TO the Republican
il the amendments are approved by the
committee, they are To be offered in
the senate. II dsapproved, the SEN
ators presenting them are to have III.
right to submit them to the Republican
caucus which Is 10 be called upon each
schedule. If amendments to IT are pro-
posed. The finance committee Is T.
hold sessions each evening for the pur
.,.eI n.
lican senator's, and 10 decide upon the
advisability OF presenting such amend
ments in the senate.
The object of this proposition is TO
prevent the Republicans from dividing
upon various schedules which might be
presented. TIE necessity OF this agree
ment was developed by the debate and
the various contentious OF senator's.
The sugar Schedule.
In the early part Of the caucus. Sen
ator Aldrfch was called upon for an
explanation Of the bill and some Of the
amendments. During the remarks. Sen
alor- Cnllnm- called for statement -eF-
the sugar schedule, over which there had
been SO much controversy. The ex-
PLANTATION presented was largely tech
nical, but the senators who heard him
understood that the house schedule
would largely exclude the coarse and
low grades OF sugar from Java, the
Philippine islands. and other points.
The protection In the senate bill was
rs per cent. and equalized the high pro-
lection on low grades and high grades.
The effect of the house schedule would
be 20 shut out the lower and cheaper
grades OF sugar the system of COM
pound duties presented 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 diff
ferential Of lis OF u cent on refined
sugar. Senator Aldrich said that this
was not as advantageous TO the
sugar refiners as the house bill. The
explanation seemed 10 cause general
satisfaction. at least no one questioned
the senator further.
Night Sessions to lie Held.
There was some discussion upon the
length of time the bill shall be under
discussion in the senate. Senator Ma
son suggested that as soon as the open
ing speeches were made, a move should
be taken towards having a vote on the
bill in two weeks. IL was decided to
ask that after the debate had run along
for a week, that the senate begin its
sessions at IL o'clock and sit until 530
and have evening sessions from until
III y. IN.
Hanna and riatt Oppose Beer Tax.
Debate on the various schedules con-
sumed the time OF the caucus. A great
deal OF opposition was developed to the
increased tax on beer and the duty on
tea. Senators Platt OF New York,
Hanna OF Ohio and Spooner of Wisconsin
were especially vigorous I'm their OPP
position To the increased tax on beer
IL was pointed out that the Democrats
had already stated their opposition 10
this tax. and would make an effort 10
have the senate committee amendment
eliminated. They thought Il would be
wise TO have an arrangement effected
which would relieve Republican SEN
ators OF embarrassment. II was deter
mined that an effort should be made
to secure the revenue both from beer
and tea by a stamp tax. which would
accomplish the same result.
Wool Schedules.
Western senators referred to the WOO
schedules. Senator Warren OF Wyoming
appearing as the spokesman for the wool
growers of the West, said that the duties
proposed by the committee were. in his
judgment inadequate, and he though,
there should be Increases on the lines OF
amendments proposed by Western sena-
tors.
Senator Lodge OF Massachusetts, spoke
against the duty on hides, saying he did
not see how he could avoid voting for an
amendment which proposed placing
hides on the free list This statement
raised a storm among Western men
who said that II such a method was pro-
posed they would be compelled TO vote
for placing certain articles on the free
list or for reducing the duty upon them
They did not expect that the Democrats
would vote with them 10 increase duties
East Against the West.
The Westerners announced that to set
tie with the Eastern men who voted to
reduce the duties ON their products they
would vote 90 reduce the duty on articles
which their people purchased and did not
produce. IL was this state OF affairs that
brought forth the proposition Of Sena-
tor Burrows to submit proposed changes
to the Republican members OF the
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