Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-15
MORE. HOPEFUL MOOD
Feeling Among the Oonferees on the
Tariff Bill.
MINOR DETAILS CONSIDERED TODAY
Opposition in the House to Senate
Sugar Figures.
ATTITUDE OF THE SPEAKER

The tariff conferees were N q more hope
full mood today than yesterday. and one of
the leading representa- tives Of the Senate
expressed the opinion at noon that the re-
publicans would be able to conclude their
labors tomorrow and to summon the DEM
ocratic members by Saturday. This view,
he said, was justified by the present ap-
pearance of things, but he added that
there were still many contingencies that
might arise to prevent so early an agree
n.ent. and that 1t was impossible to say
precisely when the end would be reached.
I'VE shall come out all right however,
and, think, soon," he added. I'VE have
tedious job, but 1t Is not hopeless one,
and there is no foundation to the reports
that we are In danger of not reaching an
agreement"
The day was spent in considering minor
details of the bill which have been passed
over. with an occasional reference to the
differences on the sugar schedule which
Is still the stumbling block.
There was some discussion Of a compro-
mise on this schedule. and the general i'm
preston about the Senate was that the
changed aspect in the committee was due
to the fact that there was a more yield
Ing disposition on the part of the repre-
sentatives of both houses. Senators not In
the conference, but in close touch with the
members Of 1t, express the opinion today
an adjustment which will give the sugar
refiners differential of three-sixteenths
of cent instead of one-eighth as in the
House bill and one-fifth as in the Senate
bill.
The House conferees also object to the
Senate amendment reducing to the extent
OF tenth of cent the duties of jaggery
and other .cw-grade sugars, and the state
ment Is made upon apparently good au-
thority that there Is really almost as much
@ contest bo
duty on refined sugars. No one doubts,
however, that settlement can be secured
on this subject If the duty on refined sugars
can be agreed upon.
On the House side, on the other hand
among those in close touch with the con-
ferees, 1t Is asserted with the utmost posi-
tiveness that the House conferees have no
intention OF yielding anything to tine Sem
ate on the sugar schedule, and the opinion
Is freely expressed that the deadlock will
continue indefinitely until the Senate Yields
Ihe House conferees, they say, know that
they have practically the unanimous sup
port OF the House republicans back Of
them In their contention for the House
schedule, and. moreover. they claim that
many of the Senate republicans agree with
them on this point.
No Bill Rather Than Senate Firures,
There appears to be a grave danger that
IL the House conferees should yield on su-
gar the conference report would be rejected
by the House. Many of the strongest re-
publicans in the House declare that they
will see all tariff legislation fail sooner
than they will yield to the sugar trust
They insist that the House shall not yield
an inch.
The statement has been made that
Speaker Reed is trying to control the
conference as he does the House" Unless
this is said with the intention to prejudice
the efforts of the House conferees it has
not meaning. However strong may be the
cesire Of MIR. Reed that the House con-
stronger than that of the members of the
House generally. 1t would take all the
power he possesses in the House. If he
chose to exert 1t, to secure the adoption
Of conference report which yielded to
the Senate on sugar. N. =
Republican members of the House In
great numbers have gone to the Speaker
to notify him that they will be obliged to
vote against the report If it contains any
thing more favor able to the sugar trus,
than the House schedule. If he favored the
Senate schedule it Is doubtful whether he
could secure its adoption by the House
Ii he has but accurately reported to the
conferees the sentiment of the House az
expressed to him 1t should be enough to
discourage the friends of the trust There
is no evidence that he has in any way
interfered with the conference.
1t Is unnecessary for him to speak to the
House conferees on the subject. They
are thoroughly informed as to the senti.
ment of their colleagues and there is little
doubt that the Senate conferees appreciate
that the tariff bill is jeopardized by the
demands of the trust.
While the sugar schedule has not We,
been actually under formal discussion by
the conference, it is appreciated that it is
behind the general disagreement. Third.
class woods are the only really serious
thing In the way besides sugar, and the
situation as to that would not be SO diff.
cult II the shadow of the sugar schedule
were not across the path.