The record-union., 1897-07-13
The COnferrees Strike Some Snags
in Their Work.
Several Efforts May Have to be Made to
Effect an Adjustment.
House Members of the Conference
Their Bill, and the Senate Mem
bers Are No Less Tenacious
Lumber One of the Important
Schedules in Dispute.

Schedules in Dispute.
WASHINGTON, July 12-The tariff
conferrees have struck some snags in
their work The minor matters were
easily adjusted, but on all important
features there has been no agreement
and the outlook to-day was that sew
eral efforts would have to be made be-
fore an adjustment could be effected.
The House conferrees are standing SOL
idly by their bill and the Senate con-
ferrees are no less tenacious.
The Senate conferrees have laid be-
fore the House members the condition
in the Senate where there is no actual
majority of the Republicans, and where
other than Republican votes are neces-
sary to pass the bill or adopt a confer
ence report. They asserted that in 1894
the Democrats were in better shape in
the Senate than the Republicans now,
as they had no actual majority, yet the
House was finally compelled to accept
the Senate bill in order to pass it.
The members of the House are stand
ing by their bill nevertheless and have
told the Senators that they cannot ac-
important items.
Lumber has been in dispute The
members of the House committee in
sited that their rate on white pine
must be accepted and have been sup
ported by Senator Burrows of Michi-
gan. The House rate was 50 and the
Senate reduced it to 81. The Senate
conferrees say that if the House rate is
! will 1ic
cussion in the Senate. The House con-
ferrees have refused to accept even the
rate which was originally reported in
the Senate bin and stand for the House
rate.
Burlaps, cotton ties and other items
which We're placed on the free list by
the Senate met with great hostility
from the House conferrees, and nothing
in the way of compromise offered by
the Senate members has been accepted.
The House conferrees are also insisting
up on higher compensatory duties on
manufactures of cotton on account of
the duty of 20 per cent. on raw cotton
The House members have maintained
that the House bill has been COM
mended more than the Senate bill and
that the conferrees should get as close
in addition to presenting the present
political complexion of the Senate have
pointed out the difficulty that will oc-
cur if several reports of partial agree
ments and disagreements are made
They claim that there is not a majority
in the Senate to keep the Senate in
the conference report
he r1oor1 rapacc of tho oo,farraac W a G
devoted largely to conferences with in
dividual Senators, in which the House
conferrees participated. These confer
ences developed the fact that the wool
schedule had been under special con-
sideration during the forenoon session
and the House members had shown a
disposition to hold on to the House
rates. There was evident apprehen-
sion that if this concession were not
granted there would be difficulty in
getting through the Senate and it is
not believed that the apprehension
was changed by the results of their in
qures There was also hurried con-
ference between the Republican repre-
sentatives in the Senate conference
and the members of the Senate Finance
Committee in regard to the probable
course of the Democrats in case the
articles which they were especially in
strumental in having placed on the
free list should be made dutiable
These articles include cotton bag
ging, gunny bags, burIaps and cotton
ties, paris green, floor mating, ETC.
The House is insisting upon their res
toration to the dutiable list and some
of the Senate conferrees are inclined to
yield because of the revenue they
would give.
The conference with the Democrats
was by no means reassuring The Re-
publicans We're told that if these
changes were made they 6he Demo-
crats) would be disposed to insist on a
full explanation in committee
The result of the inquiry as to the
effect of restoration of the House
rate on white pine lumber was far from
reassuring. The Senators from the
Middle Northwest are especially con-
cerned in holding the Senate rate. and
the conferrees have been notified that
any yielding in this question will re-
suit in no little delay. The problem
is giving the committee considerable
concern.
The advocates of a lower duty on cy-
dnlUS VI pOldSSiuIl 1eel COnTlQent, from
reports from the conferences. that the
Senate rate of 1879 per cent. will be ac-
cepted.
The committee is meeting with its
greatest difficulties in reaching an un-
derstanding in regard to the sugar
schedules. On sugar Senators Aldrich
and Jones of Nevada are holding out
especially for the Senate schedule, and
are supported by the entire Senate rep
resentation. The House is just as firm
in their demand for the House rates.
The Indications when the conference
adjourned tonight, We're that a COM
promise would be necessary. which
would split the difference between the
two houses on the differential on re-
fined sugar, and it was rumored that an
agreement to this effect had been
reached.
The House conferrees are standing
stiff1y for the House schedule on wool,
: contending that the Senate rates would
be most oppressive upon manufacture
ers. The Senate classification of third
class woods is especially objectionable
to the carpet manufacturers, and Sen
ators Penrose and Quay have been act