The record-union., 1897-07-12
Anxious TO Reach a Complete Agreement at
an Early Date.
Although None of the Real I1npor-
tant Problems of the Bill Have
as Yet Been Solved, Several
Hundred of the Minor Amend
ments Have Already Been
Agreed Upon.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE con-
ferrees of the tariff bill held a four
hour session to-day. The anxiety TO
reach a complete agreement as soon as
possible induced them to meet on the
Sabbath, and tonight both the House
and Senate cOnferrees appear satisfied
with the progress that has been made.
Several hundred of the minor amend
ments have been agreed upon, many of
them changes of phraseology, and on a
large majority of them the House con-
ferrees naturally yielded.
None of the real important problems
in the bill, however, have as yet been
solved. All of them have received more
or less consideration, and there has
been a free exchange of opinions. The
temper and disposition of the Senate
and House cOnferreeS on these import
ant matters have in this way been as
certained. In several cases the con-
ferrees are very close to an agreement.
Both sides show a commendable spirit
of conciliation, and, while in each in
stance, each side seems to be holding
out strongly for its contention as to
rates, there has not yet appeared on
the horizon anything which portends
such difficulty as would not in time be
surmOunted
There is the best of reasons for be-
| lieVing that several of the main points
of contention will be compromised.
This is especially to be believed of lum-
Der, hides and wool, and possibly sugar,
though on the latter the House confer
rees are standing particularly firm for
| their schedule. On the subject of reci-
procity, the drift of opinion seems to be
| in the direction of the substitute, but
with certain of the House provisions
that is, the list of articles which can be
used as a basis for reciprocity treaties
will be broadened, but that the Senate
provision requiring the ratification of
the treaties viii be discarded
Several Of the eminent lawyers in
| both branches of Congress question the
constitutionality of the power con-
ferred on the President by the Senate
reciprocity provision. The stamp tax
on bonds and stocks, provided for in
one of the Senate amendments, has not
yet been affected. The revenue fur
nished by it serves as a strong argu-
ment for its acceptance, in view of the
heavy anticipatory importations. and
there is talk or widening its scope so as
not only to include a tax on actual
The necessity of revenue also furnishes
a strong argument for the restoration
of the House rates on imported to-
baccO.
1t is impossible to estimate yet when
a final agreement will be reached, and
although various dates are given to the
length of time the bill will remain in
conference, ranging from Tuesday to a
week from tomorrow, one of the most
influential of the conferrees said to-
night that all arrangements were pure
guess work. He said decisions on the
more important matters of the bill were
so independent that ultimate decision
on one might involve a complete agree
ment on Others and that the final
agreement might come at any time
after the rest of the matters of second
airy Importance were out of the way
When the report is completed it will
at once go to the House. where it is not
likely that more than one day Will be
allowed for debate. The anxiety to get
the bill on the statute books and the
great loss of revenue involved in each
twenty-four hours delay, it is argued,
justified the Republican managers in
declining to give more than a single
day for discussion