The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-13
TARIFF CONFERREES
Have Struck Some Snags in Their
Work Of Revision. ..--....
SUGAR, WOOL, LUMBER AND COAL
Are Articles Upon Which the States.
men OF the House and Senate Have
Difficulty In Reaching an Agreement.
Pennsylvania Senators Active.

men OF the House and Senate Have
Difficulty in Reaching an Agreement
Pennsylvania Senators Active.
Washington. July 13.-The tariff coli.
ferrees 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 is that several reports
Will have to be made IL an adjustment
can be reached. The house conferrees
are standing solidly by their bill, and
the senate conferrees are no less tena-
cious.
The senate conferrees have laid be-
fore the house members the condition
In the senate. where there Is not an
actual majority of the Republicans,
and where other than Republican votes
are necessary to pass the bill or adopt
conference report. They asserted
that In 1894 the Democrats were in bet
ter shape in the senate than the Re.
publicans now, as they had an 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 &C.
cept the senate amendments on many
important items. The more important
features of the bill are not settled and
the COnferrees find trouble on items
outside of sugar, wool, coal and lead.
Lumber has been in dispute and the
house conferrees have insisted that the
house rate on white pine must be &C.
cepted, and they have been supported
in this 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 restored it will provoke a long dis
Cussion in the senate. and then no one
can tell when the bill would get out Of
the senate again.
On sugar Senators Aldrich and Jones,
of Nevada, are holding out especially
for the senate schedule and are sup
ported by the entire senate represen-
tation. The house is just as firm in
their demand for the house rates. The
indications when the conference ad-
journed last night were that COM
promise would be necessary which
would split the difference between the
two houses on the differential on re-
fined sugar, and it was stated upon ap-
parently good authority that an agree.
ment to this effect had been reached.
The house confeTees are standing
stiiily for the house schedule on wool,
contcnding that the senate rates would
he most oppressive upon manufacture
ers. The senate classification Of third
class woods is especially Objectionable
to the carpet manufacturers. and Sena-
tors Penrose and Quay have been ac-
tive in their efforts to secure an ad.
vance to u cents in the value of wool
that may be admitted at 4 cents. Tho
senate schedule makes 10 cents the
figure of demarcation in value, fixing
duty of 7 cents pound on all wool
above that price. The Pennsylvania
senators say that under this classif-
cation 80 per cent. of the carpet woods
would be made to pay cents duty, and
that the result would be to close out
many of the carpet makers.
There Is a proposition to compromise
the differences by retaining the senate
classification, but allowing a drawback
on woods which 1t can be proven are
used in carpet making, on which 7
cents may be paid. The house is also
standing on its rates for first and Sec
ond class wools. which were reduced by
the senate. with a good prospect of
success.
There was quite movement on the
Democratic side Of the senate yester-
day to insure u firm stand for free bur-
laps. cotton bagging. floor mating. cot
tonfies, etc, placed on the free list in
the senate and TO hold white pine at
81 per 1000 feet. This was because Of
the report which was authenticated,
that the committee had tentatively
agreed to restore the 81 rate on white
pine and to restore the other articles
mentioned to the dutiable list. These
changes were made in the senate by
maiorities ranging from one to five
votes, and the supporters of the SEN
ate action expressed the opinion that
they will be able to hold all the votes
for motion to reject the conference
report that were originally cast for the
amendments. To do this they would
have to make sure not only of Senator
McEnerey's vote, but of some Republic
can votes, as Senators Carter and
Hanshrough. The problem bids fac to
develop an interesting situation in to-
senate if the committee on conference
adheres to its present determination
with regard to these articles.