Evening star., 1897-05-05
VIEWS ON THE BILL
What is Said in Congress Regarding
Tariff Measure.
OPEN CRITICISM LESS FREQUENT
Prospects Favor Passage Without
Radical Amendments.
BITTER FIGHT ON SUGAR

Men in the Senate who are d,scontented
with the tariff bill today appear less dis
posed to critlcise il openly than they were
lest night. There is not much of the
private talk of its being in danger of de-
feat. 1t is obvious that there will be n
hard fight made 10y republicans ln the SEN
ate 10 secure changes. but there are few
persons of experience VINO feel that this is
gong to enianger ,he bill.
The obvious consequence to the bin IL
every dissatisfied republican should go to
the democrats to help amend the 5fll dis
courages the idea of such a combination.
The chances are that the bill will be
passed without radical amendments, ex-
cept such as a majority of the republicans
may assent to. There will he a very bitter
tight mace on the sugar schedule. and 1t
will probably be modified in the Senate and
still more in conference.
The fight of the New England men on
the duty on hides is not apt to he so sue
cessful, though it will not be less deter
mined Ii is believed that hides will re-
main on the dutiable list, ard that the
House may stand by this duty when the
proposition comes over there from the Sem
ate.
The Anti-Trust Amendment.
A quiet canvass has been made by MEM
bers of the opposition, ana ii is claimed
that the Pettigrew antitrust amendment
VIII have enough votes to secure its adop-
ton In the Senate. This appears TO be one
of the most serious dangers in front OF the
bill.
No one of experience ventures the opinion
that there is danger OF d failure of tariff
legiSla ton of character satisfactory to q
majority of the republicans.
The action of the committee in striking
out the exemption of fmportations from
Hawaii is a subject of controversy, both as
TO Its effect the Hawaiian reciprocity
treaty and 10 the ACCESSIBILITY of abro-
eating that treaty. 1t does not look If
it would be possible to abrogate the treaty.
Effect ON the Hawaiian Treaty.
Senator Faulkner said that he thought
that the striking out of the exemption OF
inp ports from Hawaii from the provisions
of the bill would have the effect of an alb
rogation of the treaty. He said that the
fact that this would be a more recent law
than the treaty would be taken into con-
sioeratit n should the bill stand as 1t is, and
that the clause having been In the bill
and afterward stricken out would be in
terpreted as showing the intent of Con-
greSS.
He thought that the republicans would
reinsert in the bill the exemption. and that
the treaty would stand. He said that the
republicans were too much in favor of an
nexation to consent to an abrogation of
treaty would stand. Speaking of the bill
in general, Mr.. Faulkner took the general
democratic view that IT extremely fa-
vorable to trusts. He said that the trusts
ought to be satisfied, and especially the
sugar trust.
Senator Frye of Maine also said that he
thought that IL the exemption was left out
of the bill it would have the effect of abro-
eating the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty.
He said that the only things tEat we inn
port from Hawaii are sugar and rice. Beth
of these are taxed in the bill, and If the
exemption of the imports from Hawaii is
stricken out the duties would be collected
and the treaty would be of no effect.
Il am sure, however" he said, that this
will not stand. / do not think that the
committee intended that it should. They
knew that a resolution 10 abrogate the
treaty would be offered and they thought
il best to leave the matter open. ] Pn.
very sure that the exemption clause will
be reiastated anu that the treaty viii not
be abb ogatcd."
Senator Hanna said that not being a con-
stitutional lawyer he could not say what
treaty would be If the exemption clause
were stricken out, but said that lac was
opposed to the abrogatioa of the treaty
and did rot believe that il would be ahro-
gated.
senator PettiGrew Dissent>.
Senator Pettigrew, who is opposed 10 the
reciprocity treaty and who has before
maze a nSnl iOT dDToSaliOr, ln1I
in his opinion the mere absence of the ex-
emption clause will not revoke .he treaty.
He thinks that a direct abrogation would
be necessary, otherwise the treaty woulA
remain in effect
Mr.. Pettigrew criticises the bill i'm gen.
eral placing burdens upon producers
and showing especial favors TO trusts and
combinations. He says that the bin is con-
structed a vicious principle He does
not believe that the hill will fall and is
uncertain about IL being very materially
improved in the Senate. except :hat he be-
leVes that his antitrust amendment Will
be adopted.
Senator Perkins for Exemption.
Senator Perkins. speaking of the Ha-
waian treaty feature. said that he was
certain as to what position he would take
as to the abrogation of the treaty, but he
was inclined to the opinion tha. the treaty
should be modified in some respects, as this
country got the worst end IF th- reci-
procity- He was. however. opposed 10 any
thing being put In or taken out OF The
tariff bill which would affect the treaty.
He thought that the exemption clause
should be restored and would be restored
I'm the bill, and that the question of abro-
eating the Hawaiian treaty should come
up as an Independent proposition. TO be
treated on it's merits, without any connec-
ton with the tariff bill.
Senator Wellineton's View.
Senator Wellington of Maryland. repub-
lican, said that he was fairly well satis-
fed with the bill. ffe said. however. that
hides should be put upon the free list. and
he also wanted the duty upon coal TO re-
main at seventy-five cents a ton, as he
House had fixed IL. Senator Wellington
said he had not looked carefully into the
matter of the Hawaiian treaty. and was
not prepared to give an opinion upon il.
Mr. Pritchard for Hawaiian Rcciproc-
fly.
Senator Pritchard of North Carolina, re-
publican, said he had no criticism to make
upon the bill. although he hoped that when
the measure passed the Senate II would
provide ample protection to raw materi Ills
Of the south He wanted the House rate
restored upon mica, pyrites of iron and
duty upon corundum.
Mr.. Pritchard said that he was In favor
of sustaining the Hawaiian reciprocity
agreement.
No Eject on the Treaty.
Representative Moody of Massachusetts
said that he had not had an opportunity to
make q careful study of the bill yet. but
rs far as he had been able to examine II