The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-13

Washington. May 12.-(Special.) 1.-THE
wheels OF Government must stop until
the tari@ Fill is passed. No appoint
ments, except minor ones; no action OH
the Cuban and Hawaiian questions; moth.
ing TO he done toward saving American
interests in Nicaragua, beyond the very
letter of Score tary Sher-
man; nothing to he done as to anything
until the tariff bill becomes law. The
Democrats are interposing no obstacles
to the passage Of the bill. and will not.
They do not like it's provisions, and will
say so on the floor of the Senate; but their
protests are not expected to prevail; and,
in fact, there is u general feeling that
what is needed to revive business is res
toration of confidence: and the more agi-
tation the less confidence. They are will
ing that the tariff shall Ego forth on it's
mission under the most favorable circum-
stances possible. IL prosperity can be
Gratis are not only willing, but anxious,
that the tariff be passed as quickly as
possible.
The trouble is not with the Democrats;
but the Republicans are.delaying the law,
and will continue to do so, unless the
power of the administration is sufficiently
great to whip them into line. The West
ern Republicans and Eastern Republicans
are ut war to the Knife over the hide ques-
tion. Eastern protectionists want no
leather protected, and hides free. West
ern protectionists make mo leather, but
have hides they want protected. Eastern
Republicans want fruits as low as posi-
BILE, while Western Republicans insist
upon their being protected. The Ohio
delegation, headed by Representative
or
changes in the wool schedule while n
large number OF Republicans in the Sen.
ate and House insist that the changes be
left alone. 1t is n purely family fight in
which the Democrats take no interest,
except as spectators.
President Mckinley realized that it
was the Republican members who were
delaying matters, and thought to end the
trouble by giving forth the information
that appointments would not be made
until The tarih was PASSED. Even that
inducement failed to stop the fight of
Republicans against the Republican
tar Il, and President Mckinley let it be
known that not only would no general
legislation be allowed, but nothing would
be done in any of the important affairs of
state until the tariff bill was passed It
remains to be seen whether or not the
Republican Senators and Representatives
will now consent 80 he good, and let the
interests of their constituents suffer in
order that the Presidents ideal might be
realized in the tariff. 1t will be remem.
bered, however, that the Presidenu had
his ideals realized once, anu, since that
time, seven years ago, there has not been
year in which the revenues were suni.
cient TO meet the expenses of the Govern
ment; condition that never existed prior
to 1870, even during pnnics.
There is one change that will not DO adj
hered to-the sugar schedule. With the
scandal of 1894, the Senators only allowed
themselves to make n few points in the
rise of sugar, and comparatively few
availed themselves of even that opportu-
nifty.
One of the best posted men in the Sen
ate as to the sugar schedule said: ''The
lnlquity of the whole sugar trust is dawn
ing upon Congress. II is doubted whether
their propositions, now that the facts are
coming out, will be able to get even
through the Senate. 1t is thought that
even some of those favorable to the trust
will not have the hardihood to face the
prospects of scandal. Experts who have
been studying the Senate schedule find it
practically impossible to dig out all
there Is in it for the trust, but they find
enough to condemn the whole thing. The
very best available figures on the subject
prove that the Senate compound duties
result in, at least, doubling the diflcren-
tial duty carried by the Dingley bill, or
even by the present law, which gives the
trust the benefit of the adj ,valorem in ad.
dition to the specific is. The best tariff
expert ut the Capitol states the differen-
tial duty in the Senate bill at about 3-4 of
Il cent. The sugar schedule is certain to
be amended i'll the Senate.
Inc differential of nominally one-eighth
carried in the present law was regarded
as very liberal, and sent the sugar stocks
up. The differential was actually greater
because of the ad valorem duty of 40 per
cent. This ad valorem amounts to rs per
cent. in the Senate bill. If expert opin.
ion is to be given any value. this schedule
is of almost inestimable value to the
trust, and,is SO, bad that the surprise is
that they would have the ,ffrontery to
present the proposition.
II may be stated as practically GER
tainty that the House will never agree to
this schedule. and it is not believed that
the Senate will stand out for it. The ad
valorem duties are in the interest of I'M
LIBERALIZATION of the raw sugars, and of
further value to the trust to increase the
amount of the differential between the
raw and the refined sugar. The al valo-
rem feature of the present law, it rs cal
culated, Involves this country in the loss
of about ST, 100000 of revenue each year
through nder-valuations. 1t appears
that directly and indirectly the trust
could get about anything desired by them
through the operation of the Senate bill"
OF course, the campaign debt to the
sugar trust people will he paid, but they