The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-25

WASHINGTON. May 2s-The Iepuhll-
can caucus today emphasized the fact that
there Is a wide divergence cf opinion
among the Republican senator's on rates of
cuIy fixed in the various schedules II the
tariff bill. The senators were in caucus
nearly four hours. The only official aa-
nogneement that was made after the eau
Gus adjourned was that ii was decided
10 appoint three senators IN addition 10 the
republican members of the finance corr
nittee. who were to act as a committee 20
assist IN getting the tariff bill through, IL
was generally stated. however. that an
agreement had been reached that there
should be no set speeches On the bill from
the Republican side except that OF Sena-
tor A!drich. which Is TO be delivered to-
morrow. resolution OF memorandum Of
fered by Burroms was agreed TO by those
present. IL sets forth that the sense of
those present. there not being a full at
tendance, was that Republican senators
having amendments 10 offer should present
them 10 the Republican members of the
finance committee, and If the amendments
are approved they are 10 be offered in the
senate. II dlSapproved the senator's pre-
senting them are 10 have the right to sub
NIT them 10 q Republican caucus. whicn is
10 be called upon each separate amend
ment. The finance committee is 10 hold
sessions each evening for the purpose OF
decide upon the advisabilty Of presenting
such amendments in the senate.
The object of his proposition is 10 pre-
vent the Republicans from dividing upon
various schedules which might be pre-
sented. The necessity of this arrange
ment was developed by the debate and
the various contentious of senator's
In the early part OF the caucus Senator
Aldrich was called upon for an explana-
tion of the bill and some of the amend
ments. During the remarks Senator Cul-
iom called for statement on the sugar
schedule, over which there had been so
much controversy. The explanation was
largely technical, but the senators who
heard him understood that the house
schedule would largely exclude the
coarse and low grades from Java, the
Philippine islands and other points. The
protection in the senate bill was IS per
cent and equalized the high protection on
low grades and high grades. The effect
of the house schedule would be 10 shut
out lower and cheaper grades OF sugar.
the system of compound duties presented
by the senate bill being for the purpose or
making this equality. The average rate
in the senate bill was IS per cent, with
difYerential of Il of cent on refined
sugar. Senator AIdrch said that this was
not as advantageous to the sugar refners
as the house bill. The explanation seem
ed TO cause general satisfaction. AT ieast
no one questioned him further.
There was some discussion upon the
length Of time the bill should be under
discussion
Debate on various schedules consumed
the time of the caucus. A great oeai Oh
-onnosi,iou was developed 10 the increds-
I'D ,ax an beer and duty on leather. Platt.
Of New York. Hanna. of Ohio. and spoon
or Of Wisconsin, were especially vigorous
in their opposition 10 the increased tax on
beer II was pointed out that the DEM
ocrats had already stated their opposi-
ton TO his tax that they Thought III Wouin
he wise 10 have an arrangement eHec'e"
which would relieve Republican senator's
from embarrassment. II vas desiuso
that efforts should be made 10 secure the
revenue both from beer and tea by tax.
which would accomplish the same result
Western senator's referred TO the wool
schedules. Warren, Of Wyoming. appear
ing as the Spokesman for the wooi-grow-
srs of the West said that the duties pro-
posei BY the committee were. IN MS JhuS-
uent inadequate. and he thought there
should ne some increase on the lines OF
the amendments proposed ny the West
ar, senators Lodge Of Massachusetts,.
smoke against the duty on hides, The
Wes.erners announced that 10 settle with
.ha Eastern men who voted to reduce the
duties on their products. they wonid vote
TO reduce the duty on articles when thetr
people purchased and did not produce. ~
was this state cf affairs that brought
forth the proposition of Burrows - sub
nit propositions To the Republican NOM
hers OF the finance committee ana tnen
~ the caucus There was no talk ~
hof;ing and no senator said ne woud
vote against tho bill as a whole. IL was
on the matter Of schedules that they dis-
agreed
The queStion ~ ahrogs:ing the Ha-
vaiian treaty caused lively debate.
aldrich stated that the committee Intend
ed 70 briag in an amendment TO this por-
tlou of the hill.
FRYE opposed the abrogatIon in the
strongest possible terms while Nelson
made \ vigorous speech in support ~
the COMMITTEES amendment. declaring thai
the revenue that would he rai,s'l on
Hawaiian sugar he'd been greater than
that which TIE committee expected He
declared tho admission Of hawaiian sugar
was In the interest o. .he refiucrs and
customers received no benefit
4