The herald., 1897-07-13
IN CONFERENCE
The Tariff Conferees Find Navigation
Much Impeded

WASHINGTON, July 12.--The tariff
conferees have struck some snags in
their work. Minor matters are easily
adjusted, but on all important features
Of agreement the outlook today is that
several reports will have to be made be-
fore an adjustment can be effected. The
House conferees are standing solidly
by their bill and the Senate conferees
are no less tenacious. Lumber, burlaps
and cotton ties are among the causes OF
hostility.
The committee is meeting with its
greatest difficulty in reaching an under
standing on the wool and sugar sched
ules. On sugar Senators Aldrich and
Jones of Nevada are holding out espec-
tally for the senate schedule and are
supported by the entire senate repre-
sentation. The house is, just as firm in
their demand for the house rates. The
indications. when the conference ad-
journed today, were that a compromise
would be necessary which would split
the difference between the two houses on
the differential on refined sugar and it
was rumored that an agreement to this
effect had been reached.
The house conferees are standing stiff
1y for the house rate on wool, contendine
that the senate rates would be most op-
pressve upon manufacturers. The SEN
ate classification of third-class woods is
especially Objectionable to the carpet
manufacturers and Senators Penrose and
Quay have been active during the day in
their efforts to secure an advance to
twelve cents in the value of wool that
may be admitted at four cents. The SEN
ate schedules make ten cents the figures
of demarkation in value, fixing a duty
of seven cents pound on all wool above
that price. The Pennsylvania senators
says that under this classifica ton ninety
per cent. of the carpet wools would be
made to pay seven cents duty and that
the result would be to close out many of
the carpet makers.
There is a proposition to compromise
the difference by retaining the senate
classification, but allowing drawback
on all woods which it can be proven are
used in carpet making, on which seven
cents may be paid.
The house is also standing for it's rates
on first and second class woods, which
were reduced by the senate, with good
prospect of success. There was quite a
movement on the democratic SlQ6 or th,e
senate to insure a firm stand for free
burlaps, cotton bagging, floor mating
cotton ties, ETC., placed on the flree
list in the senate and to hold white pine
at 81 per thousand feet. This was be-
cause of the report, which was authenti-
Gated, that the committee had tentative
ly agreed to restore the 81 rate on white
pine and to restore the other articles
mentioned to the dutiable list. These
changes We're made in the senate by ma :
jorities ranging from one to five votes,
and the supporters of the senate's action
expressed the opinion that they would
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 McEnery'e vote but
of some Republicans, such as Senators
Carter and Hansbrough. The propo-
sition bids fair to develop an interesting
situation in the senate if the committee
on finance adheres to its present de-
termination with regard to these arti-