The herald., 1897-05-25
IN CAUCUS
Opinions Differ as to the Tariff
Schedules

opinions Diner as to the Tariff
Schedules
WASHINGTON May 24.-Immediate-
ly after the adjournment of the Senate
the Republican Senators went into eau
Gus. Allison said that the caucus was
called on request of several Senators.
and some OF those who had signed the
call stated that they wanted to know
something about the plan Of procedure
for the consideration of the tariff bill.
Senator Aldrich. who reported the bill,
took the floor, but had not proce eded far
when some one asked him for an expla-
nation Of the sugar schedule. Aldrich
went into quite an elaborate explana-
tion of the schedule. presenting the fig
uree of the present law, the Dingley bill
and the Senate amendments He said
the Senate amendments were less ad-
vantageous to sugar refiners than the
Dingley bill or the present law.
The Republican caucus today en-
phasized the fact that there is a wide
divergence of opinion among the Re-
publican senators on the rates of duty
fixed in the various schedules of the
tariff bill. The senators were in caucus
announcement that was made after the
caucus adjourned was that it was de-
cided to appoint three senators, in addi-
tion to the Republican members of the
finance committee, who were to act as
a committee to assist in getting the tar
if bill through the senate. 1t was gen.
orally stated, however, that an agree
r1ent had been reached that there should
be no set speeches on the bill from the
Republican side. except that,of Senator
Aldrich. which is to be delivered tomor-
row. A resolution of memorandum Of
fered by Senator Burrows, was agreed
to by those present. 1t sets forth that
the sense of those present, there not be-
ing full attendance of the caucus, was
that Republican senators having amend
ments to offer should present them to
the Republican members of the finance
committee, and if the amendments are
approved by the committee they are to
be offered in the senate; If disapproved,
the senators presenting them are to
have the right to present them to the
Republican caucus, which is to be called
upon each separate schedule.
The finance committee is to hold ses-
sions each evening for the purpose OF
hearing propositions from Republican
senators. and to decide upon the ad-
visibility of presenting such amend
ments to the senate. The-object of this
proposition is to prevent the Republic
ans from dividing upon the various
schedules which might be presented.
The necessity for this arrangement was
developed by the debate and the vari-
Gus contentious of the senators.
In the early part Of the. caucus SEN
ator Aldrich was, called upon for an ex-
plantations of the bill. and some Of the
amendments. During the remarks SEN
ator Cullom called for a statement on
the sugar schedule, over which there had
been 50 much controversy. The explana-
tion presented 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 islande and other
points. The protection in the senate bill
was rs per cent, and equalized the high
protection on low grades and high
grades. The effect of the house sched-
ube would be to shut the lower and
cheaper grades Of sugar. the system Of