New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-25
IN CAUCUS ON THE TARIFF.
REPUBLICAN SENATORS DRAW UP 4
PROGRAMME.

BILL AND TO SECURE HARMONY ADOPTED
A LIVELY DEBATE OVER SOME
OF THE SCHEDULES
Washington, May 24.-The Republican caucus
to day emphasized the fact that there is a wide
divergence OF opinion among the Republican
Senators on the rates OF duty fixed In the vari.
Gus schedules of the Tariff bill. The Senators
were In caucus nearly four hours. The only ON.
cial announcement made after the caucus ad.
journed was that II was decided to appoint three
Senators in addition TO the Republican members
Of the Finance Committee. who to act .
committee to assist in getting the Tariff bill
through the Senate. 1t generally stated.
however. that an agreement had been reached
that there should be no set speeches the bill
from the Republican side except that OF Sena-
tor Aldrich, which is to be delivered tomorrow.
A resolution or memorandum offered by Sena.
tor Burrows was agreed to, setting forth that the
sense Of those present. there not being a. full
attendance at the caucus. that Republican
Senators having amendments to offer should
present them to the Republican members OF the
Finance Committee, and II the amendments arc
approved by the committee they are to be Of
fered in the Senate. II disapproved the Senators
presenting them are TO have the right to submit
them to the Republican caucus which Is to bs
called upon each schedule II amendments to II
are proposed The Finance Committee Is to hold
sessions each evening for the purpose OF hearing
propositions from Republican Senators. and to
decide upon the advisabilty OF presenting such
amendments in the Senate. The object OF this
proposition is to prevent the Republicans from
dividing on various amendments which might
be presented. The necessity Of this arrangement
was developed by the debate and the various
contentious Of Senators.
EXPLANATION OF THE SUGAR SCHEDULE
In the early part Of the caucus Senator AL
drich was called upon for an explanation OK the
bill and some Of the amendments. Senator
Culom called for a statement on the sugar
schedule over which there had been so much
controversy. The explanation presented was
largely technical, but the Senator's who hearo
Mr. Aldrich understood that the House scheouis
would largely exclude the coarse and low-graoe
sugars from Java, the Philippine ISLANDS ana
other points The protection In the Senate pli
was - per cent and equalized the hlSh protso-
ton on low and high grades. The effect or tho
House schedule would be to shut out the lower
and cheaper grades of sugar, the system or COM
pound duties presented by the Senate Dill oeIns
for the purpose OF making TINS equaiity. -. iue
average rate in the Senate bill was 20 per cent,
with a dfferential Of one-eighth or cent on
refined sugar. Senator Adrich said mat this
was not as advantageous to the sugar rennetS
cause general satisfaction, at least no one ques-
| toned the Senator further
There was some debate on the length OF time
| the bill shall be under discussion in the Sem
ate senator Mason suggested that as soon as
| the opening speeches were made move snouio
| he taken toward having a vote on the Dill IN
| two weeks II was decided to ask that, aftef
| the debate had run along for a week the Senate
| begin It's sessions at IL o'clock and sit II!
5:3O and have evening sessions from e IL
| o'clock.
OPPOSITION TO BEER AND TEA TAXES.
| Debate on the various schedules consumed
| the time Of the caucus. A great deal OF OPPOSE
ton was developed to the increased tax on beer
| and the duty on tea. Senator'S Platt, OF New
| York: Hanna Of Ohio. and Spooner, OF Wis
| consin were especially ' yOrous in their OPPOSE
ton to the increased tax on beer 1t was pointed
| out that the Democrats had already announced
| their opposition to this tax and would make
| an effort to have the Senate committee amend
ment eliminated. They thought 1t would be wise
to have an arrangement effected which would
relieve Republican Senator'S of embarrassment.
II was determined that efforts should be made
to secure the revenue both from beer and tea
by a stamp tax. which would accomplish the
| same result =.
| Western Senators referred to the wool sched-
ules Senator Warren, of Wyoming, appearing
as the spokesman for the wool-growers or the
| West said that the duties proposed by the com
| mittee were in his judgment, inadequate, ana
he thought there should be increases on the
| lines of amendments proposed by western Sena-
| tors.
MIR. LODGE INSISTS ON FREE HIDES.
Senator Lodge OF Massachusetts, spoke against
the duty on hides. saying he did not see how he
could avoid voting for an amendment which pro-
posed placing hides on the free list This state.
mont raised a storm among Western men. who
hoI
would be compelled TO vote for placing certain
articles on the free list or for reducing the duty
upon them They did not expect that the Demo-
| Gratis would vote with them to increase duties.
| The Westerners announced that TO settle with
| the Eastern men who voted to reduce duties on
their products, they would vote TO reduce the
duty on articles which their people purchased
If was this state of affairs which brought forth
the proposition of Senator Burrows TO SUBMIT
proposed changes to the Republican members OK
the Finance Committee. and then to the caucus
! There was no talk of bolting and no senator
said he would vote against the bill as whole.
II was on the matter of schedules that they dis
The question Of abrogating the Hawaiian
treaty caused a lively debate. Senator Aldrich
said that the committee intended TO nring IN an
amendmA.. to this portion or the Dill senator
FRYE = iHSbsed the abrogation In the strongest
possible terms while Senator Nelson, OF Mime.
| sofa made a vigorous speech IN support OF tne
committee amendment. declaring that the reve-
nue which would be raised from the duty on
| Hawaiian sugar would be greater than that
which the committee expected to get from TEA
He declared that the admission OF hawalian
sugar free was in the interest OF sugar renners
and the consur RS received no benefit from IT,
Much curiosity is felt and expressed by Chair-
man Dingley and his colleagues OF the ways
| and Means Committee. as we'll as by other menu
| bars of the House OF Representatives, 10 near
| senator Aldrichs explanation or the amend-
| n,apts 70 the Dingley bill proposed by hmseit
| nnd b,s Republican colleagues OF the Finance
! Committee. and they will be among the most
! attentive listeners to his speech tomorrow.
WORRIED BY THE PROPOSED TAX ON TEA.
Dubuoue Iowa. May 2i.-The wholesale srocers
NJ Iowa who have been caught short on tea have