Show WAS FULL AND I FREE DISCUSSION I Conferees On the Tariff Bill Hold a Four Hours Session I 4 i SATISFACTORY PROGRESS MADE SEVERAL HUNDRED MINOS AMENDMENTS AGREED UPON In Several Important Cases the Conferees Con-ferees Are Very Close to an Agreement Necessity of Revenue Used a a Strong Argument Not More Than One Day Will Be Allowed lowed For Debate I the House Washington July 11The conferees of the tariff bill held a four hours session today The anxiety to reach j a complete agreement as early as possible i i pos-sible induced them to meet on the J Sabbath and tonight the house and senate conferees appear satisfied with the progress that has been made Several hundred of the minor amendments amend-ments have been agreed upon many of them mere changes of phraseology and in a large majority of them the house conferees naturally have yielded None of the real imnortant nrohlpms in the bill however have as yet been I solved All of them have received more or less consideration and there i has been a free exchange of opinions I The temper and disposition of the senate sen-ate and house conferees on these important im-portant matters have in this way been r I ascertained In several cases the con ferees are very close to an agreement agree-ment I SPIRIT OF CONCILIATION Both sides show a commendable spirit of conciliation and uhile in each instance each side seems to be hold ing out strongly for its contention as to rates there has not yet appeared on the horizon anything which tor tends such difficulty as would not in time he surmounted There is the best o reasons for believing that several of the main points of contention will be compromised This is especially to be believed of lumber hides and wool and possibly sugar though on the latter the house conferees are standing par ticularlv firm for thoii cchadnio rir the subject of reciprocity the drift of opinion seems to be in the direction of I the senate substitute but with certain I of the house provisions that Is the I list of articles which can be used asa as-a basis for reciprocity treaties will be broadened but that the senate provision pro-vision requiring the ratification of the treaties will be discarded Several of the eminent lawyers in both branches of congress question the constitutionality I constitution-ality of the Dower conferred upon the president by the senate reciprocity provision The stamp tax on bonds and stocks provided for In one of the senate amendments has not yet been affected The revenue furnished by it furnishes a strong argument for its acceptance in view of the heavy anticipatory an-ticipatory Importations and there is talk of widening its scope so as not I only to include a tax on actual transfers I trans-fers but on all recorded sales I NECESSITY OF REVENUE The necessity of revenue also furnishes fur-nishes a strong argument for the restoration of the house rates on imported im-ported tobacco I is impossible to estimate es-timate yet when a final agreement will be reached and reachE although various arous dates are given to the length of time I the bill will remain in conference ranging from Tuesday to a week ff > m tomorrow one of the most Influential I of the conferees said tonight that all arrangements were pure guess work i He said decisions on the matters of great importance in the bill were so interdependent that ultimate decision I on one might Involve a complete agreement agree-ment on others and that the final agreement might become at any time II after the rest of the matters of secondary sec-ondary importance were out of the way I wayWhen When the report Is completed i will at once go to the house where it is II not likely that more than one day will b allowed for debate The anxiety to get the bill on the statute books I and the great loss of revenue involved I I In each 21 hours delay it Is argued justifies the Republican managers in declining to give more than a single day for discussion |