The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-23
They Are Unable to Agree, and the Dem
Ocrats Are Ready to Take Advantage
of Their Opportunity.
Commander Gorringe Disagrees with
the Secretary of the Navy.
The Loyal Legion Celebrates Washington's
Committee Reports-Gen-
eral News and Personals.
TARIFF LEGISLATION.
The Republicans Embellishments Wait
ing for n Chance.

The Republicans Embellishments Watt
ing for n Chance.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WAsHINGToN Feb. 22.-The caucus of Re-
publican members of the House, which was
held this evening to settle upon a plan for
putting through tariff bill, succeeded ad-
mirably in devisng ways not to do so. 1t is
useless to disguise the fact that the Republi-
can members of the Honse cannot work har-
moniously ON this question, The Ohio,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey high protec-
tionists to the number of about thirty, under
the leadership OF Keifer, Kelly Robson and
Reed, of Maine, arrayed themselves in oppo-
ton to the Senate bill. They were unani-
but they are against it i'll the
practical shape it had assumed under
the hands of senatorial modelers but at the
same time admitted that no other measure
could pass this session. Messrs. Haskell,
Kasson, Steele, Payson, Dunnell, Washburne,
Robinson, of Massachusetts, and others,
wanted to take the bull by the horns and do
something, but every proposition they made
to remove parliamentary difficulties in the
way of the bill was met with objections from
Reed, Keifer, Mckinley or Kelley, and
it very soon became evident that the element
they represent were dead set against legsla-
ton this session. Opposition from the
Speaker and the men who have
charge of the tariff bill on
the discouraged the majority. Another
version of the proceedings of the caucus
represent it as having adopted resolutions
agreeing to vote to non-concur in the Senate
amendments and send the bill to a confer
ence committee. This is not the truth. 1t
was agreed to non-concur, but the caucus
broke up in disorder without coming to a
vote on the proposition to send the bill to a
conference committee, and it is II glorious
fact that if the Republican obstrrctionists
hold to their evident purpose, no progress
whatever can be made without
Democratic assistance. Senator Beck
has been on the floor of the House all day
urging the Democrats to take advantage of
the row among the Republicans to take up
the bill as it has come from the Senate and
crowd it to final vote and take the credit of
passing it. 1t is said tonight that the Demo-
Gratis have about agreed to play this game,
and if they make concerted move in the
direction indicated enough Republicans will
join issues with them to pass the bill under
a suspension of the rules. Western
and Eastern Republicans are very indig-
nant at the course adopted by the
iron interest, and ready to administer re-
buke, even though obliged to call in the
Democrats to help them. The Democrats
will oppose reference of the Senate bill to a
conference committee, with the exception of
Randall and his following; they will vote for
it as 1t stands, with knowledge that tbs full
of imperfections which could be cured in an
hour by good committee. They are willing
to take the responsibility of helping the Re-
publicans pass faulty bill, but they will
not assist them to perfect it in the slightest
particular