St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-26
THE TARIFF BILL.
A Democratic Caucus Last Night
on the Morrison Bill.
The Members Decide to Discuss It il
the Open House.
Considerable Opposition Developed from I'm.
expected Sources.
WASHINGTON, March 25.

iy attended. 1t was called to order shortly
after O'Clock. Morrison offered resolu
ton, endorsing the bill reported by the way!
and means committee. In explaining tn,
resolution, he said, full opportunity will bt
given to offer amendments to the bill, wheI
it comes before the house. Randall made {
short speech. He, in turn, was followed BY
Reagan, of Texas. Randall, in his remarks
said the bill as it had been presented, did no
meet the wants of his constituents. HI
offered no substitute. Reagan endorsed the
bill.
Speaker Carlisle made a fifteen minute
speech, the five minute rule which prevailed
in the speeches of the other gentlemen being
extended in his case He said the constitu
ton allowed every man to vote as he desired
and that no man could be bound to vote ex
cept as his convictions dictated.
Mr.. Blackburn took the ground that the
action OF the caucus should be binding
Representative Hopkins offered a resolu
ton providing that NO one should be bounG
to vote by the action of the caucus.
Mr.. Morrison moved, as n substitute fol-
Hopkins resolution declaration that after an
amendment, in committee of the whole, 8
bill should be passed. The debate, under the
five minutes rule, continued at great length
and incidentally number OF
propositions were suggested, among
them, one to refer the whole subject
to the committee, consisting of one Demo
cratic member from each state. About II
O'Clock, Eaton moved to adjourn, This
motion was defeated by large majority.
Morrisou's resolution was adopted by 11e
to 81. 1t provides that the ways and means
bill to reduce the war taxes should be con-
sidercd in committee of the whole, subject &c
amendment for reasonable time, and then a
bill should be reported to the house and
passed.
Mr.. Hopkins offered an amendment that
the action of the caucus should not be bind
ing.
Mr.. Morrison offered proviso, except sc
far as individual members should feel bound
by the action of the majority of the caucus
The amendment and proviso were adopted.
Mr.. Carlisle then offered a resolution pro-
viding for the repeal of the tax on tobacco
cigars and snuff and the reduction of the tax
ON fruit brandy to ten cents per gallon. Car.
isles resolution was carried by SO to 81.
The resolution offered by Mr. Morrison
which was adopted by vote of ia to 81, is
as follows:
the Morrison tariff bill shall be taken up fol
consideration at the earliest practicable day
and reasonable time for debate allowed
thereon, and after such debate, that bill bs
passed for reduction of duties and war tariff
taxes.
This, before adoption, was amended by
Hopkins and Morrison by adding the follow
ing:
Resolved further, That the adoption of thi:
resolution shall not be considered binding in
controlling the individual action of the Dem
ocrats except to the extent that each mem
Der may feel that he ought to be Influenced
by the expressed opinion of the majority o.
his associates.
Mr.. Carlisle then offered the following res
olution, which was adopted by So to 81:
Resolved, That in order to reconcile con
fiicting opinions and to secure legislation fol
reducing taxation, the plan for the reduction
of taxes at the present session of congress!
shall contain provision repeating all inter
nal revenue taxes on tobacco, snuff and eli
CARS, and the special taxes connected there
with, and also reducing the tax on brandy
distilled from fruit to ten cents per pallon
provided such reduction shall not be mad,
except in connection with the reduction Of
the tariff duty.
Most of the session the attendance wa!
very large, there being only ten member
absent, and they on account of sickness O.
absence from the city. Mr.. Carlisle moved
that the rules of the present congress b,
adopted as the rules of the caucus, excep
that the debate be carried on under 5-min
ute limitation for speeches. This was agreed
to. 1t was also decided, before the business
of the evening was entered upon that the flu
ture caucus should be called upon the written
request of twenty members. Mr.
Morrison then stated the OBJ
ject of the caucus. He said it was
for the purpose of coming to an under
standing, if possible, on the tariff legisla
uon. The Democratic members of the ways
and means committee, who believed in the
reduction of the war tariff, had presented 6
measure, in which they desired to have an
expression Of opinion by the Democratic
members of the house. 1t had been an.
nounced in the press, he said, thai
those who were not successful in
controlling the organization Of the
house of representatives, would oppose
any measure for reducing war taxes, or the
discussion of such measure by this congress
revenue, which at one time yielded the gov
time to time reduced, until only the revenue
on tabacco, malt liquors and distilled spirit!
remained. He said he did not believe in any
further reduction ofinternal revenue as mat
ter of principle, but as desiring harmony
in his party, and for the sake
of harmonizing conflicting views, he woult
agree to repeal the tabacco tax, and to re
duce the tax on brandy distilled from fruits
provided such action could be had in con
nection with the reduction of customs duties
For the purpose of testing the sense of the
caucus, Morrison said, he would offer reso
luton, which he did, in effect, providing
that the ways and means committee bill
should be taken up, and that aftel
a reasonable time for discussion
bill should be passed.
Mr.. Hopkins offered an amendment to the
effect that the action of the caucus should
not be binding upon the individual members
A long discussion followed the offering of thu
resolution, which was participated in by Nor
rison, Eaton, Converse, Blackburn, Randall
Hopkins, King, Morse, Cabell, Reagan, Rose
Grams, Tully, O'Neil of Missouri, Macado
Wilson of West Virginia, Warren, Dorsheim
er, Hutchins, Hoblitzell, Holman, Nichols
Sardeman, Beach, Spriggs, Adams of New
York, and Bland.
Mr.. Randall briefly counseled modera
ton and Cancellation, and suggested an I'M
excited conference, with view to agreeing
upon some bill, for which all Democratic
members could vote, bill that would pro
vide for moderate reduction of customs
duties, and at the same time for a partial re
duction of the internal revenue taxation. Al
to making the tariff bill the subject of eau
Gus action, in the sense of controlling tn,
members vote, he said it was contrary t.
Democratic principles, and contrary to tn,
principles of representative government
to attempt to bind any one on this grea
economic question, and thus seek to compe
a representative to vote against his known
opinions, and the interests of his constit
entS.