The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-28
Indications that Action on the Measure Will
Be Postponed, Which Is Thought Equiva-
lent to Killing the Bill,
Editor WattersOn Preparing to Excom-
municate the Randall Faction.
Minister Sargent's Friends Displeased Because
of His Transfer to st. Petersburg
cellaneOus Washington News.
A POLITICAL FOUNDING.

Early DeaJn HrODaDIes
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 27.-Mr. Morrson's tariff
bill goes from bad to worse in its positions be-
fore the House. 1t seems to be an illegitimate
political offspring, and it is buffeted about like
football There are further designs against it
by Mr.. Randall, his followers and others, who
are inclined to be just little liberal on the tariff
issue. 1t is proposed now to postpone action
upon the Morrison BILL to stay the debate upon
it until a more feasible measure looking toward
tariff revision can be acted upon. In the House,
from time to time, there have been bills intro
duced by conservative Democrats and Repub-
icans looking toward an increase of the free list
by abolishing the duty on salt and lumber and
reducing the tariff on cotton goods,
sugar, etc. These measures have
all been overlooked in the hurrah over
Mr.. Morrisons horizontal production. 1t is
upon these bills that it is designed action shall
be concentrated. There are Republicans in the
scheme. All of Mr.. Randalls adherents are said
to be for it. They say if there must be tariff
revision it is better to take up these separate
measures and put them through separately,
without amendments singly and upon their dis
tinct merits OF course a move of this char
acter would be another black eye to Mr.. Morri-
son. 1t would be kicking man when he is
down; and then the offer to take up his bill after
all these bills Ia dozen or more in number) have
been determined upon, would be striking him
while he is on all tours, and striking him from
behind at that. To lay aside Mr. Morrison's
bill at this time, or to postpone action upon it
from any cause, would be to brand death" upon
it and write ''hic jacet" upon its resting place.
If any considerable revision of the tariff takes
place, or if there is any material tinkering with
the internal revenue ahead of the tariff bill pro
per, it will ALLEVIATE the friends of the measure
as it now stands, and probably defeat even de-
bate upon it.
Colonel Morrison has been busy all day. He
held a long conference with Speaker Carlisle in
the iatters room at the Capitol this morning.
He talked over the outlook of his bill and that of
the bonded whisky bill AS he was quitting the
Speakers room your correspondent inquired if
there had been anything done towards fixing
time for calling his bill up in the House.
He looked at me in an impetuous
and perplexed manner. and replied excitedly,
Not that 1 know of" as much as to say the
Randall crowd may have fixed time. So, al
together, Mr.. Morrisons position is very vulner
able and very unpleasant He is chin-deep in
hot water, and is just mad enough to prefer
walking out into great depths to turning about
and landing. There are no finger boards pointing
the road to harmony; if the way has ever been
blazoned, some fellow has made a new path
running at right angles and terminating at ruin.
Henry Watterson has been hanging around
the Capitol all day. working for the whisky bill,
collaring" leading tariff reformers and working
for Morrison. His first effort fell fiat and it is
said he was bluffed right and left ON the question
of tariff. He is more mad than March hare,
and swears tonight that he will read the party
riot act 1t will remember until the crack of
doom He has promised another pronunca-
mento that will put the others he issued to
shame. This one is to be singer Ex-Sena-
tor Mcdonald has been with him good deal
tonight and had long talk with Watterson
just before he (McDonald) started for his home
at indianapolis, and it may be that the I'M
tanned yelper from the bluegrass country will
temper his dispatch; but at this writing 1 learn
that it would take log-chan to hold him. The
defeat of the whisky bill and this last turn on
the Morrison bill are too much for him in one
day.
Tonight it looks like Mr.. Morrison will be
driven from his pits, and will be compelled to
evacuate until he can force the party to fix an
early day to take up his bill in the House.