Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-27
RESULTS OF THE CAUCUS.
Representatives Who Believe That
Shows That no Bill Can be Passed.

Representatives Who Believe That it
Shows That no Bill Can be Passed.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-s.It is one of
the cleanest cut victories for Mr.. Randall
and the prOtectionistD Democrats generally
you could conceive of" said Mr.. Ermen-
trout, one of Mr.. Randalfs confidential
friends, and a member from Pennsylvania,
in speaking tonight Of last nights eau
Gus. "You see, the Morrison men pulled
the chesnuts out of the fire for us. and
now we will eat them or not just as we
please. We are not bound to support the
bill. can't see what more we could ask"
"Will the tifty-seven who voted against
the bill last night oppose it when it is up
for final passageP'
81 cannot say as to that, for | don't
know what shape it will be in when it
eventually comes up for passage. 1t may
be so amended that even the Morrison men
will refuse to support it. / am almost
ready to anticipate that that will be the
case. You see we are not any of us
pledged to support the bill, but "a bill.'
Even the Morrison men do not feel obliged
to vote for the Morrison bill. There is
wonderful freedom in the matter, and the
whole thing is at sea now"
water, water everywhere, and none to
drink; that is the situation exactly" said
another Democratic member. Eyes, sir.
there is free trade, tariff reform and all
that everywhere in the majority OF the
party, but we have resolved to have none
of it,"
THE CAUCUS WITHOUT GOOD RESULTS.
In all circles here to-day the chief topic
of talk was the caucus. Much nervous
ness was shown by Mr.. Morrison's follow
ing, and lively interest is evlnced by
Mr.. RandalPs friends. 1t is evident that
the action of the caucus has not settled
the question. Neither side is satisfied to
let the thing alone. The prOtectiOniStS
adhere to their declarations in the caucus
that the passage of the Morrison bill
would lose New York, Connecticut, New
Jersey, Ohio, California. Louisiana, and
would weaken the ticket in MARYLAND
Virginia and the CarOlinas, and lose the
Presidency beyond all peradyenture.
Messrs. Carlisle and Watterson have been
roundly denounced by all the protection
lists to-day.
Mr.. Eaton, of Connecticut. one of the
oldest and most influential members, says
that Mr.. Carlisle's speech last night
smacked of WattersOnism, and that Car
Isle either patterned after Mr.. WattersOn
or MIR. Watterson patterned after Mr..
Carlisle. In any event, both are guilty of
trying to crowd better Democrats than
they are out of the party, and that there
are not enough Carlisles or WattersOns
TO make him do a thing he doesn't want
to do, or to read him out of the party for
refusing to do their bidding. So there is
nothing like harmony yet, and if the Ran
dali men continue talking as they have
to-day, and denouncing the opposite fac
ton, there never will be harmony.
NO BILL CAN BE PASSED.
Mr.. Converse, of Ohio, one of the lead
ing Protectionists, who works with Mr..
Randall and enjoys his confidence, says
that last nights caucus demonstrates be-
yond any doubt that this House cannot
pass any kind of a tariff bill. "The pro-
ceedings of the caucus" said he this eve
ming, "were interlarded with Randall
victories, and Mr.. Randall's influence was
seen in every move."
''Will not the amendments that will be
made to the bill in the House make it
fTiends?' the News correspondent asked.
81 think not" replied he, son the con-
trary, am confident that the more it is
amended the more friends it will lose. As
the tariff is largely local issue bill re-
vising it would naturally become more
Objectionable as it becomes more compli-
Gated"
There is a rumOr that the whisky bond
bill and the bill of Mr.. Converse's to re-
store the duty of 1867 on wool are to be
consolidated with the hope that one Will
carry the other through the House.
MIR. Converse was asked what effect one
would have upon the other if the whisky
bill was amended by adding the wool bill ?
'lt would give strength to both meas
ures, undoubtedly" he replied, II under
stand that it will be done, and | am sure
it will result in the passage of both meas
ures and save the whisky bill, which is
OfhprWica dOomnd fO dnfoaf
''Do you think the 81 votes cast against
the Morrison bill in the caucus last night
indicates the opposition to it?''
NOT THE FULL OPPOSITION.
''No; do not. 1t did not show the full
opposition there is to the bill. You will
see that when the bill is put upon its final
passage 80 Democratic votes against it
will defeat it if all the Republicans op-
pose it,
Judge Holman, ''the great objector from
Indiana" said to the News correspondent
tonight: "NOne of the Indiana members
feel bound to support the bill, but all the
members except Mr.. Lamb, who repre-
sents manufacturing constituency, will
indorse it. That caucus amendment re-
ducing the tax on fruit brandy to 10 cents
per gallon will be defeated overwhelming
ly in the House. 1t was adopted merely
to catch the votes from North Carolina
and California, where the members are
largely against revising the tariff. 1t is
true that we do not derive more than a
million and a quarter dollars from our
fruit brandy tax; yet it will never do to
reduce or abolish that tax while that OF
whisky remains where it is. even if it does
cost nearly as much to collect it as
it is worth. 1t would result in
much fraud being practiced, and it would
require an army of inspectors to see that
other spirits were not made and sold
under the name of fruit brandy"
''You evidently believe no good will re-
suit from this caucus?"
"It looks that way to me-" he replied
81 cannot see that the caucus action is
/ of any consequence"
"What is the fate of the whisky bill?
81 shall vote for it, but it will be de.
/ feated If interest is paid on this bond
extension in advance, | can't see that il
| is an injustice to the government to ex-
tend it. There is, of course, much preju-
dice against the proposition, but there
should not be. The manufacture OF
whisky is one Of our industries. Ii the
wool and whisky bills are consolidated
| both will surely be defeated"