New-York tribune., 1884-03-26

WASHINGTON March 25-Ihe democrats III Uhe
House were in flutter of anxiety and expectation
all day "What will the caucus dol was the
ouost,on on every p and various and contradictory
were the answers. The freetrade leaders used con-
ciatory words in public, and spoke of concessions
10 be offered which would bring the factions into
immediate and loving concord, but privately their
Language was as bitter and uncompromislng as ever
Sam Randall will find himself IN worse hx thah
he did in the Speakership caucus. His followers are
already weakening, and they will desert HIM almost
in body" SAID an enthusiastic free trade Dem
ocrat "Morrison will find his bill is doomed ana
that he and WattersOn are not gong TO run the
Democratic party into the free-trade bog TINS year
We will not have his Dill on any terms There
shall he no tariff tinkering this session." said Dem
ocratc opponent of the Morrison bill 81 am not
going TO vote for any tariff legislation this session.
am going to attend the caucus but am Ior
country before party" said Representative Arnot'
HEARING FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
II was announced that the conference oil Hee-
trade leaders had resulted in an informal agreement
that Chairman Morrison should offer resolution to
the effect that the tariff bill shall be considered ana
discussed in the House, and that he should say
that the Committee on WAYS and Means would offer
an additional section providing for the repeal OF the
taxes on tobacco IN all its forms ana on the man
ufacture of spirits from fruits The latter propo-
stion was objected TO by good many trlends Oh
The Morrison bill Some of them declared that IL
would be cowardly surrender and others that they
could not support the bill in that form. lhelr con-
sttueuts would never agree that the tax should Oe
taken of cigars and tobacco while blankets shoeS,
trace chains agricultural implements etc. are COLI
PEELED TO pay duty.
The Randall men showed signs of weakness
on the contrary they seemed to be more Determined
than ever Many of them said that they had TO-
day received telegraphlc dispatches and letters by
the dozens from their constituents urging tnem u
stand firm in the caucus and not be bulldozed or
coaxed into any surrender or compromise. one dls'
patch received by Mr. Randall signed by
number of prominent lumbermen in Michigan,
Democrats as we'll as Republicans, urging him to
WELD nothing in respect to the Morrison bill, and
declaring that in giving il their support the Dem
ocratic Congressman from Michigan do not fairly
represent the sentiments of their constituents.
Some of the free trade leaders also received tele-
graphic dispatches imploring them to be firm. One
received by Speaker Carlisle from Robert Ioombs
read as follows:
Testiqia NaHa Rctro,sum. The country is with
yOu"
Henry Watterson spent the afternoon on the tooi
of the House in earnest conversation with the free
trade members. lie urged them to stand by their
guns to the last and promised a great victory as
the sure reward OF their efforts and vaor
Mr. Eaton, of Connecticut, evidently felt the
breath of the coming struggle In his speech on
Che whiskey bill he spoke of the Morrison bill as
one which would increase, not diminish, the surplus
revenues fact which he said he could and would
easily demonstrate at the proper time. This re
mark provoked applause and laughter on the
Republican side, and members listened eagerly
loninp that he would pursue the subject then, but
he refrained.
Mr.. MoRRIsoN's RESOLUTION AMENDED.
The Government gas-lights cleaned brightly from
&c : 4laf pl
night and the electric lights shed their brilliant
rays at the portals of the building in which the
Democratic factions had gathered in the hope of Sc
curing harmony" There a full attend
ance. OF the 191 Democratic Representatives
al except ten were present. ;. >. COX
presided and he did so with unrufied dig
nifty. except when Mr.. Eaton, of Connecticut,
took him to task for failing to recognize at the
proper time the venerable ex-senator, who regards
himself as the Nestor of the Democratic party in
the House. The ball was opened by Chairman
Morrison who presented resolution declaring 1t TO
be the sense of the caucus that reduction of the
tariff was necessary; that the Morrison bill shall
be considered by the House in Committee of the
Whole as a party measure and made the basis of
party action.
TO the resolution Mr.. Hopkins, of Pennsyl-
vana offered as an amendment that each Repre-
sentative shall be governed by his individual judg
ment and the opinion of his constituents in the
course he shall pursue To this amendment Mr..
Morrison offered another which in effect restricts
the individual judgment of each Democratic Rep
,esentative and binds him to regard the resolution
- the caucus as he would any other expression by
majority of the party to which he belongs.
/ The resolution and amendments provoked brisk
debate.
SPEECHES FOR AND AGAINST THE BILL.
Speaker Carlisle made two speeches in support of
the original resolution. He took the ground that
the Democratic party in the House is bound by all
the pledges necessary 10 attempt revision of the
tariff; that the Morrison bill is in itself measure
Of concession less radical as it stands than the
Democratic party at large might reasonably
expect from its Representatives in Congress
that in the interests of party harmony, the friends
of that bill willing that it shall undergo still
further notifications; but that the party cannot,
without stultfyng ITSELF neglect refuse to take
action upon it.
Colonel Morrison also made short speech
IN which he declared that while the bill
offered by hum is a moderate one-only a
short step in the right dnectiOn-he willing
that II should be amended a majority of the
Committee of the Whole in ats Judgment might
deem wise. He did not want. nor did his col
leagues OF the Ways and Means Committee desire
10 set themselves up little Popes to decide
aXectlv what measure of relief the country should
receive from the burdens which now Oppress them
They simply desired that the representatives of
the people should begin TO carry out the reforms
which the people demand
Mr.. Randall made short speech, mainly ex
planatory of his POSITION but plainly indicative
of his position to the bill.
Messrs. Eaton, of Connecticut; Tilley, of Cali
foruIa; ONcill, of Maine; McAdoO, of New-Jersey;
Wilson, of West Virginia; Warner, of
Ohio; Sprggs. of New-York, and Harde-
man, of Georgia, also spoke against the
bill. Messrs. Hutchins of NewYork; Morse, of
Massachusetts,; King of louisiana Holman, of