Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-24
ReDrpSentaryye Etne- from, tho a,


Ihe Democrats and the Tariff.
DEvISING PLANS TO AVERT A SPLIT.
The tarfn talk to-day has assumed deeper tone
With the caucus but one day on, the question of
whether or not the party is going to split looks
Gus whip indistinctly heard at a distance. The
conservative members are buSily occupied In devils
ing plans TO avert the threatened catastrophe one
plan more generally discussed by the leading
SpiritS-a plan devised by number OF Senators
and Representatives In coniunction-is to correct
the 1ncongruitfeS in the Morrison bill by limiting
the twenty per cent reduction TO such articles as
now pay from eighty 10 a hundred per cent, and
making reduction OF but ten per cent upon arti-
cleS that now pay duty OF from twenty TO thrty V
per cent In addition to this the plan proposes the
abolition Of all internal revenue tax except that
whisky, which Is to be allowed to remain as IL is
This, it is claimed. will reduce the surplus revenue
OF the country sixty TO seventy millions.
Another plan which. Mt. Casey said to a STAR
reporter to-day. he thought would be- followed by
the caucus Is TO adopt resolution declaring II 10
be the policy OF the party secure an immediate
reform OF the tariff. This resolution it is thought,
would receive unanimous vote. The Morrison bill
would then be brought up In the House as the bill
by which this end is to be reached, and would he
subjected To the usual amendments bv a vote of the
House. This. II is thought. would not materially
change the spirit OF the bill, as many OF the incl
dental protectionistS have already decided that
they Will vote for IL. upon the grounds that it affords
all the protection they want Mr.. Forney one OF
those who most vigorously supported Mr.. Randall
day that he would certainly vote for the bin upon
this ground This IS the conservative side of the
question There are still many IN both factions OF
the party who protest that they will not yield a
point
VIEWS OF SOUTHERN CoNGRESSMEN.
Representative Nichols. OF Georgia, said he did
not apprehend any serious division in the party.
There are few extreme men, he added "who
WOULD perhaps, II permitted, make trouble but
they Will not be permitted to do that Calm coun-
sells viii prevail. Serious split In the party now
good sense ana conservatism among the members
TO throw away such an opportunity as We have TO
sion"
Representative Caldwell. OF Tennessee, does not
think the caucus will take any extreme action He
believes that dlferences will be harmonized.
SOME OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MORRISON BILL
are willing to say to the protectionists In caucus
that If they can amend or alter it, SO as make it
more acceptable to any who now object to IL. they
are willing that this shall be DONE only Stpuatln
that the idea and policy of tarn reform shall be
maintained. There are various suggestions as to
the best way OF bringing about harmony. and the
general expressions OF democrats tend to show that
the caucus will be animated by spirit or conces-
sion TO a certain extent. The tariff reformers from
Mr.. Morrison down. declare that they cannot afford
TO abandon principle; that they are pledged, and
they regard the party as pledged To reform OF the
tar1H and a reduction or the revenue. They say
they do not expect TO accomplish anything In this
direction now beyond indicating positively that the
party is honest in its professions that they
welded To any particular form OF declar-
ing democratic fidelity to the tariff reform
principle, and they do not want to take
any measure specially Objectionable to pro-
tectfontStS in the party. But these meI-and
the election OF Speaker showed that they are
largely in the maiority-inSiSt that the House must
put Itself on record on the tariff in order To go
fore the country consistently in the coming preS-
Dental campaign. 1t Is not at all probable that the
majority VIII recede from this position. II the
Randall men declare hostility any and all meas
ures looking TO tariff reduction, then the chances
are there will be a lively time. Ii they intimate
that there can be harmony and unity on the basis
or SOME proposition declaring i0r tariff reform. then
II Is probable that an agreement viii be reached.
That is the situation now.
WHAT REPRESENTATIVE HuRD SAYS
Mr.. Frank Hurd, when asked by THE STAR to-day
II he thought there was any chance OF an agree
ment in the caucus upon the resolution modifying
the Morrison bill and abOlishing the internal reve-
ru" tax. said that the first part OF the resolution
might meet with the approval OF the caucus but
that the abolition Of the internal revenue was 100
sweeping. he thought. to pass Il am not welded
t0 the twenty per cent reduction he said ..WhaI
/ want IS as much reduction as can get. LII |
can't get twenty | shall do the best can. Ten
woulG do better Than nothing. The plan proposed
for adjusting the reduction would probably meet
with approval"
IN THE INTEREST OF HARMONY.
Chairman Barnum was at the Capitol to-day and
held long and earnest consultations with some of
the leading democrats on both sides OF the tariff
question. 1t is thought that he is eNertfng himself
III the interest OF harmony, with some hopes or sue