The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-04-04
THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA.
RANDALL HAS MORRISON DOWN, AND
VOTES TO SPARE.
Even Emaseuia,ed Horizontaiism Unpopular.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-The single topic
Of conversation among the members Of the
House yesterday was the caucus, and its
effect upon tariff legislation. That ex-
Speaker Randall should have mustered fifty
seven votes against the Morrison resolution,
amended though 1t was, TO permit the offer
ing Of amendments TO the bill In the House,
and expressly declaring that no Representa-
tive could be coerced by the decree Of the
caucus, was Q surprise TO the revenue re-
formers. Morrison and his friends averred
before the caucus met that there would not
be more than twenty-five votes against the
bill with the repeal Of the tobacco tax and 4
reduction Of the tax on frHit brandy to ten
cents per gallon added. They were willing
to concede, under due Limitations, freedom
Of action In the caucus, relying upon moral
suasion afterward to whip into line the men
who did not wish to be bound by the action
of the caucus. The House Is composed of
1926 members, and there are two vacancies,
one Republican and the other Democrat.
For the purpose Of calculating upon the bill,
there are 1877 Democrats and 1876 Republicans
In the House. II 80 Democrats should vote
with the Republicans against the bill, it
would be defeated by q majority of one, pro-
vided all the minority Representatives voted
or were paired against 1t. There will posi-
bly, be two Republicans supporting the mea-
sure, but not more, and If Randall can hold
forty men against the bill It will be defeated.
That leaves him a balance of seventeen
members, who took his side of the question
In the caucus, that can he spared.
II is doubtful, however, If q square test
vote will be taken on the bill, understand.
ing that1t shall be open TO amendment and
Randall's forces hold the balance of the
power. Several weeks ago RAJ dali said that
he had no objection TO . discussion of the
bill, believing that its inherent weakness
would be developed by debate. While the
ex-Speaker Is reticent regarding his plans
for the future, and refuses TO be interviewed
In relation to the action Of the caucus, he
considers the question Of tariff legislation
as practically decided In the negative. The
bill will undoubtedly be brought before the
House, and debated, and unless an issue Is
joined at the start, which compels Its defeat,
various amendments will be proposed and
voted upon. When the bill Is In some sense
completed the vote will be taken upon Its
passage, and then, according to the predic-
lions Of Randalls friends, IL will be easily
killed. On the other hand, Morrison and
bis followers aver that some tariff bill will
pass the House. He thinks that The decision
Of large majority in favor of tariff legisla-
ton at the present session will end In the
passage Of some bill, and that his horizontal
reduction scheme will be the basis of future
action. The revenue reformers claim, not
withstanding the adoption of the Hopkins
amendment TO Morrison's resolution, that
the members are morally bound 10 abide by
the decision of the caucus, and th any man
voting against the will Of the majority, steps
outside the party organization. The time
has now passed when such . statement
alarms dissenting Representatives. The at
tention of the revenue reformers will be
devoted, from the present time on, to the
consideration Of amendments that will gain
votes for the bill. They expect, by engrsft-
ing internal re- enue reductions on the bill,
by raising the duty on wool, and by striking
of coal, salt and lumber from the free list,
TO obtain enough votes TO pass the bill. 1t
is not impossible that such . programme
nay be successful, but the danger is that by
further emascdlating the measure, II will
lose the support of many revenue reformers
who think the bill In Its present shape Is too
weak to work any practical good to the
country.