New-York tribune., 1884-03-25
THE EVE OF THE CAUCUS.
p1ANs OF THE DEMOCRATIC FACTIONS.
SCHEMES TO SECURE AN AGREEMENT AND ooN-
y,yur ruy USUAL PARTY POLICY OF DOUBLE
DEALING.

eCHFMFs TO SECURE AN AGkEhhhNi AMI WV
TiNUE THE USUAL PARTY POLICY of poo0h1
DEALING.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUSEl
usu,yoroS March 24-This has been busy
dav for the Democrats. who are looking forward
with great anxiety to the results of tomorrow
nights caucus the Morrison bill Some OF the
men who are opposed to il did not make up their
minds until to-day TO attend the caucus ana theh
only after receiving assurances that no attempt VIII
be made to bind any member of the caucus to vote
for the bill did they consent to do SO. Chairman
Morrison was asked to-day what course he and his
friends would take if Mr. Randall should offer pro-
position to abolish all internal taxes except those on
whiskey and whiskey dealers. He replied: " we
want little tariff revision first. 1t will be time
enough then to talk about repeating internal taxes.
Colonel Morrison and his colleagues VIII stno-
bornly resist all eortc to have internal revenue leg
islation precede or accompany the proposed tarlh
bill AT the same time, they will probably be Will
ing to pledge themselves that as soon as the Morri-
son bill has been passed the Committee on ways
and Means will bring In a bill to reduce internal
taxes and so TO modify the system as TO get rid OF
large number of olice-hOlders, who, in the South
especially, are so obnoxious to the people.
RANDA IL AND BARNUM. MISSIONARIES
Mr. Randall and Chairman Barnum, of the Demo-
cratic National Committee who is mere 10 aSSsV MN
keep their plans to themselves but there are ndi-
cations that they are working earnestly IN trying 10
convince Southern Representatives that now is the
time for them to seize golden opportunity; thaU IL
they will stand with the Democrats who are OPP
posed to the Morrison bill. they can relieve theih-
selves and their people from the "spies ana ln-
formers" who under the names of deputy collectors
and deputy marshalS Oppress the honest moon
sinner and annoy the frugal farmer who wants to
turn his apples and peaches into brandy Speaker
Carlisle admits that these considerations may lnlu
ence a number of the Southern Representatives from
districts where there is great popular clamor
against the internal revenue laws but ne thinks
most of them can be persuaded to wait until after
the tariff bill is out of the way. before beginning
s71 @pcn what is left of the internal revenue sys-
THE FREE TRADE PROGRAMME.
Its understood that as the caucus has as
sein5led the free traders will take the initiative by
Offering resolution declaring in favor of the Nor
rison bill This resolution will be supported by
Speaker Carlisle, as well as by Chairman Morrison
and others, and they will expect that Representa-
tves who are in favor of tariff revision but opposed
to particular features OF the proposed bill VIII state
and explain their objections to it. While some OF the
free traders exhibit stubborn determination not
10 yield anything and insist that the present form
of the bill must be preserved at all hazards the ma
iority shows a spirit of concession and seems to be
willing to strike out pretty much everything ex-
cept the title of the bill and the enactIng clause.
Mr. Hurd for example, would rather accept a ten
per cent horizontal reduction, without any addi-
tons to the free list than to lose the bill altogether
General Rosecrans who with all the other Cali
forna REPRESENTATIVES., is opposed to the bill as it
now stands said to-day that he thinks the caucus
will reach an amicable adjustment on the tariff
question" In his opinion the leaders OF the con-
tending factions "win compromise and thereby
avert any break in the party" Mr.. Converse
thinks differently. lie said this morning that he
did not believe that the Morrison bill would be ap-
proved by the caucus tomorrow night. He declares
that it wOuld be suicidal for the Democratic party
to attempt any tariff revision this session
SCHEMES To MAKE THE DOSE GO DOWN.
Various schemes are proposed to modify the bill,
so that all the Democrats swallow the dose.
One is to correct the incOngruties in the Morrison
bill by limiting the twenty per cent reduction to
such articles now pay from eighty TO hundred
pcr cent and making reduction of only ten per
cent upon articles that now pay duty OF from
twenty to thirty per cent. In addition to this the
plan proposes the abolition of all internal revenue
tax except that on whIskey which is TO be allowed
TO remain as it is. This, it is claimed, will reduce
Che surplus revenue of tho country by from $780,
100000 to $40, 900 900 Another plan, which Mr..
Cassidy said to-day he thought would be followed
NV the coucus is to adopt resolution declaring it
10 Ice the policy of the party TO secure an immediate
reform of the tariff. This resolution, 1t IS thought,
would receive unanimous vote. lhe Morrison blli
would then be brought up in the House as the bill
bv which this end is to be Teac! ell, and would be
snhiected to the usual amendments by vote of the
House This it is thought, would not materially
change the spirit of the bill, as many of the Incl
dental protection have already decided that
they viii vote for IT. upon the grounds that 1t affords
alI the protection they want
WHAT MR.. RANDALL MAY PROPOSE.
Some OF Mr. RIndais friends think he will pro-
pose to the caucus as a basis of harmonious action
resolution setting forth that attempt TO revise
the tariff at this session would be injudiciOus, be-
cause it would suffer inevitable defeat; that, if
tariff revision were practicable the Morrison bill
does not offer such relief as the country demands
and that the harmony of the party, being para
mount TO the mere question of the revision of the
tariff which cannot under any circumstances be
complshed at this session, the Ohio platform shall
be declared as the basis upon winch all shades of
opinion on that subject can be united If Mr. Ran
dali does this, Colonel Morrison Will oppose IL. on
the ground that the Democratic party has been Tor
years engaged in passing tariff resolutions, the real
meaning of which was always IN doubt, and the
people demand that the party shall quit resolving
ana do something
A TRUCE PROBABLE.
The Democratic members of the Ways and Means
Committce-except AbTam ). Hewitt-held private
conference at the house of Mr. Mills this evening 1t
Is understood Speaker Carlisle present and that
the situation discussed and the free trade pro-
granne for tomorrow evening carefully arranged.
As the time for the caucus draws nearer, the pros
pect increases That truce will he patched up aud
that the Democratic party will enter upon another
campaign of lodging aud dOuble-dealmg far as
the tariff question is concerned.
WHOLE CITY VOTES FOR PRESIDENT.