The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-24
The Supporters of the Measure Expect to Have
Majority in the Caucus Ranging
from Twelve to Twenty.
Belief that the BOnded-EXtenSion Bill
viii Be Defeated in the House.
The Springer and Other Investigating Com
mittees Seeking Political Capital
Notes and Personalities.
TARIFF AND WHISKY.
Mixture of Interests in the Tariff and
Bonded Extension Bills.


Bonded Extension Bills.
Special TO the indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, March 23-To night l met
Colonel Morrison in the lobby at Wizards.
''You will have your caucus on the tariff bill
on Tuesday night l observed.
YES sir and we will have majority of be.
tween twelve and twenty he replied.
DO you anticipate a stormy caucus"
mo, sir; Democrats are always willing tG
abide by the decision of the majority The
tariff reformers are clearly in the majority, and
will carry the caucus in favor of tariff reform,
and think when vote is taken in the House it
will receive good, round majority"
''Will you make each mans vote in caucus a
test of his Democracy"
"Oh, no; such talk is nonsense. No man. on
account of his vote on this bill, will be ostra-
cized; but the bill will go through, however,
and as the sentiment of the great Democratic
party of the country"
Colonel Morrison says that while he favors the
whisky bill he apprehends the vote which will
probably be taken Tuesday next, will be
against it. There are several members who
have expressed belief that the subject has been
agitated to death. 1t now looks like the inter
ests of the whisky bill will become involved in
the fight over the tariff, owing to the fact
that the House adjourned yesterday without
reaching vote on the former measure, and its
further discussion has been postponed until
Wednesday. This will be after the caucus
called for Tuesday when the strength of the
Morrison bill has been definitely ascertained
The Randall men say this arrangement was de
liberately made by the free traders for it would
never do for them to come into the caucus with
a dead whisky bill hand. Mr.. Randall and
his friends are predicting the defeat of the
whisky bill by over twenty votes, but it is un-
derstood that several amendments to the bill
are in contemplation, which are calculated to-
secure additional support from the revenue re.
formers. The most important Of these is one
suggested by Congressman Potter, Of New York,
to make the tax payable in semiannua INSTALL
ments, extending over period of years. 1t is
also understood that if there is any prospect
of the whisky bill becoming a law,
Mr.. Hopkins, of Pttsbulg, will move
an amendment, in the nature of a substitute tc
abolish all internal revenue This Of course,
will be made for the purpose of putting the free
traders hors de combat for if the internal rev
enue is entirely abolished the tariff on imports
for supporting the government 1t is in this
way that the interests of the two bills are becom-
ing involved one in the other Mr. Morrsons
friends, however, do not appear to be at all
alarmed over talk of this kind, and express con-
fdence in being able to control the action of the
caucus. Speaker Carlisle, it is said, will actively
champion the interests of the tariff reformers in
that gathering.
When the whisky bill comes up again it is said
Representative Dibrell will move to amend by
striking out all after the enactng clause and in
sertng in lieu thereof the bill recently introduced
abolishng the internal revenue taxes upon to-
bacco and fruit brandy. This action is expected
to serve a double purpose-to kill two birds or
bills, with stone. First, it will knock the
bonded period extension bill in the head and
second it will effectually dispose of the Morrison
tariff tinkering scheme by reducing the revenues
from internal taxes to such an extent that
it will not be safe to reduce the revenues from
customs. Prominent Republicans, who favor a
tariff that will protect American industries. as
scrt that this amendment will not only receive
the cordial support of the Republicans, but that
it will also commend itself to Randall and his
followers as being the best method of crawling
out of very unpleasant position upon the tariff
question. There is no doubt that the real pul-
pose of the whisky men is to force an extension,
if possible, to bridge over their present embar-
rassInent, with the ultimate purpose of securing
a repeal of all internal revenue taxes Their
opponents are desermined to nip the scheme in
the bud, and they are in the majority.