Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-26

0SbApA VI bhN CcNQEub SuOulll De Dl0ulnI.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, offered
a resolution providing that no one should
be bound to vote by the action of the
caucus.
BILL TO BE PASSED.
MIR Morrison moved, as a substitute for
Mr.. Hopkins resolution, a declaration
that after amendment in committee of
the whole the "bill'' should be passed. The
debate under the five minute rule cOntip-
ued at great length. Incidentally a num-
Der OF propositions were suggested.
among them one to refer the whole sub
lect TO a committee consisting of one
Democratic member from each
State. About IL O'Clock Mr..
Eaton moved to adjourn, but this
motion was defeated by a large majority.
Mr.. MorrisOn's resolution was adopted
by vote of ia to 81 1t provides that
the ways and means bill, to reduce war
taxes, should be considered in committee
OF the whole, subject to amendment,
reasonable time, and that then a bill
should be reported to the House and
passed.
EFFECT OF THE CAUCUS ACTION.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, offered
an amendment that the action of the
caucus should not be binding.
Mr.. Morrison offered proviso. except
so far as individual members should feel
bound by the action of the majority OF the
caucus. The amendment and prOviso
were adopted, and Mr.. Carlisle then Of
fered resolution providing for the repeal
of the tax on tobacco, cigars and snuff.
and reduction of the tax on fruit brandy
to 1Oc. per gallon.
Mr.. Carlisle's resolution was carried by
vote of SO to q.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Morrison.
which was adopted by a vote of ia to 81.
is as follows:
Re$otoed, That the bill commonly known as
the Morrison tariff bill shall be taken up for
consideration at the earliest practIcabIe dav
and reasonable time for debate allowed
thereon, and after such debate that a bill be
passed lor the reduction of the duties and war
tariff taxes.
This, before adoption, was amended by
Messrs. Hopkins ana Morrison by adding
the following;
Resolced, Further, that the adoption of this
resolution shall not be considered binding in
controlling the individual action of Demo-
Gratis except to the extent that each member
may feel that he ought to be Influenced bv
the expressed opinion of his associates.
Carlisle then offered the following reso-
luton, which was adopted by vote of IS
to 81:
Resolged, That in order to reconcile the con-
Hlctlng opinions and to secure legislation re-
duclng taxation, the plan of reduction of
taxes at the present session of Congress shall
embrace provision repeating all internal
revenue taxes on tobacco, snuf and cigars
and special taxes connected Herewith: also
reducing the tax on brandy distilled from
frult to 10 cents per gallon, provided that such
repeal and reduction shall not be made eX-
cept IN connection with reduction of tariff
duties.
The attendance on the caucus was very
n 10 nnr+lxr 81.
there being but ten members absent, and
they on account of sickness or absence
from the city. Before the vote on Mr..
Carllsle's resolution, however, many
members had left the capitol.
MIR. MORRIsON's OPENING SPEECH.
At the opening of the caucus Mr.. Nor
rison stated the object of the caucus. He
said that 1t was for the purpose of coming
to an understanding, if possible, on the
tariff legislation. The Democratic MEM
bers of the Ways and Means Committee,
Who believed in the reduction of the war
tariff, had presented a measure on which
they desired TO have an expression of
opinion OF the Democratic members of the
House. II had been announced in
the press, he said, that those
who were not successful in
controlling the organization of the
House of Representatives would oppose
any measure for reducing war taxes or
the discussion of such a measure by this
Congress. He stated that the war taxes
derived from internal revenue which at
one time yielded the government $500. .OOO.-
OO0 year had been from time to time re-
duced until only the revenue on tobacco
and distilled spirits renamed. He said
that he did not believe in any further re-
ductiOn of the internal revenue as matter
of principle, but as a Democrat desir-
ing the harmeny of his party and for the
sake OF harmOnizing conflicting views he
would agree to repeal the tobacco tax and
to reduce the tax on brandy distilled from
fruits, provided such repeal could be had
in connection with a reduction of customs
duties. For the purpose of testing the
sense of the caucus Mr.. Morrison said
that he would offer resolution, which he
did, in effect providing that the Ways and
Means Committee bill should be taken up,
and that after a reasonable time tor dis
cussion bill should be passed.
MIR. HOPKINS AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Hopkins offered an amendment to
the effect that the action of the caucus
should not be binding upon individual
members. A long discussion followed the
Offering of the resolution. which was par
ticipated in by Messrs. Morrison, Eaton,
Converse, Blackburn, Randall, Hopkins,
King, Morse, CabeH, Reagan. Rosecrans,
Tully, O'Neil of Missouri, McAdoO, Will
son of West Virginia, Warren, DOrshei-
mer, Hutchins, Holman, Nichols, Harde-
man, Beach, Spriggs of New York.
Adams of New York, and Bland.
Mr.. Randall briefly cOunselled mOdera-
tion and cOnciliatiOn, and suggested an
uneXcited conference with a view of
agreeing upon some bill for which all the
Democratic members could YOte-a bill
that would provide for a moderate reduc-
tion of the customs duties, and at the
same time for a partial reduction of in
ternal revenue taxation. As to making
the tariff bill the subject of caucus action
in the sense of controlling members
votes, he said thatl4was contrary to Dem
ocratic principles and Contrary to the
principles of representative government
to attempt to bind any one on great
economic question, and thus seek to COM
pei Representative to vote against the
known opinions and interests of his con-
stituents.
Mr.. Carlisle said that he was desirous
OF having the caucus come to some agree
ment if possible on a reduction of the
tariff. In order to do so and to secure
such reduction, he would agree to the
repeal of the tobacco tax and all licenses
connected with the sale Of tobacco and to
reduction Of the tax on brandy distilled
from fruits to 10 cents per gallon.
Messrs. Reagan and Holman urged har-
m0ny and opposed all efforts to bind the
members of the party by any action of
the caucus. Both declared that the
action Of tire caucus should be regarded
as merely persuasive.
THE STRENGTH OF THE BILL.
Several members announce emphatical-
ly that they were opposed to the Morrison
bill, but the predOminating sentiment
was largely in favor of considering the
bill and of agreeing to a measure that
wOuld receive the sanction of the House.
Besides Mr.. Randall, Messrs TuIIy of
| California, and Eaton of Connecticut, Op-
posed the bill.
Mr.. King, of Louisiana, offered a reso-
luton to the effect that a committee. con-
sisting of seven members of the House
| and six Senators, be appointed to con-
side. and report at future caucus on the
pending proposition.
The resolution was voted down,
Mr.. Morrison moved that Mr.. Hopkins,
amendment be modified so as to provide
that the action of the caucus should not
| be binding upon individuals except to
such an extent as each member might
feel influenced by the wishes of the ma
| jority Of his associates.
This amendment was adopted. He then
called the previous question upon Mr..
l Hopkins amendment as modified, which