Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-18
THE REPUBLICAN, CAUCUS.
Democratic Senators Do Not Like Being
Kept at Work During the Holidays.

Democratic Senators are rather bitter In
their denunciation Of the action Of the
Ref ublican Senatorial caucus which was held
this morning. The caucus concluded that
the tariff bill was Of infinitely greater import
ance than the Christmas holidays, 20 IL decided
to sit right along and struggle with
the bill and the opposition while other
folks are hanging up their stockings
and wondering what Santa Claus is going 10 do
for them. The outlook is not generally re-
garded as q cheerful one and those Senators
both republicans and democrats-who are
not especially interested in the pending meas
ure wish It was far enough away. The caucus
action will not, however, interfere with the
holiday recess of the House.
The Senate will agree to allow the House to
60 home on the 21st and enjoy itself until Mon
day, January 2. The caucus action was
practically unanimous, but while it openly
agreed to no holiday there will certainly be
one. The majority Of republican Senators
pushing the bin to its passage win DO
left in the hands Of a faithful few. This CON-
dition OF affairs has been foreseen by the
democrats, and they are apparently furious at
what they term the revolutionary proceedings
OF the majority. Senator Allison, in talking
over the matter with STAR reporter this after
noon said that the bill could not possibly be
debated and passed in time for the House to
consider it If the Senate INDUCED in q long
holiday recess. The bill was practical meas
ure, crefully prepared, and the committee did
not propose to throw away the result Of months
Of toll for q sentiment
OBJECT OF THE CAUCUS.
The action of the republican caucus is de-
signed to meet the new tactics adopted by their
democratic colleagues with relation to the tariff
bill The republican leaders are determined
to press that bill to a passage as rapidly
as possible, and to get it over
to the House, If they can,
mittee the responsibility for failure Of the
House to take it up. Had the democratic Sem
ators continued in the course Of easy indiffer-
ence they at first adopted, this would have
been accomplished with ease. But now
they are standing between the House
bill shall not go through the Senate in an un-
digested state. The Senate is now probably q
little more than fourth of the way through
the bill, but practically all this progress was
made before the democrats adopted their ener-
getic policy of attack.
Before they took up this policy about thirty
three or thirty four pages were gone over very
rapidly. Since then not more than seven or
eight pages have been passed, and the pro-
gress appears to be getting slower as they adj
vance. This it is that has led the republicans
to the extraordinary efforts they are making.
They will have to work night and day and dur
ing holiday week, and work all in harmony to
get through with the bill.
POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATS.
1t is well understood now that the demo-
Gratis are not engaged in temporary obstruc-
ton of the bill, but will continue their
present policy until the last line is read. When
they were once aroused to the contest they took
hold Of it with determination to acquit them
selves 30 as not to be subject again
to the reproaches of their friends in
the House. As they go on with
the bill those who are taking the
lead, are availing themselves of every opportu-
nifty to broaden their grasp of the question.
They are determined not to let the bill 60 to
the House for some timeyet.
THE FIGHT WILL 90 ON.
The caucus action indicates that the republi-
cans are not less in earnest, and, besides, upon
the whole, they are better equipped for the
contest than are the Senators on the other
side. The fight will go on actively, and it is
regarded as not unlikely that some of the ap-
preparation bills will be seriously delayed by it.
Meanwhile the House is making as rapid progress
as possible with the appropriation bills, so as
to relieve them of the responsibility for an
ready to consider the tariff bill whenever the
Senate shall send it to them.
CONFERENCE PROBABLE.
In the Senate, at 2:45 p. m, at the suggestion
Of Mr.. Morrill,. further consideration of the
caucus resolutions was unanimously postponed
until tomorrow. A compromise of some kind
is under consideration, and will probably be
made