Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-20


BEsrDEs-How THE COMPROMISE WAS BRoraHr
ABOUT.
The democratic birthright Of tariff
bill was this morning successfully traded of
for mess Of non-political pottage known AZ
" the holiday recess" and the republicans are
happy. When it was first rumored that the re-
publicans were willing to grant recess and to
waive their demand for night sessions If the
democrats would only agree upon a date on
which a vote should be taken on the tariff bill,
practical politicians smiled at the proposition.
and were unable to see how such deal could
benefit the democratic side of the struggle.
The result shows however, that the republican
leaders knew perfectly well what they were
doing when they made what seemed to be o
hrm stand for no holidays and night sessions.
THE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS NOT PREPARED TO DIS
cUss THE TARIFF.
To the democratic Senators this tariff debate
has been most irksome, and in the absence Of
Senator Beck they were manisestly and con-
fessedly at disadvantage. Several Of them
have repeatedly said that they were unprepared
TO discuss the question, and it was in an appa-
rent spirit OF accommodation and with q stated
desire to educate their opponents that the re-
PuDllcans moved not only to commence the
Senate sessions an hour earlier than usual, but
also to extend them by lacking on night SEES
slons: By strict attention to business and by
refralning from indulgence in the luxury OF
Christmas holidays, said the republicans, we
Will give you an opportunity to learn something
about the measure and about the causes which
led to its formulation. These overtures were
received with some distrust and with an evil
dent Discrimination to agree on the subject of
night sessions and no holidays.
THE NEGOTIATIONS.
Then the matter was talked over informally,
caucussed upon, and ''cussed' at, but the situa-
ton remained unchanged.
What can We do to be saved? What shall
we give these republicans to let US have our
Christmas Holidays was the cry, and in a
quiet, furtive way the republicans suggested
that their political heart might not be 80 hard
ii the democrats would only agree upon date
on which final vote might be taken on the
tariff bill and its amendments and the repub-
ncans incidentally remarked that January 16
would be good day on which to close out that
measure. This was rejected by Senators Vest
but at the caucus held last night it was agreed
to submit
A PROPOSITION TO THE REPUBLICANS
which resolved itself into a surrender so far as
the bill was concerned, but which stood out for
recess from tomorrow, the 21st instant, until
January z. The caucus also agreed to daily
sessions, commencing at IL O'Clock an con-
tinuing till p. M. until the bill is disposed Of
THE SITUATION THIS MORNING.
This morning found the republicans astir
early, and at 10 o'clock Senators Sherman and
Morrill, were listening to the overtures of Sem
ator Harris, who, in the absence of Senator
Vest alone represented the democratic caucus.
The republicans insisted that recess from to-
morrow until January was too long, and the
result was that Dir. Harris gave way and agreed
to be satisfied with as much holiday fun as
could be jammed into the period between to-
morrow evening and the morning of January 2.
THE AGREEMENT CARRIED OUT.
The Senate was rather lop-sided body at IL
O'Clock this morning. and it was evident that
the hour was too early for a number of the
Senators. On the republican side the delega-
ton was more than ordinarily large, but where
the democrats are wont to assemble there were
vacant seats. Senator's Harris, Gibson, Pasco,
Vance. and Jones, of Arkansas, were the only
representatives of their party in the chamber
wnen the chaplain put up his petition. A few
brief routine matters were attended to. and
then Senator Morrill, offered a resolution fixing
January q. 1889, as the day and o'clock pm
as the hour on which the voting on the bill
and amendments shall commence. 1t was
agreed to. and then republican features re-
Taxed trife and smiles were to be seen on
more than one usually sober visage. even Sena-
tor Allison INDUCING in the ghost of q chuckle
A CONFIDENCE GAME.
1.-THE transaction" said one of the republi-
cans to q STAR reporter, ''partook largely of
the nature of a confidence game, and it was a
success"
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVES CHAaRINED.
The democrats in the House are much
annoyed at the surrender of their party ir the
Senate this morning. They are. of course, not
disposed to make any public criticism Of the
action OF members OF their party who are not
responsible to them for their action, vet they
cannot help feeling the party to be compro-
missed by the action which ties the hands of the
democratic Senator'S, compelling them to vote
the tariff the 21st of January, whether
ready or not 1t is understood, however,
that the proposition to agree to a vote
at that time, in return for Christmas
holiday, was accepted by the democratic
caucus against the protest of those
Senators upon whom the burden of
the opposition to the bill rests. Having
taken up the fight in earnest they were ready
to go on with it, but a majority of the party
made up of men who would probably not have
taken part in the struggle any how. There was
no objection on the part of those who opposed
the argument to taking vote on the 21st or
any other time when they were through with
the discussion. The difficulty now is that most
of the time may be taken up in the discussion
of one or two features of the bill, and the hour
for the vote may arrive before other matters,
possibly Of greater Importance, may have to 60
without discussion.
THE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES, PLEASED.
The republicans are, Of course, greatly pleased
at the success of the bold stroke of Mr.. Allison
and many of them are inclined to smile at the
simplicity of the democrats.
When Mr.. Allison made the proposition to
his democratic colleagues it was not thought
for a moment by others that they would &C
cept. Mr.. Allison, however, has a high opin-
ion Of the convivial disI o,ition Of some Of the,
gentlemen who would have to pass upon the
proposition. and believed it worth while to
make the offer. The democrats quickly weak
ened before what was considered by nearly
everybody else as a bluff, and Mr.. Allison's
friends stand in admiration of his knowledge
of human nature. 1t is well known that MEM
bers Of the finance committee were making
their calculations for holiday recess, and no
doubt is felt that it would have occurred even
if the democrats had not yielded Verify, the
most was made OF very little opportunity.
Was Col. Ingersol Afraid?
BISHOP sPALDINGs FRIENDS SAY THAT HE rEARrp