New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-24
THE "DARK.LAN1ERNn BILL.
TO BE PUSHED ALONG IN THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATS TAKE CAUCUS ACTION ON THE
MEAsURE-UNEXPEcTEo OPPOSITION
TO THE BILL.

DEMOCRATS TAKE CAUCUS ACTION ON THE
! MEAsURE-UNEXPEcTED OPPOSITION
| TO THE BILL.
WASHINGTON, April 23 CSpeoal).-In the meet
ing of the Ways and Means Committee to-day
| the Democratic members, in accordance with the
instructions of the Democratic caucus, sought to
reach an agreement with the minority as to the
amount Of time to be devoted to the general de-
hate on the Dark Lantern" bill The members
of the minority demanded that ten days OF hve
! hours each be allowed to the Republican side, ln-
! asmuch as the bill had not been considered Dy
the committee before it was submitted TO the
House. To this proposition the Democrats de-
INJURED. They thought too much time was ASKED
| and they were, moreover, anxious to have the
Republicans agree to night sessions for general
debate.
The latter declined to do this, but said that
! they would consent to night sessions II men on
| either side were willing to speak AT nigh', oue
they would not agree chat the time thus spent
should be deducted from the ten days asked Ior
| in behalf Of the minority. Good leeilng pre-
vailed in the meeting, and for the first time since
| the committee was organized the majority seemed
to be controlled by spirit OF fairness ana ac-
| commodation. -
It is no longer q profound secret that IN the
Democratic caucus last week Premier Mills anu
their mismanagcment of the bill and the lack OF
| courtesy with which they had treated the minority
Of the committee. Some of the severest CRITICISMS
| of their action came from Democrats who faVor
the bill, but who also favor fair play, and reaIize,
| moreover, that the minority Is strong enough IN
the House to compel the majority to accord proper
time for fair and thorough consideration of tho
bill
| the Democratic members, in good natured way
that they had bluRdered from the beginning, be-
cause they were. governed by the idea that the
minority was seeking to obstruct and delay ACTION
whereas it was simply striving for fair consldera-
| ton II that had been accorded In committee SO
much time in the House might have been saved
| The majority had been responsible Tor all the de.
lay, and is responsible for the present state Q.
affairs in relation to the bill The, Democratic
| members did not feel that they could accede TO
the proposition Of the minority, and they remained
| In private conference most OF the day TO DISCUSS
the situation and prepare for to-nights caucus
That the proposition Of the minority was reason
able one under the circumstances no candld man
The Bill is the most important tariff measure
which has been brought INTO the oGse WIZ s peg
five years, for II virtually proposes the ABANDON;
ment Of the protective policy which has prevale ef
that that subject Premier Mills and his associates
unite in declaring that the pending Pill is en,
trcmely moderate, and there Is no DOUBT tnao ~
case IL becomes law the Democratic party WIN
seek 10 pass more radical and destructive meas
ure. In other words, the bill is designed to DC
the thin end Of freetrade wedge w9Icn III, IS 70
| rend the protective system asun6er ana give 70
| foreigners the control Of the best market IN inc
world. It is imperative, therefore, that the coun.
should be ADVISED S1 Tne acSnaUteS
Nth the details. Of the measure before it Is
| brought to a vote in the House; ....us.a
nv abont 90 members Neither Speaker Car
| isle nor Mr. Randall was present The session on
| of more than two hours was devoted enureiy 20
the consideration Of the amount OF t mar,, u De
| tern" bill Speeches were made by Wi IIe, H.
Scott, Blount, Townshend, Hooker hoimah'
| Dockerv, Bland and others. -.
| Mr.. Scott was emphatic in the expression OF
| the opinion that the bill must be disposed OF ~
| the House before the St. Louis Convention ~
| NAV be remembered that when he, with the help
OF the Administration Lad June fixed as the
date for the Convention, he promised the Na-
tional Committee that the Tariff bill should DC
Mr. Townshend. Of Illinois, was unanimously
OF the opinion that the Republicans should be
allowed five days for general debate. he was
the only member Of the caucus however, who
held that view and It did not prevail IL was
finally agreed unanimously, as the opinion OF the
caucus that the tarin discussion sna arc Ee
to the exclusion Of all other business except that
night sessions may be held, which II not re-
qnred for debate on tariff snail DE Given 70
BIZ the caucus last Thursday night to PREMIER
Mills and his associates were continued IN force
In other words, the Democratic caucus has de,
cided that il will not attempt to deprive Inc
minority OF it's right to have the Dark Lam
tern bill fairly debated and considered.
Opinions among members OF the caucus as 70
the necessity for getting the bill through the
House before the St Louis Convention dHcr
good many of them do not regard that proceeding
as Of primary importance. While the majority OF
the caucus seems to be willing TO allow the debate
TO run as long the Republicans may desire
that willingness is based on the hope or eXpec t
ton that less than ten days will be required Tor
the presentation Of the Republican side OF the
case. The caucus was not willing to fix any tlme
however and was chiefly anxious to AVOID q con-
aict with the minority Chairman Blancharu
who was secretary OF the caucus, said that ne
would not press the consideration OF the Rlver
and Harbor bill as against the debate on the
When the tariff debate is resumed tomorrow
Mr. McMillin, of'the Ways and Means Committee,
and Docl1ery, of Missouri, will speak Speeches
viii also be delivered on the Republican SIDE by
Mr.. Burrows, of the Ways and Means Committee,
and Mr. Buchanan, of New-Jersey On Thursday,
Messrs. Bynum q Browne OF nd l nsod ooth Oh
mittee on opposite Sides Will speak, ana u is
expected that speeches will be delivered by one
other Democrat and one Republican.
There is some alarm among Free Traders on &C
count Of what they regard as unexpected Demo
cratic opposition to the free wool provisions oil
the bill They have Just learned 1t appears that two
Connecticut Democrats and several New-York and
pennsyvania Democrats on whose support they
had coupted will vote against that feature OF the
measure. Mr.. Vance one Of the Connecticut Dem,
ocrats il appears is also exercised on account or
the same provisions OF the bill In his district
the manufacture Of wood screws is an important
employing Ing dSsV Is smd man
facturers contend that such "a reduction will be
ruinous Mr.. Vance says that 1t Is somewhat
remarkable coincidence that the three articles OF
manufacture in which Joseph Chamberlain, the
late English Fishery Commissioner, Is chiefly
interested-wood screws, cotton thread, and tin
plates-are three things which are very severely
dealt with in the Tariff bill lin plates, it may
be remembered, art placed on the free list Mr..
Vance will both speak and vote against the Dill,
no matter what form it may assume, unless 1t be
so modified that friends Of the protection policy
can support it.
associates have Just discovered that New-England
Republicans will vote sodly against free WOOL
and that the attempt to dcker with NewEng
land woollen manufacturers has turned out to be
fat failure
MONEY FOR GALVESTON HARBOR.
FRIENDS OF TIE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL AN
NoYrD AT ITS SLOW PROGRESS.
Washington, April % tspeclaD.-A good part Of