New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-21
MILLS STAGGERS UNDER HIS BILL.
DEMoRALIzED BY MANY AMENDMENTS.
THE PREMIEk's" PROPOSITION TO THE REPUBLI-
CANs-MR RANDALEs POSITION.
IRY TELEGRAPH The TRIBrNE-l

WASHINGTON May 20-The food of proposed amend
ments to the Dark-Lanterns bill which has poured
In upon the Democratic members Of the Ways and
Means under the resolution OF the Democratic caucus
has made the Premier" and his associates very
easy, not to say Indignant and unhappy. They had
regarded the bill as so moderate and at the
time nearly perfect that they staggered to
find amendments by the dozen proposd by members Of
their own party. "What shall We do" was the per-
tinent question which Mills and his advisers and
adjutors asked themselves and each other.
They promptly realized that If tho bill
unsatisfactory to Democrats as
these propositions to amend indicated. the Re
publlcans would gain decided advantage when the
time should for the consideration Of the
by paragraphs Chairman Mills could think Of only
plan to hold the Democrats in line, and that
to bring the House to vote the bill as whole with
out allowing any opportunity for amendments. That
could be done only after the adoption by the House
of a special rule, and such rule would have to be
proposed by a majority Of the Committee on Rules,
which consists Of Speaker Carlisle and Messrs Mills,
Randall, Reed and Cannon 1t was well understood
that Mr. Randall would not favor the plan, and that
It would be necessary therefore, to obtain the assent
Of Mr. Reed Mr. Cannon, both Of them. Overtures.
were therefore made to them by Premier Mills and
the proposition then tahen into consideration,
with the understanding, however. that II the minority
should agrec 1t must be with condition which would
allow vote nrst after suitable discussion upon
substitute to be offered by the Republicans.
There has been much quiet discussion Of the plan
both sides Of the House. What conclusion will be
reached It is impossible predict Conferences held
last night and Thursday, at which members Of the Re-
publican Caucus Committee, Republican members OF
Ways aud Means and some others present, de-
veloped tendency to accept the proposition made
by Mr.. Mills. II is not expected however, that any
thing Will bo done until after caucus Of Republican
Representatives.
Republicans who show somo disposition to accept
the proposition strongly inclined the opinion
that In 1t is adopted the substitute offered by tho
minority, which will be first submitted to vote, will
include the repeal Of all internal taxes tobacco,
except in the form Of cigars cigarettes and cheroots
the remission Of the internal tax distilled spirits
in manufacture, etc. and the abolition of the
duties unrefned and molasses, coupled with
a compensatory bounty to encourage homo production
asserted that Judge Kelley and three four other
Republicans will not agree to such substitute
Premier" Mills publicly insists that tho bill will
pass If subjected to the ordeal Of debate and
amendment under tho fvemnute rule, but his anxiety
to have vote taken without such consideration is
in fact, indication that he fears defeat unless tho
Democratic majority can be brought to choose be-
tween Democratic bill and Republican substitute,
in which case he believes the Democrats will be
PEELED to stand by him
OF course Mr.. Randall and Democrats who aSreo
suited before the proposition made by Mills to
Republican members Of Ways and Means, and 1t is not
at all probable that many of them be Induced to
favor it. Mr.. Randall has not lost his ambition to
appear again party savior, and yet II It should
be made to appear to him that vote against the
Mills bill would be regarded a vote against any
vision OF the tariff probably he would not IT,
According to careful canvass, thirteen Democrats
Will vote against the Mills bill, and only Republi-
at the outside vii vote for It, Tho same canvass
reveals the interesting fact that than thirty
n N 81 m
tunity DO gwen 10 oler them.
When Judge Kelley's attention called to tho
dispatch from this city announcing that a result
of conference held last evening by the Republicans
of tho House it appears that majority of them
In favor OF accepting Mr. Mis's proposition dis pose
of bis bill by single vote and that In consequence
of this resolution tariff bill had been formulated
as Republican substitute for the Mills bill, upon
which a negative vote was TO be recorded before
voting the Mills bill. no manifested unusual
wretched absurdity. He says 1t is true that such
a proposition was made BY Messrs. Mills and Nc
Millin to Mcssrs. Reed and Mckinley. the only Re
publican members of tho Committee Ways and
Means they could find In The House when they solicited
& and
said they had no authority to speak for their Repub
1h o Ss9 SH ss Ss r h party
sdered themselves charged with the duty Of sub
seysr ssr beards saa UdCe KeIcy ether Of them
refer TO the subject till this morning in the course OF
interview with Major Mckinley consequent upon
tho appearance of the dispatch referred TO. No Re-
publican substitute for the Mills bill has been formu-
lated. has any person or committee been author
tied formulate such bill. nor has nybody been
authorized by the Republican mcmbers Of tho House
to make such agreement as Messrs. Mills and Nc
Min proposed
The Republican party can find authority in
law parliamentary precedents TO justify IN stalking
the indus trial and commercial Interests Of the Ameri
can people upon the throw Of single dice or on a
bet between the junto that are pressing the NILS
bill OH ono side and few Republican ncompetents
on the other. which what th, dispatch assumes to
bc probable. Should such outrage be attempted,
the names Of those who propose 1t would instantly
fee In
history as the betrayers Of the Of protection
whom 1t was about to be natonalizod. and TO con-
firm the national character of the Republican party
by its discussion throughout tho length and breadth
of the country and the assasslns OF the Republican
pary the disruption OF which would inevitably follow
the betrayal of tho vital principle By which 1t do
fends the prosperity OF the whole people,