The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-08
Mr.. WILSON WINS
Failure of the Caucus
Scheme.
NO AGREEMENT AS YET.
But the House Stands by Its
COnfereeS.
BYNUM OUTLINED HIS PLAN.
Then Saw That the Odds were Against
Him and Withdrew His
Resolution.
BYNUM OUTLINED HIS PLAN.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-As predicted in
The CALLS dispatches last night, Chair
man Wilson succeeded in capturing By
NUNS caucus OF House Democrats, which
was called to order in the hall of the House
at O'Clock to-day. The resolution Bynum
offered, if adopted. would virtually have
been an expression of lack of confidence
in the House conferees and surrender to
the Senate.
Bynum reckoned without his host Be-
cause he obtained fifty-six signatures to his
| petition asking for caucus be was led to
believe that the House was with him, but
| he mtStOOk the temper of the majority Of
| his Democratic brethren. He argued that
they were tired and disguised, after having
been in session almost continuously for
exactly one year, and that they were so
anxious to get home that they would sacri-
fee principle for expediencY. But Will
sons eloquent speech in reply to Bynum
In caucus to-day aroused the unterrifed to
enthusiasm, and Speaker Crisp followed
in a strong defense of the House con-
ferees' persistent advocacy of free coal
and iron, and 1t was easy to see that
President Cleveland, through his lieu
tenants in the House, had the caucus well
in hand.
Mr.. Bynum. recognizing this fact, weak
ened, and said that as the House confer
rees were apparently doing everything in
their power, and as there was some prom
ise OF an early agreement, be would not
embarrass them by insisting upon the
passage of his resolution at this time.
In short the caucus amounted to n 9TH
ing. unless. perhaps. the withdrawal of
Bynum's resolution my be construed as
some sort of Endorsement of Chairman Will
son and his associates of the conference
committee.
German to-day published his ultimatum
rtelegrap phed to THE CALL last night TO the
effect that the Senate would never surren-
der the tax on coal and iron, and that if
the Louisiana Senators persisted in their
obstreperous course they would be read
out of the party and sugar made free of
duty. The indications are that Wilson,
backed up--hX- Cleveland. will not yield.
So the prospects for an early settlement
are not encouraging.
Judge Mcguire says be considers the ac-
ton of the caucus TO be kind Of indorse-
ment OF the House conferees. He has
some hope that settlement may be
reached within the next two weeks.
| Representative Geary is evidently in
| favor OF accepting the Senate BILL for he
said that had not Speaker Crisp in his
speech to-day predicted an early agree
ment. provided the House conferees were
not embarrassed. the Bynum resolution
would certainly have been adopted. Mr..
Geary will not wait for adjournment, but
will leave for California the first of next
week.
Representative English said tonight
that it looked to him as if Congress might
be here for another month.
The victory of Wilson and his associates
| consisted in this, that the caucus ad-
| journed without taking action. The effect
| of this was to leave the House conferees
| to proceed as they see best and to show
conspicuouslv that the effortt to advise them
! had failed. The friends of Wilson found
they had the caucus so well in hand that
they could have passed the LiVings ton
| resolution expressing confidence, but there
was no desire on the part of the sup
porters of the conferees to take this
course. Speaker Crisp and Chairman
Wilson expressed themselves as gratifed
with this conclusion, and among the rank
and file of the House the sentiment was
general that the movement inaugurated 10
bring about an acceptance of the Senate
bill had resulted in materially strengthen
ing the opposition to that bill. The
caucus was called to order by Chairman
Holman and the rollcall disclosed the
presence of 166 members. Speaker Crisp
sat among the members on the floor of the
House. Near him was Chairman Wilson,
and Representatives McMillin, Bynum
and Springer, who had urged the caucus,
sat together in conference throughout the
meeting. By an error the clerk read
Springer's name at two different stages of
the rOllcall and great laughter was occa-
stoned thereby. Enthusiasm was aroused
by the reading of telegram announcing
the result of the Alabama elections. Then
Bynum offered the following resolution:
WHEREAS. House bill 1876, for 1.-THE reduc.
tion of taxation and TO provide revenue for The
Government. passed the House on February 3
and the Senate on The Sd of July, and was sent
to conference on the 7th day OF July last; and
Whereas, The commercial interests of the
country have been held in suspense, awaiting
final settlement OF the question, The people of
the whole country have, through the public
press and by petitions and memorials to both
houses of Congress, demanded a speedy deci
sion, that the industries of the country may as
soon as possible be adjusted to the proposed
changes; and
Whereas, The conferees appointed by the
two houses TO hold full and free conference
over the disagreeing votes Of the two houses
have had the matters in dispute under cOnside-
ration for one month and have failed to come
to any agreement whatever; and
Whereas. The House of Repres ent atiyes
which, under the constitution OF the United
States, is clothed with the exclusive power 10
originate bills raising revenue and Is therefore
clothed with the right TO pass upon all amend
ments proposed by the Senate freely and with
out restraint; and
Whereas, The members Of the House of Rem.
resentatives have not availed themselves OF the
opportunity to consider said Senate amend
ments. or any OF them, which right under par
liamentary law is superior to all others; and
Whereas, IL Is currently believed that the
conferees are unable to agree; therefore
be IL
ReSoLued, First-That it is the sense OF this
caucus that the Democratic conferees OF the
II ouse and Senate should meet in a spirit OF
liDerality TO the end that the two houses by
mutual concessions may agree upon a measure
which Will meet the approval OF each.