The Portland daily press., 1894-02-28
HARD AT WORK DOING NOTHING.
No Change in the Situation Of Affairs
at the Capital

While the President Is Storm Bound
Somewhere Down the Potomac-The
Senate Caucus Held Another Fruitless
Session Yesterday-In the House. Fill
clustering Has Given Way to Speech
Making
Washington, February 27.-The Senate
committee on finance met this morning,
only to adjourn promptly, MIR. voorhees,
stating that the bill was not ready The
chairman and Mr.. Jones of Arkansas
were the only Democrats present, ana
they retired at once to the caucus, leaV-
ing the Republican members III full
possession of the committee room. The
Republicans remained for half an hour
discussing the situation and preparing
their plan of action.
The Democratic caucus met shortly
after ten O'Clock, but it was thirty
minutes after the hour when quorum
appeared. The discussion was resumed
where it was broken off yesterday, tn g
interval over night only tending to in
crease the interest in the forthcoming re-
suit. The conservatives appeared to feel
much more confident than they dld
yesterday and were talking with more
assurance than heretofore. AS result
of the action OF the subcommittee IN
putting lead on the free list along with
its products, the Senate finds today
strong delegation representing the Lead
Trust knocking at the doors of the COM
mittee room, anxious for a hearing on
that matter.
The caucus adjourned atnoon With
out. as leading Senator says
ter laid before them. Another meeting
was held 1T l.. 30 O'Clock.
The mem beers of the caucus were very
secretlye The chairman lad special
stress upon the necessity of secresy as 10
all that takes place till the bill is nnally
agreed upon.
chairman Voorhees, and Mr.. Vest, one
of the committee, spoke at some length
on general lines in favor of the results
reached by the subcommittee ana de-
Tending it from the attacks made by tine
conservatives.
Mr.. Brce, continuing on the line IN
auaurated by him i'll his speech yester,
day. denied that the committee had
gone to work in the right way, and de-
ciared that it was not best for the Dem
ocrats % the Senate to be kept in lgno-
rance of the terms of the bill in which
they as much as any member OF the COM
mitJee were interested. 1T was necessary,
he said, IN order to produce bill that
wauld Weld sufficient revenue to tax
mum Ter IF articles that had either been
reduced or made free; and in order to
frame bill that would draw to 1t a
united party. concessions had to be
made Without going into details at this
time, llr. Brice said there were certain
items. affecting his section OF the country
that should he changed.
The sugar Senators had hard time of
it this morning, and when the caucus
adjourned, they were said to be very in
diSuant. The proposition of the finance
committee, which was laid before the
caucus, was to place duty OF S-l0 OF
cent a pound on sugar testing 80 degrees
or less, and increase one one-hundredth
of a cent on each degree. This was sub
sequently changed according to the
tactics of the free. sugar men on the COM
mittee, who take the stand that If there
is to be fight, it might as well be upon
the smallest possible concession.
Lead ore was not discussed today, and,
as the bill now stands, all LEAD ana lead
products are on the free list.
The caucus adjourned finally shortly
before six tonight. After adjournment
a member of the finance committee said
he thought the conference would tomor-
row send the bill back to the committee
with instructions to amend it in certain
particulars. 1t is doubtful if the caucus
can reach any conclusion tomorrow. 1t
is said that Seoator White of Louisiana,
has declared that he will not send in his
resignation as Senator to the Governor
of Louisiana intii he knows what is to
be t:ai.., visa sugar. Senator Hill made
speech in the caucus today. He de-
nounced the income tax as inquisitorial
and ubiquitous, and objected to placing
so many articles on the free list. A few
Senator's met at Senator Brices residence
this evening to discuss the situation.
The fate of the bill appears to rest with
Senators Brice, Hill, Smith, Murphy,
White of Louisiana and Gallery.