The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-25
A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
DISPUTED POINTS DIscUSSHD, BUT
NO AGREBMENT REACHED.
Pugh Says Duty on CosI and Iron Must Re-
tors HiIl, Murpby aud Trby Absent

WASHINGTON, July 2i.-A few minutes
after o'clock this afternoon, almost
Immediately after the Senate adjourned.
the Democratic senators went into eau
Gus for the purpose OF formulating pro-
gramme in regard to the disposal of the
tariff bill. For three hours the discus
sion continued. At that time, without
having reached any conclusion. an adj
journment WAS taken until tomorrow at
the same hour.
Three members OF the Democratic party
were conspicuous by their absence from
this conference. These men were h.'.,
Murphy and lrby. two Of whom have
been said % be ready tO vote AZ linst the
hill IN certain emergencies ana one liiilD'
who has time ami again declared AIS opp9-
sitiOn TO the bill. Every other senator
now in the city was present uut NooI-
hees and Daniel, but their absence was
due 10 illness.
HILL MOI PRESENT.
Mr.. Hi was not notified oA.clally OF the
caucus until just T. few minttes beloIe
the adjournment Of the Senate. iie was
then notified IN the cloak room hy Alr.
GOrnan. and requested 10 be present
Mr. Hi frankly tOit the chairman lhat
inasmuch as h. was opposed 90 the blil
It. as long as the party saw nt 10 keep
the income tax IN IL. ne did not believe
that he ought 10 participate Ia confer
enCe that had for IT'S object the passage
Of the measure. For this reason Mr..
I'm did not attend the caucus. and after
reading a. newspaper IA the CLOAK room,
with Mr. Kyle. the P0puliSt. AS his sole
companion, be shortly left the chamber
and went TO his hotel Neither Mr.. Muir
phy nor Mr.. Irby went 10 the caucus, and
their absence caused some remark. Mr.
Mills was ia his committee room at the
time the conference convened, but on Dee
ing notified. went % the marble room.
hut frequently left II. and wandered about
N corridors
The discussion partook Of the nature
Of conversation more than Of speech
making. although there were some very
pertinent and emphatic observations in
dulged In. soon after the caucus con-
vcued Mr.. Jarvis. of North Carolina, Of
fered a resolution that the bill br s-nt
back 20 conference without instructions
.Of any sort 10 the cOnferocs, and upon
that resolution the discussion was bas d.
The conservatives, the men who ior-
mulatod the present bill. aid none ~ the
talking. but one OF the senators said after
tho caucus was over that those who dit
talk-anG there were few who aid not
We're as Jealous I'm their adFoc1cy OF the
Senate bin as any member of the con-
servauvcs could be-. and insisted as siron-
uousy that the Senate bill should prevail.
GROSS FIRE Al Villas.
Almost all of the debate and cross-fre
between senator's was directed at Villas
~ his effort TO induce him 10 withdraw
his motion 10 strike out the differential
on refined sugar. Villas dil not Indicate
70 the caucus Just what he would do I'm
this connection, but made a plea for the
administration, saving that in view OF
the strong letter the President had writ
ten. there should Doe some sort Of CON
cessiOn on the part of the Senate. and
he believed the concession should he,
among other things on the sugar sche-
aule Mr. Villas reference 10 the sugar
schedule brought Gallery and blanchard
10 their feet. and they said that q con-
crssion Of some sort was absolutely me-
cessarv. and they would De content II
the senate placed q "6ar duty OF 80
per cent. on all sugars. raw and refined.
and gave the planters half the bounty
for 1894. The increase ia the duty. they
SAID, would compensate them to some
extent for the loss Of the bounty which
the committee promised them should
Joe given and which was decided upon
by the former Democratic caucus.
II the senate would not agree 70 this
change. which Caffery especially said
was Of advantage to the growers of
sugar the Louisiana senators must in-
sist not only on the ltc. dinerential. but
the bounty that was promised them.
He went furt hor and warned the caucus
that unless this was done he anF his
colleagues would vote against the bin.
SMITHS DECLARATION.
This sugar talk had gone thus far
when Smith Of New Jersey took the
floor, and made "a short, bat very effec-
tive speech, in which be notified the
caucus that if the dinerential rate was
disputed n rate which be said had been
promised and agreed upon I'm caucus.
then there would Doe forthcoming the
necessary Democratic votes To ndeiinite-
~ postpone the conference report. and
he assured his colleagues that these
votes would be had at tie proper tine
II such "A disturbance ~ the agreed
upon schedules was attempted.
The result Of all the sugar discussion
was that the caucus did not get very
clear idea Of how Villas was going %
conduct himself, although il was said he
would probably yield 10 the judgment OF
his colleague and permit his motion TO
be withdrawn.
Duly oN COAL AND IRON MUST REMAIN.
Coal and iron proved to be as interest
ing a. subjects for others as tie south
ern men, as sugar. Not much was SAID
on this subject, but what Was said was
emphatic and certain. Mr. Pugh, Ot Ala
bama, In a short speech, tO j his col
Leagues that neither Oi those articles must
be touched. The previous caucus had
agreed to leave them on the dutiable
list and had fixed the rate. and that
agreement ne said. must not be violated.
II IL wac. the Senate cOnferees reccdrd
from the Senate amendments on these
neither he nor his colleagues would sup
port the bill. and he likewise assured
Them that there We're other senators VINO
stood ready o. vote IN tie me Wy.
Tnasmuch as these three items, coal.
iron ore and sugar, were the three chleI
items of disagreement, nothing else was
discussed I'm detail. The sentiment Was
almost solidy In favor Of the senate bhl
and the inSisteuce OF the cuuIerecs ON lne
made 10y the Senate. Inc
senator. speaking OF the caucus to-hl5nl,
said. "Nr Villas was the only man IN
the caucus who appeared 10 he friendly
TO the administration, and wds the only
one who voiced any change IN the existing
bill"
.Hf>E- THF Esd -- ft e.Gf
A prominent Democratic senator, one
who has been largely instrumental i'm
getting the blll through the Senate said
tonight that he believed the caucus
would tomorrow adopt the resolution OF
Mir. Jarvis or one OF similar import ana
that the bill would be sent back 70 the
cOnferees without instructions. lie be-
lieved the Democrats would be able TO
get togetuer. and added thai there were
assurances that II the bill got back 10 /
cOnference the House would agree 10 th-
Senate bill. There would be concessions
on the part Of the Senate. he admitted,
but none that struck the main points no"
at issue.
This senator spoke as he said, by au-
thority. and maintained that the senate /
bill would prevail. and that the House /
would come 10 realize that IL must accept /
IL or assume the responsibility Tor rne /
defeat that stafcs the bill and the, p1ts /
I'm the face IN the event that they uecii"e
TO yield
The general feeling among Democrats |
after the caucus was that the emo WI I
In sight, and that the Senate blil "o1lN /
@ D