The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-31
SENATE MAY GIVE In
UncOmprOmising Front of the
House Changes the Aspect.
Tariff Reformers at Washington Score
Point Against the Friends of
Sugar, Coal and Iron.
HOUSE CAUCUS POSTPONED
Session of the COnferees YeSter-
day with Little Result.
Senators Expected the Representatives
to Go Down OH Their Knees, but
We're Disappointed.

WASHINGTON, July 30.-For the first
time slice the tariff bill has been in con-
ference there were signs of wavering in
the strong line that has stood behind the
Senate bill. Senate bill or no bill' has
been repeated during the day, but less
frequently and with less emphasis than
heretofore. The only explanation for the
brief conference to-day is the fact that the
House conferees feel that the situation is
changing in their favor. There are many
reasons advanced to show that this state
ment has good foundation. 1t is known
that the mails and telegraph are bringing
to the Democratic Senators urgent appeals
to pass bill (which will not favor
the trusts and which will be in line with
the demands of the party platform" In
fact, these requests on the Senators are
Endorsements of the position of the Pres-
dent and the House in the main points of
difference. That these kilograms are hav-
ing effect cannot be denied, and have
caused Senator's who are most insstent
on the Senate bill as regards coal, iron ore
and sugar no little concern.
The House members also find considera-
BILE comfort in their analysis of the speech
es made by the Democratic Senators when
the conference disagreement was before
the Senate in which they find that only
pledge of his vote, and that was Senator
Caffery, who declared that if the Louis-
sugar interests were not protected he
would not vote for the bill. None of the
other Senators, it is claimed, burned the
bridges behind them, none of them de-
cared absolutely that they would vote
against the bill if the one-eighth differen-
tal on sugar were not retained, or if the
duty iron and coal stricken
out. But more than this, many of the
Senators declared their desire to obtain a
bill which would secure forty-three Demo-
cratic votes. 1t is pointed out that none
of these Senators, not even Mr.. Caffery,
have placed themselves in a position in
which they cannot support a bill if it be
returned without a differental protection
to the sugar refiners and with coal and
iron on the free list. 1t is known that a
great deal of pressure is being brought TO
bear upon the Democratic conferees of the
Senate 10 report agreement with modi-
fcations of the three principal items, a
compromise being suggested to the extent
of fiat ad valorem rate on sugar of 40
per cent, with an extension of the bounty
to Jan. l. 1895; free iron ore, coal 80 cents
ton, with a reciprocity provision that
coal shall be admitted free from such coun-
tries a grant free admission to coal pro-
duced in the United States
THE HOUSE ULTIMATUM.
While this proposition has not been sub
mitted with any assertion that 1t is an
ultimatum of the House conferees. there
is a great deal Of talk that such a propo-
sition is likely to be presented. This, it is
believed, will secure the votes of the Louis
lana Senators, the two Populists. Allen and
Kyle, and Irby, of South Carolina. In that
L 49, Il II.
ators beside Hill to defeat the bil and the
House members declare the number can
not be found.
1t is a fact that the situation. turning
| it does on these lines, has caused consider
able uneasiness among the Democrats of
the Senate, and especially those who are
known to be steadfast in their demands for
| the Senate bill in its main features. The
| reliance of the House on outside pressure
| and the Democratic sentiment that seems
to be rallying around the President and the
House from the country al large, it is
claimed, will grow stronger from day 10
| day, until the Senate conferees will be
compelled to yield. The prestige which the
| administration obtained in the conference
| over the unconditional repeal of the silver
| purchasing law has been pointed out as
| being evidence of determination now
which. with solid backing of the Democrat
| ic leaders in the House, will bring about
similar result on the tariff bill.
| The tension between the Senate and House
was as marked at the close of the session
| to-day as it had been at any time previous.
| The Democratic members of the conference
| found themselves in a complete deadlock
| when they met during the forenoon, and
| found itself without business before il when
| it convened The full conference did not
ppoceedings consisted in a statement by the
Democrats TO the Republicans that the
| Democratic conferees had been unable to
reach an understanding, and a suggestion
on the part of Chairman Wilson, or the
| House conferees, that the conference ad-
journ subject to the cali of the chairman
| " suggestion
| The impression which ex-Speaker Reed
obtained of the situation was embodied in
| rough diagram which he drew while the
conference in session. which repre-
sented the Senate as locomotive rushlnS
| down steep grade under full steam.
| Stretching across the track and directly i'm
front of the engine is an immense well,
| supported bumper" which is labeled
= ''House" the Republican House conferees
| being represented as safely lodged in tall
| trees.
! know what must happen when an ire
| sistibe force strikes an immovable object"
EXTREMELY DOUBTFUL.
| This is as much of statement of the
| situation as could be obtained from any
| source. Democratic members of both
houses appreciate to the utmost the ex-
| treme gravity of the situation. The Dem
ocratic Senators who will say anything on
| the subject say that to all appearances the
/
| have been at any time. 1t is stated that at
| the Democratic conference to-day the
| House members appeared even more de-
| termined than ever to maintain their posi-
| ton. Occa sionally a Democrat could be
! found on the Senate side who would eX-
| press the hope that the House conferees
| would content themselves with this last
| demonstration of disapproval and subse-
| quently agree to come 10 the Senate's
| terms
Conferences among Democratic leaders in
| the Senate and between these Senators and
| Democratic members of the House have
| been frequent during the day since the con-
! ference adjourned, and they have been held
| with the view of harmOnzing the differ
| ences If possible. The Democrats will meet
| in informal conference again tomorrow
| When the Democratic managers of the
| two houses met they did. according To
| agreement. at 10 o'clock to-day il was
| soon discovered that no progress had been
| made towards reaching a understanding,
| each side stood ost stiffiy for it's own
| contention. The House members declared
| that they had not been able 10 see their
| way clear 10 accept the Senate sugar
| schedule and the Senate conferees refused
| TO change this schedule. When the House
/ conferees came TO the House for their
| moan recess IL made known that the
] two hours discussion with the Senators