New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-27
- - a., a saPM HARTMAN's WOOD WOOL
THE CAUCUS TAKES A HAND.
SENATOR VOORHEES, AND HIS COMMIT
TEE OVERTURNED.
sTAR-crAMBER METHODS 70 BE ABOLISHED
AND THE TARIFF BILL TO BE MOULDED
INTO SHAPE BY THE STEER


INTO SHAPE ~ THE STEER
ING COMMITTEE.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE T2IBryE.l -
WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.-The disputes in the
ranks Of the Democratic Senator's over the tariff
hill ''revise" drawn by Messrs. Jones, Vest and
Mills have at last reached that inevitable stage
when the services Of Senator German as an
"orpanizer Of harmony" have 10 be desparlngly
invoked The Democratic caucus held this after
moon found Itself confronted with a choice be-
tween continuing the present wrangles under
tbn untried and ineffective leadership OF the
three members Of the Finance sub-Committee'
against whom a feeling Of distrust ana lhlpa-
tlence has been rapidly growing or OF resuo-
hitting the task Of "harmonzlng the diHer-
ences Of judgment developed on the dlspu'ed
tariff schedules to the more authoritative voice
If tb. recognized leaders OF the party. who
tbrough the caucus or steering committee con-
troll the workings Of the Senate organization.
The hopelessness Of obtaining bill which all
Democratic Senators could support If the work
Of adjusting the points in dispute were leit IN
the hands OF the "revisers' themselves was
strongly urged upon the caucus by the conserV-
ative Democrats who want a revenue bill passed.
and the afternoon was spent in n prouac'ed
discussion between the conservatives who pre-
mite, OF which Mr.. German is chairman, and
IN. radical Free-Traders who have had COM
Mot. charge OF the Wilson bill since the day or
ia arrival from the popular branch. The OUT
come Of the struggle was decided defeat ior
the Free Trade element and a substantial VIC
,orv for the conservative revenue bill men, lot ,
the caucus voted that II should itself make all
the changes necessary to be made Tor the maj
draft Of the BILL thus suspending entirely inc
functions both of the subcommittee oi TO
visers' and even of the Finance Committee IL
self.
The hill fs to come before the caucus IN TN
shape given It by Messrs. Jones, Vest ana ntihni
for Submission to the full Finance ComIsi
and the alterations ordered are to be nnal ens4
conclusive. the Finance Committee acung 'hefeH
after simply as the agent or the caucus ~ VI
nroye and report the bill. Sessions VIII DC aeio1
daily until the job Of revision by the caucus -
finished. -,
Mr. Voorhees, must have greatly uhderiNeN
the force, behind the call for this morning
caucus when he announced on FRIDAY that ~
would forestall any possible action or the caucus
by having the revised bill submitted 10 ato
approved by the Finance COMMITTEES geioie -, o
caucus could get together. IL was sstiu ~ 49,
disnat ches on Friday night that MT Hor leiA
would probably find means TO empty Nt; so s,.
hees's boasts OF all their dangerous qusilueS, iT
ip tactical skill the lnUldflt seIIdNOt 40 ~
,rbatevar FOR the accomplished Maryland leau',i:
TN. advertised meeting OF the caucus "as ~
on time this morning. but the adVeruset NJ
,rr ~ tho Finance Committee was not MI;
Vnorhees did not wait 10 get quorum Dut 'vIo
the other committeeman who airiNeu .lis' "'
would call them together again to-hhorrow.
The caucus sat for an hour or more peloto
,h, Sanate met at noon. and when the senate
adjourned at 100 the session or the caucus -,
resumed IL was evident from the sIat. utHS
tho methods employed by the FINANCE ouo ~
-
from palatable 10 the majority Oh De ,ii'; .
senators and the twelve - thirteen oOJeC'p.S
who have been protesting against free sugar IT'S
coal. free iron and lead ore. free Wool ana IRE.
lumber found themselves supported by gehsr"
sentiment that the rates OF duty on .nese u' ,n
puted articles ought to be de'eriiileu H.. -.
star chamber or three, puC ny d 4"'J''''' -
the Democratic side. .,
II Is understood that some decided ctIl'VIs'.
OF the attitude OF the Finance conhl. e.. -
INDUCED in. and senator voorhees, 'lioIt ~
rcnort the bill by a snap" judgment TINS morn
Ing was severely commented upon Mr. VI ,
expressed Indignation at SOME remarks 10y a. h
Brice i'm a recent interview In criticism OF IN;
three. reyisers but Mr. Brlce held MS grouh.
and demanded that any bill he should De cansa
on 10 vote for should be first submitted 10 anu
approved by the majority Of his Denocrdoo
colleagues. ...
The most important speech of the afternoon
was made by Mr. German. who appealed 10 ','e
meeting first to change the TaTiH bill go ~ W
make it a genuine revenue measure. ahu y,
ondly. to give it. in its final form. the stamp -.
party regularity by having IL indorseu III eN,,,,y
particular by the party caucus. lf the DILL ":
German said was 10 carry out the purposes q.
the Chicago platform 1t should yield suli'ieuI
revenue for the needs Of the Government al,,
not result In an annual deficiency. ana 10 !lc.a
revenue the free list should be cut down anu
articles taxed without the determinations SHOWN
in the revise adopted by the suo-co'nni'.eIe'
But whatever the changes made might De' 81;
German declared that they should NOT ana V"u ~,
not be forced upon the Collectors WITHOUT '''
sanction Of the Democratic caucus.
liz. Ion Of Som
culated the caucus call. a resolution was adop,ea
ordering that the bill In its revised form shoulu
be submitted to the caucus for such final chahscS
as might be deemed necessary. the vote WIS
almost unanimous only few OF the menpclss
of the Finance Committee standing out AGAINST
this absorption of the committees speVla' i"''0-
tons by the whole Democratic BODY. l..
The bill as II will come before the caucus 10
understood to be practically Free TRADE one;
IL puts coal sugar lead and iron ore, Wooi aIu
lumber on the free list. and reduces inc ra'ss
on many manufactured articles. the hBh! III
the caucus for the restoration or me artVi 20
named above 10 the dutable list VIII De leo ~
senator German, who will undoubtedly nave VIC
support OF enough colleagues u erect suS
stantial change in the bill before II Is resu"
mtted To the Senate.