The record-union., 1894-08-11
Special to the REooRD-UN1oN.

first day in the Senate since the tariff was
sent second time TO conference, that
there has been any unusual or interesting
proceedings. Senator Hill, who has been
the central figure in several dramatic
scenes during the tariff debate, was again
in the van of the fray. His resolution
directing the tariff conferrees TO report
the differences because of the failure TO
agree was a sensation. 1t was almost
adopted before the Senators fully realized
its import. The conferrees were aware of
it, and were willing it should be adopted.
By parliamentary tactics a vote was pre-
vented on the resolution either as pre-
sented by Senator Hill or in the form
developed, however, to show the temper
of the Senate conferrees.
Senator Vest hoped that it would pass
so that the calcium light might be turned
on, and he be given an opportunity to
refute the infamous lies that have been
told about the conferrees on the part OF
the Senate.
Senator Harris was willing that the
conference should have an airing, but
wanted it to be done in a strictly parlia-
mentary way. Senators Villas, Gray,
Pasco and others desired that action be
postponed. The conservative Senators
were so anxious that The conference
should tell all, that on this point they for
time followed the lead Of Hill. BY
skillful management those who did not
want rupture at once prevented the inn
pending conflict. AT 2 o'clock the reso-
luton went over, the Republican man
sgers, who were assisted to make the bill,
saying that the Democrats were uniting
TO no ctn a mi
another vote in ORDER to keep the resolu-
ton before the Senate. The remainder
of the day was devoted to the cOnsldera-
ton of the Chinese treaty.
At 4:30 o'clock the Senate adjourned
until to morrow. The prospects are that
tomorrow will be lively day.
CRISIS IN TARIFF AFFAIRS.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-A crisis in
tariff affairs was reached to-day in the
open Senate and the secret councils of the
Democratic tariff conference. When the
conference closed tonight it was with the
understanding that meetings would be
suspended for the present. No time was
set for the reassem bling of the conference
tomorrow or thereafter, and it was also
said further sessions might be necessary
in case the Senate acted favorably to-
morrow on HilPs bill for the conferrees
to report the situation OF affairs.
What was of more importance was the
feeling expressed by the House confer
rees at the closing conference, that in
case the Hill resolution passed, and they
believed it would, the conference would
practically be relieved of its work, and 1t
would remain only for the House to ac-
cept the Senate bill as a lesser evil, as
they believe, than the Mckinley law.
These conclusions were reached after a
day of intense excitement among the
tariff leaders. The day opened with the
Senate proposition for free sugar still
pending before the conference. Chair
man Wilson and his House associates
were satisfied that the tendency Of the
free sugar was not made in good faith,
and they had therefore requested the
Senate conferrees to furnish poll of the
Senate showing that. If the proposition
were accepted, it would be adopted by
the Senate and the bill passed. The poll
was considered as soon as the conferrees
convened.
1t disclosed that in the event of the ac-
ceptance of the free sugar amendment
the bill as whole would be voted against
by thirty-eight Republicans and by SEN
ators Kyle, Allen and Petfer, PopulistS,
and Gallery and Blanchard, Democrats, a
total of forty-three votes, or sufficient to
kill the bill. This poll was made on the
best Judgment of the Senate conferrees.
The House accepted it as showing con-
amendment, while made in good faith by
the Senate conferrees, was a means
adopted by the conservatives of defeating
tariff legislation and leaving the McKin-
ley law in force.
The discussion brought out for the first
time the statement that the defensive alli-
ance between certain Senators had pro-
ceeded further than mutual cooperation,
and was now reduced to a signed agree
ment. While members of the conference
did not claim to have seen the agreement,
they stated as a fact that Senators Kyle,
Allen, PETER, Blanchard and Caffery had
reduced their understanding to black
and white, and had signed it to the effect
that they would vote against any bill
which did not contain bounty clause
for sugar. AS free sugar would eliminate
the bounty provision, the signed agree
ment was regarded as showing that the
five Senators, combined with the Repub-
licans, would defeat the bill. 1t was
while animated comments were being
made on the foregoing conditions that
word reached the conference of Senator
HIPS coup in the Senate. The confer
ence hastily adjourned. the Senators
going on the floor to take part in the de-
bate.
Wilson was not disposed to attach much
weight to Hills move at the start, and
said that it would be futile, as the Senate
could not act while the bill was in con-
ference. This feeling was shared TO a
large extent early in the day by the
House leaders, who characterized 1T as
one of the .'bluifs'' which had been made
of late to decentralization OF the House con-
ferrees and force them TO yield. Later in
the day, however, this feeling gave way
to one of profound concern over the
situation and the future of the bill.
At 2 o'clock the conference, or a rem
nant of it, again assembled with the Hill
resolution, and the exciting debate there
on was the main topic among them. Lit
tie or no attempt was made to take up
items or schedules, the talk being on the
sensational general phases developed,
and no progress was made up to 3 O'Clock,
when the conference separated without
fixing time for reassembling.
Senator Brice, speaking of the situation
tonight, said that for the first time he
had to admit that the chances for the bill
are not good, but he believed that the
parliamentary tangle would be straight
ened so that the Senate bill could be
passed. brushing aside all parliament
ary cobwebs," he said, "and using COM
mon sense, there is no reason why the
House cannot at any time concur in the
Senate amendments and pass the bill If
the Senate should now take some further
action looking to indefinite postpone
ment, it might complicate affairs.n
OBJECT OF HILLS RESOLUTION.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-In explaining
his course to-day. Senator Hill said:
my object in offering the resolution was
to expedite the disposition of the tariff.