St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-01


Adjourn-Gorman, Brfce. Hill
and Others Hold a Meeting.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-The Demo-
cratic special caucus on the tariff bill is
over, and both sides are claiming to
have made progress. The outcome is
in the nature Of victory for the
Democratic members of the finance
committee. who prepared the bill. as it re-
turned to them without any instructions
to make changes. Immediately after the
adjournment of the caucus Senators
German, Brice, Hill, Smith, Murphy,
Camden and one or two others who
have been known to be very much op-
posed to the bill of the finance commit
tee, held consultation. and their atti-
tude was in direct contrast with the
members of the finance committee.
During the three days ended last night
but one vote was taken. and that but
few minutes before adjournment. This
was on proposition to instruct the
finance committee to put iron ore on the
dutiable list without any rate whatever,
and this was lost by vote of 10 to II.
Pugh, of Alabama. stated he would not
be bound by the action of the caucus,
and reserved the right to support his
motion in the senate. Several senators
at once declared it would be useless to
take any more votes if senators did not
intend to abide by the action of the
caucus. Then Senator Voorhees,. chair
man Of the finance committee, moved
that The caucus adjourn to meet at the
call of the chairman with the under
standing that the finance committee
should continue its work and report as
soon as possible. 1t is said Senator
Brice passed the adjournment resolu
tion to Voorhees, to present.
MIR. BRICE SAID
tonight that the result could not be con-
sidered in the light of defeat for
those who were instrumental in bring
ing about the caucus. He claimed
a great deal had been accomplished
in presenting to the committee the ideas
and wishes of individuals upon the
tariff; it had been demonstrated
to them that certain schedules did not
meet the approval of a large number of
senators. There had had been full
hearing for every senator, and every
Democratic senator between now and
the time when the bill is reported will
be accorded hearing by the finance
com mittee.
While members of the finance COM
mlttee are retlcent, what they say in
dicates that they feel the caucus has
resulted in vindication of the bill
which they have prepared, and instead
of being instructed by The caucus they
are free to present such bill as they
think is best suited to the principles of
the party and the necessities of
the revenue. 1t is claimed
the caucus expected to secure votes
instructing the committee to place a
duty OH wool, iron ore, sugar, lumber,
salt and pumber of other articles and
increase the duty on sugar and coal, and
yet upon the strongest proposition they
fell short two votes. 1t Is also alleged
that the caucus promoters endeavored
to have the members of the committee
bind themselves to abide the result of
the caucus. and yet the men most inter-
ested III iron ore announced that they
would not abide the result when
THEY SUSTAINED DEFEAT.
OplIllOu nC6.lo W NC Qlflucu dS tO
whether the committee will now make
any changes. The impression is that
some changes of minor nature Will be
made, as well as some concessions
granted where the demands have been
apparently just and where the changes
will not neceSSitate other changes in the
bill. These matters were brought out
in the conference which was held with
Senator Voorhees, while the senate was
in session. At that time Senator Foor-
hees talked about sugar. He said his
constituents might sustain him in vot-
ing duty on sugar because he felt to-
ward Louisiana as he did toward a
neighbor, and the duty would result in
revenue, but they would not sustain
him in voting to give the sugar trust
any advantage over the producers.
He would like to grant some conces-
SionS to the Louisiana senators, but
could not make sucn determinations as
they wanted. This is regarded as the
sentiment of the caucus by those who
were its promoters. 1t is thought that
if the finance committee makes any
changes in the bill they will be almost
entirely on the lines suggested by Sem
ator Vsorhees. The afternoon session
OF the caucus presented some interest.
ing features, and, although it was eX.
not very much talk, 1t turned out that it
was devoted almost exclusively to talk.
Senator German made the principal
speech of the afternoon. 1t was mod
crate and conciliatory in tone. Coal,
iron ore and all manufactured products,
he thought, should have some prOtec-
ton, so that the party would be sure of
holding what it has
GAINED IN THE NORTH.
He was opposed to an extension of
the ad valorem system, and believed, as
many others believed, that better re-
suits could be obtained by specific du-
ties. The bill, as it now stood, diScrim-
mated in favor of New England and
against the middle states. Senator
Ransom, of North Carolina. spoke
at length and urged party harmony.
Mr.. Jones. of the subcommittee spoke
in an explanatory manner of the bill,
giving many details of the measure. He
thought it would be very poor policy to
change the work of the comm.ttee
radically. Senators Morgan and Pugh
spoke for iron ore. Senator Berry, of
Arkansas, spoke in support of the
bill as framed. Senator Pugh's mo-
ton for a duty on iron ore had
been made the day before, and he was
anxious for a vote, but, at the request
of Senator Brice, he withdrew it. The
pending question was the resolution of
Senator Martin lnstructing the finance
committee to make number of changes
in the bill. In order TO get vote on the
iron ore proposition, Senator Martin
withdrew his resolution, and the vote
was taken with the result above noted,
which practically put an end to the
caucus. One member of the finance
committee said he expected that the
bill would be reported to the full COM
mittee by Saturday and efforts Will be
made to get it into the senate early next
week. The Republicans look upon the
result of the caucus as one of distinct
advantage 10 them and possible disaster
81, l.;