The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-08-16
THE SENATE BILL GOES.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS REcEDE
FROM THEIR POSITION.
They Fought Bravely to the Last Ditch
They Conclude that It'll Senate Bill
or no Tariff Legislation-Re-
luctantly Surrender.

Democratic CduCus, luOLhpOA0 W y ''A -
arrive at the capitol and hasty consul
tations were held on the course to b'
pursued. Speaker Crisp was joined il
his private office by Chairman Wilson
and Representatives Turner, McMll
lin and Montgomery, making the ful
membership of the house Democratic
conference committee. Representative
Breckenridge of Arkansas, an advls
DRY member of the conference, was alst
present. 1t was final consultation
on the line of action to be presented by
the house leaders to the caucus. The
meeting lasted until it was time tol
the caucus to convene.
In the meantime there was scene
of animation on the floor of the house
Representatives Cleary, Strauss, War
ner and others passed among thelI
associates and stiffened up the senti'
ment of loyalty to the conferees. II
was apparently uphill work, howev-
or, as the current of feeling among the
rank and file Of the members seemed
to be settled strongly in favor of &C
cepting the senate bill without further
delay.
At 10 o'clock Speaker Crisp and the
aonferees took eeats in body in the
forward part of the democratic slde.
There was an OMNIBUS silence as they
came in. At that time l53 Democrat
ic members were on the floor. AS Mr..
Wilson passed through the corridors
to the house he was asked the result
of the conference in the speakers
room. but answered. 81 cannot make
it known yet"
Chairman Holman called the caucus
together promptly and the call for the
meeting was read. The roll call which
followed took some time and mem
bers shifted uneasily for the decisive
action ahead.
Chairman Wilson took the floor inn
mediately after the roll call and be-
gan statement of the situation. He
spoke calmly and dispassionately and
received the closest attention. Mem
bera left their seats and crowded
eagerly around him, listening to every
word. 1t ie seldom that such eager
interest has been shown at o caucus.
Mr.. Wilson began with recital OF
the difficulties that have been en-
countered. He went over each stage |
OF the situation with much detail. He |
said that each step had been pursued |
with an ardent desire to support with
honor the desires of the house and to
resist what was regarded as the I'M
reasonable demands of the senate
Mr.. Wilson did not confine himself to
2 Generalization. He took up the con-
tested schedules, particularly sugar,
coal and iron ore, and reviewed the
differences in conference on these
main items. He took up each propo-
sition on sugar and spoke of the vast
profits to the sugar trust which would
result from many of these PROPOSE
tions. He did not indulge in the
sharp criticism that WAS expected, on
the motives of the senate conferees.
Mr.. Wilson spoke of the fight made
by the house conferees for specific
duty on sugar on the ground that
under an ad valorem system it would
be impossible to tell on account of the
invoice methods the exact advantage
which would accrue to the sugar
trust. He made the remarkable state
ment that he had been credibly in
formed and believed that the sugar
trust had, anticipating the enactment
of the eugar schedule, purchased $ll2,.
900, 900 worth OF raw sugar. II this
was true, he said, the profits accruing
to the trust from this investment in
advance Of the enactment of the SEN
ate schedule would at least be 81 ,000,-
900. Mr.. Wilson dwelt at length
upon the embarrassment attending
the efforts to adjust the coal and iron
schedules.
"The great battle" said Mr. viii.
son, warming up to his subject, ais
between the american people and the
ugar trust 1t has been a battle in
which the trust has taken the people
by the throat and 1t will never end
until we throw off the grip There
WAS enthusiastic applause at this.
He proceeded 10 state that the house
conferees had been willing to concede
almost everything except those vital
items of sugar, coal and iron, that the
senate cOnferees had also seemed /
willing to concede much aud held
much the same views, nut were APP
parently dominated by the knowledge
that If they conceded what they
themselves were willing to concede,
the bill could not pass and the agree
ment would be useless. Mr.. Wilson
concluded by saying that he had now
become satisfied ii WAS either the sen
ate bill or no legislation.
Mr.. Wilson closed at Hos O'Clock,
having talked just an hour. Mr..
Montgomery then took the floor and
substantated what Wilson had
said as to the details Of the confer
ence.
Speaker Crisp followed Mr.. Mont
gomery. He spoke with much spirit /
and earnestness and the caucus was
soon in a tumult of enthusiasm, round
after round Of applause greeting his
He spoke of the critical |
condition and Of the apparent need TO
accept the senate bill, and then itnesd .
be. to introduce separate bills for Tree |
sugar. free iron and free coal.
Mr.. Crisp followed i'm the liue of Mr.. |
Wilson, saying that it was either the |
senate bill or no bill. He said that as
long as there was desperate chance |
of securing concessions the house de- |