The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-12
Most Of the Senate Changes in the Tariff
Schedules Due TO the Ohio Sem
atOr's Bold Stand.
MR.. PEFFER'S RESOLUTION
1t Nay Precipitate a Lively De.
bate in the Senate To-Day.
Tie Sugar Stock Spectators Likely to
Kill 1t by Burying 1t in Committee
Congressional Programme.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March u.-There is quite
a scramble just now by the Democratic
Senators who revel in the title OF "conser-
vatives" for the honor OF having made IL
possible to pass the Wilson tariff bill Each
individual kicker or his nearest friend for
him is claiming the credit of having forced
such amendments and concessions from the
finance committee as have made the meas
ure acceptable to that bakers dozen or
mere Democrats WHO demanded changes
before they would give the bill their sup
port. If stranger were to hear the state
ments made by some of these worthless he
would jump az the conclusion that the ma
jority Of the finance committee were Re-
pulican protectionists. instead of Democrat
ic free-traders, and the changes made in the
bin were in the direction of lower instead
of higher duties. II made them get down
off their perches and fix coal as L wanted
it," said one Democratic Senator to-day.
Il fixed them on lead" said another, "and
it was good for them that they did it"
IF they hadn't met my demands on iron
L swear l would have voted against the
BILL" said one Southern Senator. So il
goes down the list.
But there is one Senator who saws wood
and says nothing, and he is the man who
deserves the credit. That man is Calvin S.
Brice, Of Ohio. Fear Of him more than all
the rest is what brought about the changes
The majority membership Of the finance
committee knew very well that none Of the
Southern kckers would vote against the
bill on final passage, even though none Of
their demands were met. Although Senator
German. Of Maryland, was an ardent kick
or nd cal cd hn m n
ments, anyone who knows him and his po-
litical ambitions knows very well that he
would have supported the bill without any
duty on coal. iron ore or the other articles
upon which he demanded protection. AS a
presidential quantity he would not want to
turn down a bill giving lower duties upon
anything. But Calvin S. Brice represents
varied combinations Of interests. And he
is a strange wire puler. His State is for
protection. He knows that very well. He
has fTrge railroad interests which would be
materially injured by the passage of the
Wilson bill as IL came from the House.
Above all, Brice is a maker of combines
He and David Bennett Hill and his coli
league, Mr.. Murphy, and the Senators from
New Jersey, can afford TO vote against the
life
1t is true that Senator Hill is a presiden-
tial quantity. But his ropes lie in different
directions from those OF German Hill ex-
poets to go into the presidential chair
through the New York chute. He is strong
est in the East That section is for protec-
ton. Germans road lies in the free-trade
South. Brice, Hill, Murphy Smith and Nc
Pherson, more than enough to defeat the
tariff bill. are tied closely together,
not only personally, but politically. Brice
could make the other Senators named see
their way clear to voting against the bill.
He could and he alone. bring the strings TO
bear. Brice is the key to tariff legislation
in the Senate. Without him the bill would
fail. When he assumed the leadership OF
the kickerS IL meant either some success
for them the failure of the measure. He
is not satisfied with the bill yet and inti-
mates that it may fail; but the prospects
are much better than they Were. If the
bill gets through he will probably be feted
by the ''reformers." Just now ne is feel
ing pretty WELL thank you. When the ma
jOrity wants TO do anything its leader con-
suits Brce. 1t doesn't consult G.. G.. that's
certain.