The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-11
ANOTHER TARIFF HITCH
1t Is Caused by Resolution by
Senator Hill.
THE CONFERENCES SUSPENDED.
Conferrees Awaiting Senatorial Action on
Mr. Hiirs Resolution, " whiol, Calls Upon
tho Senate Conferrees to Report the
ExIstIng Dimcuities to tho Senate.

ExistinR Difficulties to tho Senate.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.--Yenterday was
the first day in the senate since the tariff
bill was sent n second time to conference
that there was any unusual interest in
the 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 di-
recting the tariff conferrees to report the
difficulties and cause of the failure to
agree was n sensation. 1t was almost
adopted before the senators fully realized
its Importance. The conferrees were
aware of it, and were willing 1t should be
adopted. by parliamentary tactics vote
was prevented on the resolution either MS
presented by Senator Hill or in the form
urged by Senator Aldrich.
Enough was 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 she part Of
the senate" Senator Harris was willing
that the conference should have an airing,
but wanted it done in a strictly parlia-
mentary way. Senators Villas, Gray,
postponed.
The conservative senators were anxious
that the conferrees should tell all, and
upon this point they for time followed
the lead of Mr., Hill. by skillful manage
ment those who did not want a rupture at
once prevented the impending conflict.
The resolution finally went over, and the
Republican managers, who were assisting
TO make trouble, saw that the Democrats
were uniting to prevent the storm and
would not risk another vote in order to
keep the resolution before the senate.
The remainder of the session was de-
voted to the consideration of the Chinese
treaty. The senate adjourned at 4:30 un-
til today, although the peacemakers en-
deavored to have no session until Monday.
When the tariff conference closed last
night it was with the understanding that
the meetings would be postponed for the
present. No time was set for reassem-
bling the conferrees, and it was felt that
no further sessions might be necessary in
case the senate acted favorably today on
Senator Hills resolution, directing the
senate conferrees to report the condition
of affairs What was of most importance
was the feeling expressed by the house
conferrees at the close of the conference
that in case the Hill resolution passed.
and they believed it would-the conference
would practically be relieved of its work,
and it would remain only for the house to
accept the senate bill as II lesser evil, as
they believe, than the Mckinley law.
These conclusions We're reached after
day OF intense excitement among the tariff
leaders. The day opened with the senate
proposition for free sugar still pending
before the conference. Chairman Wilson
and his house associates were satisfied
that the tender of free sugar was not
made in good faith, and they had there
fore requested the senate conferrees to
furnish poll of the senate showing that
II the proposition were accepted it would
be adopted by the senate and the bill
passed. The poll was considered ms soon
as the conferrees convened. 1t disclosed
that in the event of the acceptance of the
free sugar amendment the bill as whole
would be voted against by thirty eight
Republicans and by Senators Kyle, Allen
and Peifer, Populists, and Gallery and
blanchard, Democrats, II total of forty
three votes, or sufficient to defeat the bill.
This poll was made on the best judg-
ment of the senate conferrees The house
men accepted it rs showing conclusively
that the tender of the free sugar amend
ment, while made in good faith by the
senate conferrees, was n means adopted by
the conservative senators for the purpose
of defeating the tG;iif legislation and
leaving the Mckinley law in force.
The discussion brought ont for the first
time the statement that the defensive al
lance between certain senators had pro-
ceeded further than mutual cooperation
and understanding, and was now reduced
to signed agreement. While members
of the conference did not claim to have
seen the agreement, they stated as fact
that Senators Kyle, Allen, petfer Blanch-
ard and Gallery had reduced their under
standing to black and white, and had
signed it, to the effect that they would
vote against any bill which did not con-
tain bounty clause for sugar As free
sugar would eliminate the bounty pro-
vision, the signed agreement was re-
garded as showing that The live senators,
combined with the Republicans would de-
feat the bill.
1t was while animated comments were
being made on the foregoing conditions
that word reached the conference of Sena-
tor Hills coup d'etat in the senate. The
conference hastily adjourned, the senators
going on the floor to take part in the de-
bate. Mr.. Wilson was not disposed to at
tach much weight to Senator Hills move
mt the outset, and said that it would be
futile, as the senate could not act while
the bill was in conference. This feeling
was shared TO large extent early in the
day by house leaders, who characterized
1t as one of the bluffs" which had been
made of late to demoralze the house con-
fcrrees and force them to yield Later in
the day. however, this feeling gave way
to one of profound concern over the situa-
tion and the future of the bill
At . o'clock the conference, or a rem
nant, again assembled, with the Hill reso-
luton and the exciting debate thereon as
the main topic among them. All of the
house men were present, but Senator
Jones was the only senate conferree in at
tendance for any length of time. Little
or no attempt was made to take up items
or schedules, aud no progress was made
up to 5 o'clock, when the conference sepa-
rated without fixing a time for reassem-
bling.
The house conferrees no longer dis
guised the deep concern they felt over the
future of the bill. They had made a
rough estimate of the vote on the Hill
resolution and they felt it would pass
Under these circumstances, they said,
nothing could be done until the resolu-
tion was disposed of. If through some
hopeful turn it was defeated they said, it
would practically discontinue the con-
ference. In that event the house men
stated that they would be able to avert
the complete defeat of all tariff legisla-
ton by having the house agree to the son
ete bill
American TnIs Victorious.