Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-27
Democratic Caucus on the Tariff.

WASHNGTON, Feb. 27.-The Democrats
of the senate spent almost the entire day
i'll caucus discussing the tariff bill. The
senate finance committee, which was called
to consider the bill prepared by the sub
committee, adjourned soon after assem-
bling, and all the Democratic senators in
the city who We're not confined to their
homes by illness We're in the loom where
the caucus was held for an hour and Il half
before the senate met, and after brief SIS
sion of the senate they again entered the
caucus and remained until p. m. The alb
seutees We're Senators Vance, Harris, DAN
tel, Kirby, Mills and McLaurin. Senator
VOORHEES, briefly explained the manner in
which the bill had been prepared, while
Senator Vest explained number of the
changes and the reason why they were
made.
One of the most striking incidents of the
caucus was the remarks of Senator Vest in
criticism of the interview of Senator Brice
published in the New York World, in
which the Ohio senator had said the bill
was prepared by three Confederate briga-
diers, who We're idealists, and that north
ern and southern Democratic senators had
not been consulted, nor had they been Civ
ELI an opportunity to present their views
Senator Brice made vigorous speech in
reply. He declared that it was not so
much who had made the statement as to
whether or not it was true. The state
ment was true, lie asserted, aud every SEN
atOr in the caucus knew it was true He
then took occasion to crticse some of the
sectional features of the bill, and pointed
out that certain kinds of iron which was
practically raw material to the mauufac-
turers was taxed and that cotton ties were
placed on the free list. Senator Brice made
quite an extended speech, and his remarks
were largely sustained by Senators Nor
gan, Lindsay, Pugh, Butler and others
from the south.
Speeches were made by Senators German,
Jones, White OF Louisiana, Caffrev, Nor
gan, Faulkner. Gray and Martin, and 9TH
er senators spoke. There was no regular
order of discussion, but each senator talked
upon the subject nearest his heart, and
many of them talked without limit as to
time.
There was no vote taken upon any propO-
sitiOn during the day, and no effort was
made to reach vote. 1t is considered
probable that the entire day today will be
spent in caucus. and IL leading Democratic
senator expressed the opinion hat it would
be impossible for the caucus to dispose OF
the question at issue before the latter part
of the week. lie was of the opinion that
most of the time would be given up to the
caucus until an agreement could be reach
ed. The plan Is to vote upon the contested
items of the bill one at a time, and after
they are passed upon to take a vote upon
the bill as whole and try thus to get the
caucus committee to support it.
1t is conceded generally that the whole
question is in the hands OF the caucus, and
the fact that the finance committee ad-
journed without action and the members
went into the caucus is taken as conclusive
evidence that they assent to this arrange
ment and will be governed by the result of
the caucus. 1t is probable, therefore. that
the committee will not again be called to-
gether until the caucus shall have con-
cluded it's labOrs.