Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-11

WASHINGTON, d. c.. August 1o.-A
crisis 10 tariff affairs was reached to-
day, both In the open Senate and in the
secret councils OF the Democratic tariG
conferees.
When the conference closed tonight
IL was with the understanding that the
meetings would be suspended for the
present.
No time was set for reassembling the
conferees tomorrow nor thereafter, and
it was felt that no further sessions
might be necessary 10 case the Senate
acted favorably tomorrow on Senator
Hil's resolution directing the Senate
conferees to report the situation OF
affairs.
What was OF most Importance was tho
ieellng expressed by the House con-
ferees at the close OF the conferences
that In case the Hill resolution passed,
and they believed IL would, the confer.
ence would practically be relieved OF
its work and IL would remain only fox
the House 10 accept the Senate Dill
AS LESSER EVIL,
they believe, than the McKinley law.
These conclusions were reached after
day OF intense excitement among the
tariff leaders. The day opened with
the Senate proposition for free sugar
still pending. Chairman Wilson aud
his House associates were satisfied that
the tender OF free sugar was not made
In good faith, and they had therefore
requested the Senate Couferees 10 fur
nlsh poll OF the Senate showing that
u tho proposition were accepted IL
would be adopted by ,he Senate and
the bill passed.
The poll was considered as soon as
the conferees convened. 1t disclosed
that In the event Of the acceptance OF
the free sugar amendment the bill as a
whole would be voted against by 50
Republicans and by Senators Kyle,
Allen and PETER (Populists), and Cai-
fiery and Blanchard (Democrats), a total
OF 43 votes, or sufficient TO defeat. tho
bill. This poll was made on the bost
judgment OF the Senate conferees. The
House accepted II as showing conclu-
sively that the tenor OF the free sugar
amendment, while made In good faith
by the Senate conferees, was n means
adopted by the conservative Senators
for the purpose OF
DEFEATING TARIFF LEGISLATION
and leaving the Mckinley law IN force.
They discussed the situation from
this standpoint, the arguments not
lacking very pointed and personal crlti-
cism on the motives OF those who had
offered free sugar and free coal as well,
knowing. as they asserted, that they
would defeat the bill.
The discussion brought out for tho
first time the state ment that the defen-
sive alliance between certain Senators
had proceeded further than mutual
CO. o-operation, and was now reduced 70
a signed agreement While members
Of the conference did no, claim 90 have
seen the agreement, they stated as q
fact that Senators Kyle, Allen, PETER,
blanchard and Caffrcy had reduced
their understanding to black and white.
and had signed II 10 the effect that they
would vote against any bill which did
not contain bounty clause for sugar.
The conference hastily adjourned. the
Senators going on the floor to take part
in the debate.
At2 o'clock the conference, or q rem
nant OF lt, again assembled, with the
Hill resolution 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
conferee IN attendance for any ieTgth
OF time. and It was said Senator Vest
felt lndisposed to confer pending the
Hill resolution.
Little or no attempt was made TO
take up items or schedules, the talk be-
ing on the sensational general phases
Just developed and no progress was
made 10 TO s o'clock when the confer.
ence separated without fixing time
for re-assem bling.
Senator BrIce, speaking OF the situa-
ton tonight said that for tho srst time
he had TO sd init that the chances Tor the
bill are not good, but be believed that
the parliamentary tangle would Dc
straightened out so that the Senate Oil