Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-26
THE SENATE CAUCUS
Two Sessions Held by the Democrats
Today.
THE TARIFF AMENDMENTS DISCUSSED
Mr.. Voorhees, Makes Statement
of the Changes.
CONCESSIONS TO BE MADE

iCONCtSSlONS III BE MADE
The democratic Senators held two CAUCUS
es today on the subject of the tariff bill
More properly speaking. 1t was one caucus
with brief intermission to enable the
Senate to hold its regular session. It was
begun at 10 o'clock this morning, at which
hour Senator German, the chairman of the
caucus, was the only one present Con-
trary to custom. the caucus was held in
the marble room, just north Of the main
lobby. back of the Senate chamber. Such
gatherings are usually held in the Senate
chamber. but owing to the uncertainty as
to the hour of adjourning the caucus it
was deemed better to hold the meeting in
| the smaller room.
| The first session of the caucus was at
tended by every democratic Senator except
seven. The absentees were Senators Col
quit, Harris. Irby, Vance, Daniel, Mills
and McLaurin. OF these Senators Harris
vance and McLaurin were out of the city.
Senators Colquitt and Mills are too Ill to
attend. To the surprise of many. Mr..
White of louisiana, who has not yet re-
ltnquished his seat in the Senate attended
the caucus to assist his colleague, Mr..
Caffery, in caring for the interests Of
sugar.
Strength of the Opposition.
The caucus was in actual session at first
an hour and three-quarters, an adjourn
ment being had at Has, so that the DEM
ocratic Senators might attend the meeting
of the Senate. Most of the time was occu-
pied with speeches from members of the
finance committee in explanation of the
terms of the tariff bill as it has been
amended by the subcommittee. 1t was held
as greatly significant that the finance COM
mlttee. meeting of which was called for
this morning. for the special object, it was
stated, of receiving the tariff bill from the
subcommittee, held only brief session of
few minutes and adjourned without taking
any action and transacting any business, so
that Its democratic members might attend
the caucus This adjournment after the
promises made on Saturday that the bill
would be reported to the full committee to-
day is generally regarded as a victory for
the seven Senators representing the opposi-
ton TO the tariff BILL The program of the
friends of the measure was to get the bill
reported to the committee and in some way
start Ii on its final course before influence
could be brought to bear by the kickers in
the caucus. That they were unable to do
so is thought to indicate that the strength
of the opposition is much greater than was
first anticipated.
senator Voorhees, Statement.
The most important speech made in eau
Gus was by Senator Voorhees,. chairman Of
the finance committee, who made a State
In the bill and of the amendments that the
committee are willing to make to meet the
views of the dissatisfied element 1t Is
understood that he announced that they
were willing to give a duty Of so cents a
ton on COAL a cent q pound on raw sugar
and Is cents on refined sugar
Other speeches were made some by the
conservatives as they call themselves and
1t is understood Mr. Pugh of Alabama
made some vigorous and characteristics 1e-
marks about iron. which it is said the com
mittee acknowledged to have been left on
the free list.
There was considerable surprise at the
absence of Senator Hill from the caucus
as he has had so much to do with the for
nation of the bill in the Senate 1t was
announced by his friends during the after
noon, however, that he was III and could
not attend the caucus
The Committee in n Corner
The adjournment of the first caucus left
the impression that the objectors, who may
really be considered eight in number
Mr.. White of Louisiana being present now
nave the finance committee in such a cor
ner that some additional amendments Will
nave to be made to the bill to insure its safe
passage through the Senate.
Republicans and the Tarin.
The republican members of the Senate
committee on finance held a meeting this
morning after the adjournment of the COM
mittee meeting and talked over a method
of procedure on the tariff bill. 1t was de-
termined to have the bill read and consid-
cred in committee. The plan of the demo-
cratic members to have the bill Immediate
ly reported will be resisted with great viz
or. 1t has been suggested that the demo-
Gratis being In the majority could report the
bill without any difficulty over the opposi-
ton of the republicans. This matter was
discussed by the latter, and it was deter
mined that in case any attempts Should be
made to rush the bill through the
republicans would defeat it by refusing to
observe pairs in committee, and that as
long as Senators Harris and Vance are alb
sent the democrats would have but four
votes in committee.
1t was asserted that both Senators Nc
Pherson and Mills would not be allowed
to vote and whichever one appeared would
be recognized, but no proxy would be al
lowed for either Harris or Vance. The re-
publicans asserted their determination TO
have the bill read by paragraphs, and their
intent ton of Offering amendments and dis
cussing the changes that have been made
from the present law to the rates carried
in the bill.
Senator Jones of Nevada is the only re-
publican member of the committee absent
He is paired with Senator Vance. Senator
Harris is paired with Senator Merrill and
Senator Jones of Arkansas says that in
case Mr. Merrill does not recognize the pair
he has authority from Mr.. Harris to cast
his vote.
Brice and Vest.
Later developments concerning the caucus
OF this forenoon are to the effect that
there was more or less reference to an in
terview of Senator Brice. published in the
New York World yesterday, in which he
was quoted as saying that the tariff bill
to be presented to the Senate had been
shaped by three eX-rebel brigadiers, all
of whom were idealists, referring to Sena-
tors Jones, Mills and Vest. Mr.. Vest is
said to have spoken quite sharply In reply
TO this statement and Mr.. Brice to have
replied with no less feeling. Mr.. Brice
said that he was not complaining of the
wool schedule, but that he objected to the
general method of proceeding and that he
thought the party in the Senate should
have been consulted as such in the shaping
of the bill
The caucus resumed its sitting imme-
diately after the adjournment of the Sem
ate, few minutes past / o'clock
ArHRStRl In Rnl fiIlan