Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-04
The Tariff Bill.

The democratic caucus in Washing
ton yesterday practically decided that
the tariff bill, as amended by the sugar
and lead trusts, will be put to speedy
passage. 1t would not be surprising if
the Senate disposed Of the bill by June
1. Yesterdays caucus shows that forty
three votes can be assuredly counted
upon for the bill.
BY vote of 81 to (N1r. HilD, six Of
the forty-four democrats being absent,
the caucus adopted a resolution agree
ing to support the tariff bill of the
finance committee, including the COM
promise amendments that have been
agreed upon by the many conferences
of democratic Senators during the past
two weeks. The resolution was pre-
sented by Senator German, of Mary
land, the chairman OF the caucus, and
discussed at some length, as the session
lasted from few minutes after four
O'Clock until nearly seven o'clock. The
six absent Senators were Mills, Muir
ply, Lindsay, Irhy, Butler and Gibson.
II was claimed that they were ali ac-
counted for, and assurances were given
that they would support the tariff bill.
The only persons in whose absence
there might be any significance ale
Senators Murphy and Mills, the under
standing being that all others were in
accord with any bill supported by the
majority OF the democratic Senators.
Senator Mills was not at the Senate
during the day, and the call for the
caucas was sent to his house. 1t is be-
lieved that he has some objections to
the concessions that have been made,
but he has previously announced that
ne would support any bill that provid-
ed for reductions in the present
law. Senator Murphy's caucas no.
tice was also sent to his residence,
as he was absent from the Capitol.
His position has all along been one of
doubt, but several democratic Senators
assert that he will support the bill, and
he is counted in the forty-threo which
are claimed as certain to vote in favor
of the bill. The other absentees are
either out of the city or failed to secure
notice in time. None of them have
been counted as against the bill, and it
was said that they would endorse the
action Of the caucus.
In presenting the resolution and stat
ing the object of the caucus Senator
German made q conciliatory speech.
He said it was necessary to make con-
cessions in order TO secure the united
support of the party and he further as
serted that it would need democratic
majority to pass the bill. He stated
that concessions had been made on all
sides, and it was believed that the
measure with the proposed amend
ments would now meet with the sup
port which was absolutely necessary to
pass democratic tariff bill.
Senator Hill was not placated. He
spoke only a short time, but it was
long enough for him to convince the
caucus that his vote would not be for
the bill if the income tax remained in
it. He said his position was we'll
known; he had made his statement be-
fore the country, and there was moth
ing to add to what he had said. What
ever the so-called concessions might be
they could not compensate for rider
in the bill, which neither the needs of
the country nor the party demanded.
Without saying so in direct terms,
there were none who listened to him
who believed that he would support
the bill.