The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-08-08
THE CAUCUS
FRUITLESS.
No Action Taken at the Meeting
of House Democrats.
THERE is NO SURRENDER |!
Speaker Crisp and Chairman Wilson
Stay a Resolution in Favor of
the Senate Bill.
THERE IS NO SURRENDER [!

WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Chairman vii
son and his associate house tariff cOuferree.
hcored a victory yesterday when the house
Democratic caucus called with a view of
the tariff struggle by instruct
ing or advising the house Conferrees, ad.
iourned without taking any action. The
effect Of this was to leave the house con
ferrees to proceed as they saw best. The
friends Of Mr. Wilson could have passed
the Livingston resolution, expressing con.
fiSence, but there was no desire on the
part of the supporters of the conferrees to
take this course The sentiment was gen
eral that the movement inaugurated to
bring about an acceptance on the senate
bill had resulted in materially strength
ening the opposition to the senate bill.
The proceedings opened by the intro
duction Of a resolution by Mr.. Bynum
for q joint caucus of Democratic
senators and representatives on Friday
next in case the conferrees have not by
that time reached an agreement.
In his explanatory statement, which
was a brief one, Mr.. Bynum said that al.
though there had been clamor from al
part of the press for the house BILL he be.
lieved that the overwhelming sentiment
of the country was for the best possible
bill that could be agreed upon. For him.
self, he preferred the senate bill to no billlt
and as he interpreted the wish of the
party it was for tariff bill and prompt
action. He had no sympathy with the
stand taken by some members that il
would be better to retain the Mckinley
bill than substitute the senate bill for it.
Chairman Wilson commented upon il
as an unfortunate ci rcumstance that at
crucial point in the negotiations of the
conferrees, and at the last critical stage
of the conference as WELL movements had
been started to hold a caucus over the
heads of the house conferrees, so to speak
The house bill had seemed to be accepta
BILE to the country, he said, while the sen
ate bill had not. He believed that if the
house conferrees did their duty, and the
house its duty. that bill honorable foI
both house and senate and acceptable &c
the party and the people would be the re,
suit. Such a result would not be brought
about, he said, by any action that would
notify the senate that if it would hold out
to a given date the house would instruct
its conferrees to recede.
Mr., Livingston (Ga) proposed a sub
stitute for the Byuum resolution express
ing the confidence of the house in its con
ferrees and leaving the matter entirely in
their hands. Then followed discussion
of the position held by the senate and the
prospects of an agreement Mr.. Breckin
ridge, of the ways and means committee
rose to correct the impression which
might be maintained, he said, if not cor,
rected, that any ultimatum from the sen.
ate had been received by the house con.
ferrees and opposed by them.
One of the Louisiana mem bers argued
that speedy action was necessary; that il
was plain the senate would not yield, and
proceeded to pay a high tribute to Senator
Mills as Il pioneer in tariff reform, and
said that this conspicuous tariff reformel
had personally assured him that it was
the senate bill or nothing and unless the
house soon recognized this all tariff legis.
lation would fail
Mr.. Cooper Qnd.) said senators around
Mr.. Mills had been trying to create the
impression that nothing but the senate
bill could pass, and that this might have
its effect on Mr.. Mills. These claims
were being made by the senators under
cover. Mr.. Cooper said that now that the
American people had been informed OF
these senators they had been publicly pill
lioried. They would have surrendered al
ready, he said, if the caucus movements
had not given them hope that the hOus,
was weakening.
During this discussion Mr.. Bynum of
fered to amend his resolution to extenC
the time within which it was designed t
being about action by the conferrees,
Something Of a sensation was stirred by
the forging to the front of Speaker CrisI
when the general debate was well unde
way. The speech of the speaker was ten
perate, but very forcible, and its logic wal
so irresistible that at its conclusion Mr.
Bynum, the author of the resolution
withdrew his motion. The speaker de
clared that it was and should be the pur
pose of the Democrats of the house, a
Democrats, to redeem the pledges they
had made to the people He deprecated
the passage of any resolution at this time
The senate had not withdrawn its support
from the senate conferrees, and the hous'
should stand by its representatives. NJ
vote Of confidence was needed, while OF
the other hand the passage of Mr.. By
NUNS resolution would be virtual sur
render He gave it as his opinion that thu
conferrees could reach an agreement il
a couple Of weeks at most, but they should
not be harassed by back fire" from theil
own house.
The proposition for joint caucus of thu
house and senate in case no agreemen
was reached, the speaker characterized a
an abandonment. Pass a resolution t
that effect, said he, and you serve notic
on the senate that you want to treat witt
them II you do that you might as wei
hold joint caucus tomorrow.
Mr., Bynum suggested that he would b.
glad to withdraw his resolution if Mr.
Wilson would rise and say that an agree
ment was in sight Mr.. Wilson gave II,
apparent recognition to Mr.. Bynum Tn
action of the chairman excited no littl
comment, as it was taken to mean decll
nation TO have any controversy witt
l Mr.. BYnum Inquiries were made re