The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-25
HILL WASN'T There.
TheDemOcrats Discuss theTariff
Situation in Caucus.
Senators Hill, Murphy and Irby
Were All Absent.
AT LOSS WHAT TO DO.
They Claim to be Anxious to
Pass the Bill

WAsHIH6ToN. July s5.-The Demo
Gratis of the senate yesterday decided
to retire behind closed doors for the
purpose of settling their differen noes
on the tariff and trying 10 reach an
amicable understanding A progra N
was arranged for caucus. and ac-
cordinQly at oplocx the senate adj
5ourned and the Democratic mem bers
walked into the marble roOom and
closed the doors Senators Hill,
Murphy and Irby were the only Dem
Ocrats present at the capitol who did
not respond to the caucus call Sena-
tor Hill was not notified of the inten-
ton to hold a caucus until the last
minute and then declined to enter il
because Of his attitude on the bill.
Senator Irby left the capitol W ithout
giving any explanation of his abb
sence- Senator Murphy went away
pleading an engagement
The caucus continued for three
hours. and, without reaching any con
clusion or taking a vote on any propo-
sition, adjourned until to-day at 3
o'clock, when another meeting will be
held
The discussion OF some points was
very warm. and especially just before
was speaking. Several senators in
terrupted him with questions. and
criticised the course he was pursuing
in the senate. This called forth
equally tart replies from the Wiscon-
sin senator. and there was a prospect
OF the ebate becoming more personal
when. upon the suggestion of Senator
German. the adj tournament took place
The caucus merely served to
emphasize the two facts that the
Democratic senators arc all anxious
to pass a tariff bill and that there are
still wide differences as to the kind
Of bill they can pass. I
It was recognized from the begin
ming that Senator Villas motion to
strike out the difcrential duty on
sugar occupied most important
position in the present controversy
and several senators intimated that
until there could be assurances of its
Withdrawal no conclusion could be
reached in caucus
Senators blanchard and Gallery OF
Louisiana were both conspicuous in
the caucus proceedings Instead Of
showing any disposition 10 yield the
sugar diferentisAl- they asked that the
con ference com mittee be asked to re-
tain that feature and forty per cent
Ad valOrcm, and to add the one tenth
OF a cent additional on sugar imported
from countries paying a bounty on
sugar. and also 10 continue for this
year enough OF the bounty paid under
the Mckinley law on sugar grown in
this country to make the duty equal
to two cents per pound. Senator
blanchard said il the sugar schedule
was made less protective than at pres
ent then he would vote TO postpone
the bill indefinitely.
lie was called to task by another
senator. who told him it would be
better that he should make good his
explanation by his action in the senate
than IN caucus, or threat. to which
he replied that he would not fail to
show his devotion to his state in every
proper way in the senate. The Lou
isiana men also remind ed the caucus
Of the result OF the last conference OF
the kind and demanded that the
agreement then made be lived up to.
Almost every sc nator present made
brief addresses during the cont nu-
ance Of the caucus and Senator Villas
and the Louisianians were on their
was one Of the few who did not speak
Senator Smith s speech caused some
thing Of a sensation liz sa id that he
knew of four Democratic senators
who would vote against the bill If the
proposition of Mr.. Villas should pre-
vail
During the course OF the debate.
Senator Jones, re plying to an asser-
tion that had been made that the
senate was trying to cram its bill
down the throat Of the house, said
that without saying what had taken
place in conference upon the amend
ments agreed upon, the senate con-
ferrees had made more conces sions
than the house conferrees- The house.
had agreed to some amendments but
the senate had agreed to recede from
=~=s than the house