New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-01
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBuSEl
Washington Feb. 2S-After three days OF
wrangling and thorough ventilation of all the
grievances felt by Democratic Senator'S against
the Wilson Tariff bill the Senate caucus late this
afternoon abandoned the effort to reach an
agreemt nj through further discussion, and, after
one rather indecisive but highly significant vote.
concluded to return the bin to the Finance Com
mttee for further experiments in the way of re-
vision. The single vote taken Is understood to
have been on a proposition offered by Senator
Pugh to put iron ore on the dutiable list, ana
this motion was defeated only by the narrow
margin Of 10 against Il votes. As nine Senators
were absent from the caucus. Mr. Pugh de-
clined TO consider the result as binding, and in
the state Of demoralizatOn into which both the
Radical and the conservative" factions were
thrown by the revelation Of such dangerous
split in the party ranks both sides gladly
Yielded to a suggestion that the conferences be
SUSPENDED and the bill go back to the Finance
Committee for further consideration
Mr. Voorhees, made the motion to that effect,
intimaung at the same time that the Finance
Committee would consider the vote in the caucus
as a notice that the bill must be materially
altered TO secure harmonious party support. Mr.
German was empowered. meanwhile, to call
future caucus to consider the committees work
whenever it should be deemed eXpedient To-
DAYS action must be considered chiefly sig
niicant from the fact that strong an opposition
70 the committees bill developed on tho
free iron clause. which was populariy sup
posed 10 be acceptable to all but six or seven
protesting Senator's II seventeen votes could be
rallied for a proposition to put iron ore on the
dutiabe list it is more than likely that coal
and sugar would have been restored by decisive
majorities.
PRACTICAL DEFEAT FOR THE COMMITTEE.
The vote, though apparently a victory, was
therefore a signal defeat for the Finance Com
mittee. which cannot now escape the conclusion
that its bill has chance whatever of passage
in its present shape. but must be substantially
altered to meet the varied demands Of the Con-
servatyes" before it can be safely reported to the
senate. The committee will probably consume
several days in its additional work Of revision
before a new effort is made to secure a definite
agreement on the schedules still in dispute.
When the caucus adjourned last night all the
States had been called. and those Senator'S who
desired 70 speak had had the opportunity In
this call Alabama. California and Maryland
were passed over at the request Of the Senator's.
This morning Mr.. White. Of California. con-
sumed much time in a discussion Of the fruit
schedule and other items affecting the Pacific
slope, in the reduction Of which. he contended,
Mr. White had finished the hour for the con-
venlng of the Senate had arrived, and an ad-
journment was taken without anything of in
terest having occurred.
Although the conference was not to meet until
$50 in order to let Mr. Frye speak Hawaiian
affairs a great deal Of the caucus work was
prosecuted without regard to the session or the
Senate. The Democratic members or the
Finance Committee went at once to Mr.. Noor-
hees's room whe~e they followed by the
conservatives" Messrs. Hill. Murphy, Smith,
Brice. German. Caffery and White. of louisiana
A-further conference was held in this committee
room for nearly TWO hours. these gentlemen IN
sistng ;hat changes be made in the direction OF
increased duties on many ~ the schedules IN
which their constituents were interested. NO
conlpromises We're suggested by the committee,
but the promise made that the matters pre-
sented should receive careful attention. Mr.
Murphy also heard by the FINANCE Ioi-
mittee In behalf Of the collars and Guns IN
dustry Of his State. and Mr.. Murphy, as re-
suit If this conference, has hopes that the COM
,nittee will see its way clear 10 add largely 10
the duty fixed by the House bin on these aru-
CleS.
GORMAN PLEADS FOR HARMONY
Mr. German was among the first speakers at
the afternoon session. His speech was diplo-
matte in character. and was a strong plea Tor
Democrats to harmonize and get together. lie
said it was the duty of the Democratic party TO
!
that by making concessions good bill could ne
passed. To fail To pass II would be disas tIous 10
the party. and such a catastrophe Mr' poriIlan
said. must not be permitted. Mr.. German was
questioned closely by a number Of Senator's, and
in response said 1t was apparent that some
concessions must be made. Referring 10 tne IN
! come tax. Mr.. German expressed his bltter oppo-
sition to that tax He hoped II would be stricken
from the bill. but if it was nor, he said ne
would as he expressed it, swallow me thS dosy,
but assured his colleagues that it would be tht
'bitterest dose he had yet been compelled &c
| Th, subject Of ad valorem and specific duties
| came in for a share Of the discussion, the MEM
! hers Of the committee supporting their course IN
/ adopting the former while others criticised II
| some severely Mr.. Mills said that specihc duties
were un-Democratic.
"What." asked Mr.. Hill in surprise, do you
mean % say that specific duties are against the
/ Democratic dea?'
! Il do" rctosted Mr.. Mills.
what about the Mills bill" asked Mr.. Hill
That was full Of specific duties.
But the Mills bill was not Democratic meas
urc" was the answer Of Mr.. Mills.
Not a Democratic measure" CALCULATED Mr..
HILL This Is a decidedly late day 10 deny the
orthodoxy of that bill. The Democratic party in
convention In 1883. by separate resolution in.
dorsed that bill. which had not then passed the
House. and every tariff bill the Democrats nave
framed since the days OF the Walker tariff
abounded IN specific duties II is little late in
the day 10 deny that the Mills bill. was a Demo-
cratic measure.
NEW LEADER FROM OHIO.
Mr. Rrice made no speech to-day but took an
active part by asking questions and making sug-
eestions exhibiting combination OF statesman
ship and politics that commended itself even TO
those who did not agree with him.
Mr. Pugh made a speech for duty on iron
ORC and foretold what would occur TO the new
industries in Alabama II this was left on the
free list. -, - -.
some comment made on the heavy cut
made in the glass schedule. This schedule was
nmt deanv in the House and the Senate COM
mittee has still further reduced that duty by one
half. -.
| The metal schedule has also been reduced, but
| NOT 10 so great an extent Contrary to general
| renort whskey has been mentioned only in the
| most incidental aanner. and action sug-
! restel I'm any way. The internal revenue feat
| nres ~ the bill have been apparently lost sight
! Of The consensus OF opinion among Senators