Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-26

s,yd that ne did not consider that those
pIedees hound the Senate after the bill
got out of the Senate and into confer
ence.
This reply irritated Mr.. Smith. who re-
torted that that sort OF "Mugwump logic
might be effectual In some places. put
IL would not DO In a caucus where men
pledged Themselves TO stand by a mea-
sure. The men who entered that caucus.
Mr.. Smith insisted, we've as much bound
to stand by their bill In conference as
they were in the Senate. and then he re-
iterated his threat that II that sort OF
argument was to prevail, the Dill was
dead then and there. and would never get
back into conference. THE men VINO
opposed your income-tax, said MT.
Smith. but who finally yielded under the
Influence of pledges made here In this
room, will not submit to 1t. and l want
to say again that attempt TO make tne
changes suggested means motion 10 IN
definitely postpone the conference report
in the Senate. II such a motion should
be made on the Democratic side OF the
chamber. 1t will prevail
THE BILLS peril.
In the further discussion participated IN
by Messrs Vest, Smith, and Brice. II
was shown Mr.. Villas, as these gentlemen
viewed the situation. that the Dill was
weaker to-day than 1t was when II passed
the senate by its very small majority:
without our own votes for the Dill
counted" said one senator, addressing
Mr.. Villas. there are to-day but forty
two votes solid for the bill which Is now
on the Vice-Presidents table, and yet
YOU propose to push a motion that must.
that will, inevitably. drive from us more
Of our own votes" This was intended,
as one senator who described the situa'
ton said, to refer 10 Messrs. Murphy ana
Irby both of whom declined to enter the
caucus. and who are looked upon as at
least lukewarm in their friendship FOR the
bill.
The coal and iron schedules were again
brought up. but they did not cut much
figure in the debate. which ragged princi-
palIy over sugar. There was Q hint that
IL would be wise for the Senate TO reduce
the duty on coal and iron. but MIR. Pugh
at once took issue with this suggestion,
and reiterated what he said yesterday,
telling the caucus that II those two mat
ters were touched neither he nor his
colleague would vote for the bill.
VILAS'S ULTIMATUM.
Finally, as the hour OF o'clock APP
preached, Senator Villas was continually
pushed for an answer to the one ques-
ton which was in the minds of the Demo-
cratic senators present. He said that he
had become possessed of good deal or
information that was new to him. lie dld
not want 10 defeat the bill. he said. lie
was earnestly in favor of passing n bill
as soon as possible and ending the trouble,
and giving the country rest and quiet. He
said that he would take the matter under
cayeful advisement, and would decide 1t
infhis own mind in the morning
A senator who described the situation
said that Mr.. Vilas's manner and the way
he spoke indicated that he was i'm
pressed with the statements that had
been made, and knew that If he pressed
his motion he was opening the door Tor
defeat. The senator said the impression
the rest of the caucus got was that Mr..
Villas would confer with the President.
and be guided by what he advised. by
unanimous consent, the resolution that
the bill be sent back TO conference
without instructions was agreed TO, anu
the caucus adjourned.
IL is the programme to have this done
tomorrow. A prominent senator who
took an active part in to-day's caucus
said tonight that the result meant the
Senate bill. The sugar schedule may be
changed in its language, so as TO make
the specific duty give refined sugar an
ad valorem rate. but If this was done. he
said 1t would be the equivalent OF a spe-
cihc rate, and would not jeopardize the
bill.
COAL AND IRON.
Coal and iron-ore will not be changed.
and the indications, indeed. are. 1t was
said In the caucus to-day, that 1t was
known that the House would ultimately
yield, and accept the Senate bill, with
some notifications.
Among the reports current In the House
| to-day WAS one that the Democratic
| leaders Of the House and Senate had
| agreed to bring in a joint resolution within
| the next twenty-four or forty-eight hours
| adjourning Congress on Saturday, August
| ith. THIS, It VAS said, would result ir
| expediting the work on the tariH bill
| so that whatever might be agreed upon
! by the conferrees must necessarily be
passed within the next few days. The
story found many believers. but careful
inquiry failed to discover any leader OF
the House who would acknowledge It's
| correctness. There Is apparently nc
doubt, however that the House Is Will
ing TO accept any fair report on The
tariff bill which may come from confer
| ence.