The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-08
GAME OF BLUFF
IN THE SENATE
lIr Cooper Declares the Body 10 BO The Pill
Ory Of Public Opinion
BYNUM'S PEACEFUL RESOLUTION


Many of the Representatives Willing
to Vote on the Senate BiIl-Others
Contend That the Country Is Clam
oring for Wilson's Unaltered Freak
Originally Sanctioned by the House.
WASHINGTON, Aug z
FIFTEEN minutes after tho house
H. adjourned this afternoon, that is
to say Mt o'clock. the Demo
Ii crat members began behind
closed doors the consideration of the
present critical state of the tariff bill.
The galleries and floors had been
cleared of all outsiders aud all the en-
frances were guarded by employees.
Naturally, the interest outside was
something intense in view of the i'm
portant matters which might or
might not be decided by those within !;
but waiting was unsatisfactory, and
gradually the crowd dwindled away
in the belief that the caucus would be
prolonged.
Promptly at o'clock, Mr.. Holman,
Of Indiana, the chairman Of the caucus,
called it to order. One hundred and
sizty-eight members We're present
Messrs Wilson aud McMiIlin, two of
the house conferrees. as well as Speaker
Crisp. were present.
MR. BYNUMs RESOLUTION
Mr.. Byuum offered the following
resolution and proceeded to ad iress the
caucus upon il:
Whereas House bin 1864 for the reduc-
tiOn of taxation and to provide revenue
for the government. passed the house on
the first day Of February and the senate on
the third day OF July, and was sent to con-
ference on the seventh day of July last;
and,
Whereas, The commercial interest of the
country has b en- held in suspense await
ing a final settlement of the question; and,
Whereas, The people of the whole coun-
try have, through the public press and by
petitions and memorials in both houses of
congress, demanded q speedy decision,
that the Industries may, asasoOn as pos
sble, be adjusted to the proposed changes;
and,
Whereas, Conteraes appointed by the
TWO houses to hold a full aud free confer
ence over the disagreeiug votes Of the two
houses have had the matters in dispute
under consideration for one month and
have failed to come to any agreement
whatever; and
Whereas, lhe house of representatives,
which, under the constitution Of the United
States. is clothed with the exclusive power
to originate bills raising revenue, and is
therefore clothed with the right to pass
upon all amen iments proposed by the SEN
ate freely and witAOut restraint; and
Whereas, The members Of the house OF
representatives have not avalled them
selves Of an opportunity to consider said
senate Amendments, OF any Of them which
right, under parliamentary law, is superior
to all others; and
Whereas, 1t is currently believed that
said coufcrees are unable to agree; there.
fore, be- it
Resolved That it is the sense of this
caucus that the Democratic conf eress OF
the house and senate should meet in q
spirit OF libsrality, to the end that the
two houses by mutual concessions may
agree upon q measure which will meet the
approval Of each.
SeconG-Tuat this caucus stands ad-
iourned until o'clock Friday, the 10th
instant, at which time, in case no agree
ment has been reached, it shall re.convene
to take such further action In the prem
ises as iC may deem necessary aud appro-
PIRATE: and the chairman OF the house
caucus is hereby authorized and directed
to invite the Democratic senators to meet
with the d mOcrats Of the house at that
time in JOINT caucus.
COUNTRY DEMANDS SETTLEMENT.
Mr.. Byuum approached the subject,
he said, in no spirit OF partisanshp .
or unfrienlliness to the conferrees.
The country demanded a speedy set.
Element of the tariff question; and h,
spoke for the people of the west and
northwest, He said he would vote for
any bill that might be reported, and
thought the senate bill much better
than no bill.
He was followed by Mr. Wilson,
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee. Mr. Wilson's remarks were OF
the most general character He spoka
of the embarrassmentg under whicl
the conferees had labored. He said thu
house mem bers realized the position o
the senatorial representatives. and tha
botn sides were meeting in spirit o.
harmony. He disappointed the caucus
however, by remaining silent as t.
what tho conferees had done or wha
they were liable to do.
Mr. Livingston, of Georgia, then Of.
fered substitute to the Bynum reso.
luton expressing confidence in tht
wisdom and patriotism of the conferee
and relegating the whole subject t,
| them.
Mr.. Bynum made point Of orde,
against the substitute. Mr.. Bynum in
sisted that he also had the fullest com
fidencs in the conferees, but he har
talked with senators in the las
twonty-four hours, who had assured
him that no bill could pass that bod,
but the senate bill What he wanted
was action of some sort
sENATE's GAME OF BLUFF
This started a storm OF protests from
every part of the chamber. Durini
the excitement Mr. Cooper, of Indiana
obtained the flocr ana in heated man
| uoI sdlu Iutb Jn6 b6udlulidl uouy wa
playing game of bluff; that the tn,
people were behind the Wilson bill
and that the senate was now in the pill
lory of public opinion.
The cnair decided against the poin
of order made by Mr.. Bynum agains
the Livingston substitute; and Mr.
Livingston then took the floor.
The Characterization of this declara
tion by Mr.. Cooper of Indiana, as
bluff seemed likely, for a moment
to result in an acrimonious debate. l
did not, however, so result. and tn
entire proceedings were characterized
by spirit of harmony and good feel
ing.
Before the serious work Of the eau
Gus began telegram was read from