The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-14
Resolution introduced by Speaker Crisp
Providing for a Breakdown and Adop-
tiOn of Several Free-Trade Bills.
PASSED BYA VOTE OF 13OTO 26
What Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. McMil-
lin Said After the Caucus.
Statement Showing the Average Ad
ValOrem Duties Under the Mckinley
Law and the Senate Bill.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s-By vote OF
13O to 26 the House Democrats to-day de-
cided 20 accept the Senate tariff bill.
There were about 40 Democratic men,
bers present when the caucus convened,
although all did not answer to their names.
First, Chairman Holman recognized Mr..
Wilson, chairman Of the ways and means
committee, whose voice was SO weak as
he began that the members all crowded
around him. In accord with the un-
derstanding of the last caucus. he began.
and in accord with their duty,
as the conferees understood it, the
conferees of the House had called
for this caucus to state the con-
dition of affairs plainly in view of the de-
veloDments of the last week. All that had
been done in conference had been merely
tentative, so that there had been nothing
definite TO report at any time. No confer
ence comr ttee had ever worked harder
to secure agreement. The House con-
ferees had not insisted upon the House
bill on hard and fast lines at any time;
they had known that such an insistence
would have been impracticable. and had
always stood ready to make such reasona-
BILE concessions as would enable them TO
secure tariff reform bill which the House
would justify them in approving. Up TO,
and at the time of the last caucus, the
prospects for such a bill were bright, he
said.
At this point Mr. Wilson went into de-
tails regarding the compromise sugar
schedule answering many questions. He
placed the blame for disagreement on the
Senator's. One member inquired whether
any bill but the Senate bill could be OBJ
tanned this session. and Mr.. Wilson an
swered that he saw but one other plan.
Regarding the protection given 70 the
Sugar Trust by the Senate bill Mr.. Wilson
said that the trust now had $12O,O0OOOO
worth of sugar, and even if il had but
Sl00.00O,00O worth it would make a profit
of s40,0O0,0o0 the minute the bill passed and
s6,Ooo,0O0 a year thereafter.
CRISP'S RESOLUTION.
Speaker Crisp declared that he had be-
lieved that the House should continue the
fight so long as there was even a desper-
ate hope of even partial success. The House
bill with Senate amendments was infinitely
better than no bill and much better than
the Mckinley bill. The Speaker said it was
out of the question to adjourn with no bill.
and offered the following resolution:
Resolved That it is the sense of the eau
Gus that the order heretofore made request
ing conference with the Senate on the
III.
r. 4s9 be rescinded that the conferees here
tofore appointed on the part of the House
be discharged from further duty in that be-
half and that the House recede from it's
disagreement to the Senate amendments 10
said bill and agree TO the same.
Resolved, Further that the House shall
ate bills placing the following articles on
the free list: Sugar in all its forms, iron
ore. coal and barbed wire"
The committee on rules is requested to re-
port an order providing for the prompt
consideration of such motion and bills. A
great burst Of applause greeted the reading
of the resolution, but half dozen irate
Democrats were on their feet demanding
recognition, prominent among them being
Burke Cochran. of New York. Owing TO
the lateness of the hour a rule was adopt
ed limiting further speeches TO five min
utes. Then Mr.. Cochran, being recognized.
delivered vigorous and eloquent speech
against surrendering to the Senate. Bet
biil," he said. He made an eloquent appeal
to the House not TO surrender at the dicta-
ceived with cat-calls and Inquiries about
the New York Senator, TO which he replied
that he repudated the action of any SEN
ators who were responsible for such in
fanny.
After the previous question had been
voted for by 103 to q. and while the LOU
isiana members were fighting for recog-
milton. Mr.. Wilson urged that the caucus
should not take action to-day or hastily.
of the House. He appealed for hearing
for the Louisiana members, saying that
although he believed the duty should be
swept from refined sugar Congress should
consider the circumstances under which the
Louisiana agriculturists were placed.
Then Mr.. McMillin. OF the ways and
means committee, said that the Senate bill
was much better than the Mckinley bill,
and as 1t was the only thing obtainable 1t
should be passed
Mr.. Robertson, OF Louisiana, spoke in de-
fense of the Louisiana Senators. relating
how their votes had been cast to sustain
the Senate bill.
The vote upon the first half OF the reso-
luton was 130 to 26. while there was no di-
vision the second part. The negative
vote on the first half Of the resolution was
as follows. Representatives Cochran, Ca
ruth, Breckenridge of Arkansas, Robertson,
Price Boatner. Meyer, Davey, Ogden,
Stone of Kentucky. Strauss, Covert, Tars-
ney Tracey Johnson of Ohio, Bartholdt,
Barnes of Wisconsin. Warner, Dunphy,
Cummings, Everett Coombs, Talbot. Ray
ner, Rusk, Mckaig.
Representative Tucker. OF Virginia, then
offered a resolution thanking and commend
ing the House conferees for their toll and
service. This was adopted with a shout OF
approval and the caucus adjourned.