St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-07
DEMOCRATS A2E WORRIED,
THREAT or The REPUBLICANS TO
PUSH BLAND'S BILL
MAY HASTEN TARIFF ACTION.

Busy Day in the Senate Finance
Committee Room A Report
That the Tariff Bill Went TO the
Printer and Will BE Ready for
the Senate Today-The Sugar
Schedule.
WASHINGTON, March 6-The Demo-
cratic members of the senate finance
committee adjourned a few minutes
after o'clock this afternoon. They
had been holding occasional sessions
during The day, going back and forth
between the senate chamber and the
committee room and appearing at no
time TO be very busy. All the appear
ances indicated when they adjourned
that they had concluded their labors,
but they refused to say that they had,
and were very evasive III their replies to
questions. Senator Voorhees, said that
he had called no meeting Of the full
committee, but none of the members
would say positively that no meet
ing would he held tomorrow, or
that the bin would not be re-
ported ar that time. A circum-
stance which confirms the opinion that
the committee has completed its pre-
lininary work was found in the fact
that the bill which ii has been engaged
upon was sent to the printer a short
time before the Democratic members of
the committee left the capitol for their
homes this afternoon. 1t is understood
that the threat Of the Republicans to
unite upon the Bland seigniorage bill,
and, II possible, force its consideration
IN The senate and provoke a long debate
upon ii, has had the effect OF fastening
the action Of the committee, and pos
slDly OF bringing about an understand
ing The committee al first considered
this threat very seriously, and it has at
least had the effect of indicating the
probability of diverting the attention of
the senate from the tariff. and thus in
Juring the prospects of an early consid-
Grafton OF that question. Their dis
cussions up TO the last moment before
they sent their bill to the printer were
based upon
THE SUGAR QUESTION,
and 1t is known that these discussions
have within the past day or two mar
rowed TO the question of what, if any.
increase they would give upon refined
sugar over raw. Ever since the caucus
adjourned it has been the understand
Ing among the members that raw sugar
was II be taken care Of in the interest
Of the planters. and to satisfy the Louis
lana senators, if they could be per.
suaded to accept rate which the com.
mlttee would consider reasonable: but
they soon discovered that the interests
Of the planters and the refners were
closely allied, and that TO satisfy both it
would probably be necessary TO do more
Tor the refners than the raw sugar men.
The former have held out stiflv for a
substantial difference, and the commit
tee has held back, willing, it is UNDER
stood, TO make a slight increase, bur not
all that the Tefne:s demanded. The
sugar duty advocates profess ignorance
tonight of what, if anything. has been
done in their behalf. and it appears
probable that if the committee has
really completed its work il has decided
upon a schedule of prices, and deter
mined to submit it without further sub.
mission TO those interested.
II develops that the concerted action
of the Republican senators in their
effort to lake up the Bland seigniorage
bill al this time, with the purpose of
displacing The tariff bill, is the result of
a conference held by the advisory CON-
mittee of the Republican senatorial
caucus. While the Republican sena-
tors, both favorable and adverse TO sill
yer, express themselves as in favor Of
the movement, there is no great zeal
manifested on either side. Neither the
free coinage Republicans nor the
ANTI-sILvER SENATORS
care much for the Bland seigniorage
bill as such. Of course, the anti-siIyer
Republicans would oppose the bill, and
If they support it now or appear TO do
so, their only motive is to stand off The
tariff bill. The silver men do not con-
slider that the passage of the bill would
nave any influence whatever In behalf
OF silver, except 10 get this bullion out
OF the treasury. They will support it
with this purpose in view, and with
the hope of getting a free coiuage
amendment appended to the bill. which
they may do by getting Democratic
votes Tor the amendment. The silver
hFpubllcans are more or less divided
as to the course 10 pursue with refer
ence to the tariff. Several of them have
said that. while they would vote against
the tariff bill, they will do nothing 10
delay its consideration. The majority
Of them, however. would exert them.
selves TO the utmost III the interest of
silver, and If II becomes apparent that
they can accomplish anything for sill
yer, Of course would enter earnestly
into the fight. The Democratic mem
beIs Of the finance committee are eyi-
IDENTIFY puzzled and annoyed at the an
nounced determination of the Republi-
cans TO try to take up the Bland bill.
and concede that if Seuator Stewards
motion should prevail it would delay
the tariff bill indefinitely. They have
not yet agreed upon policy with refer
ence TO this movement, but there is
good reason for believing that Senator
Faulkner's objection to the considera-
ton Of the motion today was inspired
by the Democratic members of the
finance committee. His objection fol-
lows very closely upon a conference
which he held with them upon this sub
jeet.