The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-26
SENATORS IN CAUCUS
May Send the Tariff Bill Back to
the Conference To-Day.
After Two Days Session the Demo-
cratic Caucus AdjOurns Without a
Definite Understanding.
MIR. QUAY TAKES A HAND
Proposed Amendment to Recede
from the Sugar Schedule.
Senator Caffery Continues His Speech
and Warns His Colleagues Not
to Slight Louisiana.
MIR. QUAY TAKES A HAND

WASHINGTON. July 25.-The Senate will
accede to the request of the House for an
other conference on the tariff bill, and its
conferees will return to the meeting with
those of the House untrammeled by any
specific instructions whatever. This was
the conclusion of the Democratic senatorial
caucus. which adjourned sine die few
minutes after o'clock to-day, after a two
days sitting. While the caucus did not
commit itself to any definite line of policy
in so many words, the conferees feel, with
their Democratic colleagues that they un-
derstand what majority Of them DESIRE
and they believe this 10 be that they shall
stand substantially for the Senate bill. This
is not the individual preference of many,
nor perhaps of a majority of the Demo-
cratic Senators, but it represents the opin-
ion Of most Of them as expressed in the
caucus as to the only practical course open
to the Democrats, who think that the
present Congress must pass tariff bill of
some kind, whether it be what they prefer
or not. In other words, the result of the
caucus which has just closed is the re-
ascertaining of what was known when the
three days caucus closed last March-that
it is impracticable to pass any tariff bill
through the Senate which does not meet
the QeInd1fQS Oh the SO-Cdleu CONSERVATIVE
Senators and the Louisiana Senator's
1t became evident soon after the caucus
convened to-day that the resolution of Sen
ator Jarvis to send the bill back to con-
ference without instructions was the only
course open to the caucus The other prop
ositions presented were those of Senator
Villas and his friends, one of which pro-
vided for instructions to the Senate con-
ferees to recede from the one-eighth of
cent dfferential on refined sugar, without
any other change in the sugar schedule,
and the other to substitute for the present
tariff schedule dUty of 40 per cent ad
valorem without any differential, and that
of the conservatives to instruct the COM
mttee to stand by the Senate amendments.
Senator Villas and two other Senators OPP
posed the latter course, and conservative
Senators declared absolutely and emphat-
ically th-t they would not accept the Villas
proposition to recede from the differential,
even though the ad valorem should be in
creased to 40 per cent. or any other sum
within reason.
WANTS PROTECTION.
Senator Smith declared that such
change meant the shutting down of
the reineries in his State the throwing
of thousands of men out of employment
and a general disturbance of Industrial
conditions such as he could not contem-
plate with composure and would not
cept The Louisiana Senators indicated
willingness, as they had done yesterday,
TO accept the substitution of a 40 per cent.
duty straight. The proposition did not,
however, meet with general favor as the
wisest course to pursue, in view of the hos
tihty of the New Jersey Senator and those
who acted with him, and in view of the
fact that several Senator's who stated that
they agreed with Mr.. Villas in his opposi-
tion to the Sugar Trust, a matter OF
principle advised in favor of the cessation
of all efforts TO give formal Instructions
There have been a few secret confer
ences. from which so many conflicting
ports emanated, and it was apparent that
each Senator took away an understanding
to suit himself as TO what implied lnStruc-
tons the conferees We're under. Some felt
that the Senate bill would be adhered to,
and others that the main point of differ
ence the one-eighth of a cent per pound on
refined sugar, was to be eliminated and
perhaps new sugar schedule presented
| But from those Senators who have been
ging the bill the statement came
| with forceful emphasis that on the main
propositions on which the House differed
| sugar, coal and iron ore-there would be
no change from the Senate bill when it was
| returned from conference.
While Ii may be stated that the friends
| of the Senate bill, including the so-called
| conservative Senators, are somewhat more
hopeful a securing the retention of all the
senatorial amendments. they exhibit no
| small degree of uneasiness over the Sena-
| tor Villas attitude and are unquestionably
puzzled over the situation which his motion
instructing the Senate cOnferees to recede
| from the one-eighth differential on sugar
| creates. Pressure on TIE Senator for its
| withdrawal has been renewed. but ne does
| not say what he will do. but enough has
| been disclosed to show that before the mo-
ton is withdrawn or disposed Of, except
by being declared out of order or voted
| upon, some understanding must be reached
10 what the sugar schedule will be- SEN
4 atOr Villas. II is known is determined
| insist on keeping his motion to the front
and not to allow the bill. to be sent back
/ to conference without instructions until
| an understanding is reached that the con-
| ferees will strike out the one-eighth of a
| cent per pound on sugar.
| PROBABLY BE SENT BACK.
One thing which every one felt assured
of was that fOrty-three votes could not I've
counted on to send the bill back TO confer
| ence. The speeches to-day were generally
shorter than those Of yesterday, and were
| as a rule. devoted to advising a strenuous
| effort to secure party harmony on the basis
of bill which would receive the support OF
forty-three members of the Senate. Sena-
tor Villas spoke in general terms of the con-
stitutional right of the House to originate
| financial legislation. without denying the
concurrent right of the Senate. He sug-
gested that the House privilege in this re-
| spect could not be ignored with com
| placency or safety. He cautioned the eau
| Gus in strong terms to avoid all appear
| ance of favoring mOnopOlies i'm view OF the
| present feeling that subje I. Senators
| Smith, Blanchard and Caffery also made
| speeches of some length. Senator German
| devoted himself TO q verbal statement on
| the parliamentary status of the bill. Great
| earnestneSs was exhibited in the speeches
| of the New Jersey and Louisiana Senator's
| other Senators. a rule. spoke without
| any manifestation of feeling. and the meet
ing was, on the whole. far more pleasant
| than that Of yesterday. y vast majority
of those who participated in the caucus
came out when il adjourned with their
! faces wreathed in smiles. and most of them
| indicated by their actions that they be.
| lieVed they had inaugurated a line of pol.
| icy which would insure the passage of q
| tariff bill. Some OF them who would say
| nothing as 10 the proceedings of the eau.
| Gus. announced themselves as confident ot
| ultimate success of the bill
| The vote on the resolution TO send the bill
to conference again was not unanimous
| Senator Villas and a few others opposed
IL and practically stipulated that their par.
ticipatiOn In the caucus should not be con.
sidered as binding them 10 support the re-
port of the conference committee WheT
again presented.
the Populst Senators. Allen and Kyle
who have generally voted with the Demo
Gratis on the tariff bill, was alluded 10, anC
one of the Senators present stated that he
had been authorized by Senator Allen tC
say that he thought the bounty on sugal