Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-07
THOSE POPGUN BILLS
Senator Blackburn Tells of an Agreement
That Was Not Kept
He Will, However. Endeavor to Pass
Has to Change the Rules.

Senator Blackburn of Kentucky is quoted
in the New York World today as making a
statement relative TO an agreement reached
between the House and Senate democratic
leaders which would indicate the probability
of an effort to pass the popgun tariff bills
through the Senate at the coming short
session Of Congress. Senator Blackburn's
statement is as follows:
when the second conference was on, and
the outlook for the bill was far from re-
assuring, I went to see Gen. Catchings of
Mississippi by authority OF six representa-
tive Senators. These were Senators Cock
rell Of Missouri, Jones Of Arkansas, Gray
OF Delaware. Harris Of Tennessee, German
of Maryland. and Brice Of Ohio. I was au-
thorized to negotiate with the House lead
ers and see what could do toward bring
ing about action looking to the passage of
some kind OF tariff bill. This was when It
seemed as IL no satisfactory compromise
would be reached between the conferees Of
both houses. The six Senators waited In
the room Of the committee on appropria-
tons for my return. This was Saturday
afternoon, August IL.
Gen. Catchiags took me to the room Of
the committee on rivers and harbors, and
after some conference and consultation he
told me to wait there until he could COM
municate with Speaker Crisp. He soon re-
discussion the terms of an agreement which
would be satisfactory to both sides mere
reached This agreement was in effect that
II the House leaders would agree to accept
would try to pass separate bills providing
Tor free sugar, free coal and free iron. The
House. however. was to introduce and pa
these bills first, and then we in the Senate
were to try to put them through in short
order. L returned TO the room of the Senate
committee on appropriations and reported
TO the waiting Senators the terms on which
an agreement could be reached, and they
autnorlzed me 10 close the arrangement
Senator Jones of Arkansas was not present
having been called out by 'Clif' Breckin-
ridge short time before 1 returned
tnereupon made an appointment with
Gen: Catchings to meet him at his house on
- street on Sunday morning following at
III O'Clock, when the preliminary matters
would be talked over again and 1 could
state the latest Instructions I had received
from the six Senators. Gen. Catchings and
met on Sunday morning and we came TO
the following agreement:
In the democratic caucus the next morn
ing the House was to accept the Senate
b.ii as II had passed that body They were
men to send In separate bills providing
Tor free sugar. free coal and free iron. 1
told Gen. Catchings distinctly that Sena-
tors German and Brice would not favor
iree coal and iron. but that the other SEN
ators that represented. as well as myself.
so1sa 90 our utmost 70 get a vote on free
ccai ana free iron before the Senate a.
Journed. but I could not undertake. to saw
that We would be successful 1 did agree
however to pass a free sugar bill through
the senate. and Tad the Cooperation of
the six Senators above named on this FREE
sugar proposition.
MY only complaint in the matter is that
wnen the Murphy resolution came up in
the senate four or five days later declar-
ing tnat is was inexpedient to have any
Iurther tariff legislation. not ali OF the six
senators stood by me. nor did ali OF the
9emocrats In the Senate. I felt that every
democrat In the Senate was in duty hound
20 see that We carried out our agreement
with the House people"
Senator blackburn is further quoted as
SAYING tnat ne will attempt to fulfill HIS
II Is necessary to change the rules OF the
senate TO do so. He promises to cali q
meeting OF the committee on rules some
time after the November elections