The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-01
Victory Claimed by Members of the Fin
ance Committee Who Revised
the Wilson Bill.
BUT ONE VOTE WAS TAKEN
And that Was Against Placing
Iron Ore on the Dutiable List.
What Senator Brice and Others Say
About the Caucus-GOOd Results
Expected by Republicans.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S-The Demo-
cratic senatorial caucus on the tariff bill
is over and both sides are claiming to have
made progress for the interests they rep
resent. The outcome is in the nature of
a victory for the Democratic members of
the finance committee who prepared the
bill, as 1t was returned to them without
any instructions to make changes. Imme-
diately after the adjournment Of the eau
Gus, Senators German, Brice, Hill, Smith,
Murphy, Camden and one or two others
who have been known to be very much op
posed to the bill of the finance committee
as it was prepared by the committee held
consultation and their attitude was in
direct contrast with that Of members of
the finance committee.
During the three days which ended last
night while the tariff bill was being con-
sidered but one vote was taken, and that
but a few minutes before adjournment.
This was on a proposition to instruct the
finance committee to put iron ore on the
dutiable list without fixing any rate what
ever, and this was lost by a vote of 10 to
II. Senator Pugh, of Alabama, stated he
would not be bound by the action of the
caucus and reserved the right to support
his motion In the Senate. Several Senators
at once declared that ii would be useless
to take any more votes, because If Sena-
tors did not intend to abide by the action
of the caucus, it put an end to the power
Of the caucus Soon after this Senator
Voorhees,, chairman of the finance commit
tee, moved that the caucus adjourn to
meet at the call Of the chairman, with the
understanding that the finance committee
should continue its work on the bill and
report it as soon as possible. 1t is said
that Senator Brice passed the adjournment
resolution to Senator Voorhees, with a re-
quest that he would present It,
SENATOR BRICES VIEWS.
Senator Brice, who was one of the prime
movers in the caucus, and who, during its
sessions, has had as much to say in crit
icism of the bill as any other Senator, said
tonight that the result could not be con-
sidered in the light of a defeat for those
who were instrumental in bringing about
the caucus They went into it with not
more than one-quarter or one-thIrd of the
Democrats of the Senate in accord with
them, and came out on the only PROPOSE
ton under which there was any test, how
ever, about equally divided, and further
that the men who had called the caucus
adjourned it. The Ohio Senator claimed
in presenting to the committee the ideas
and wishes of individual Senators upon the
tariff. He believed it had been demon
strated to them that certain schedules in
the bill did not meet the approval of a
large number of Senators in a more i'm
pressive manner than could have been done
without the caucus. There had been a free
and full hearing for every Senator, and
that was a great deal more than many had
been able TO obtain. He said every Demo-
cratic Senator, between now and the time
when the bill is reported, will be accorded
a hearing by members of the finance COM
mittee.
While members of, the finance committee
are generally reticent, what they do say
and what their friends say indicates that
vindication of the bill which they have
prepared, and, instead of being instructed
by the caucus, they are free to present
such bill they think is best suited to
the principles of the party and the neces-
sites of the revenue. 1t Is claimed that
those that brought about the caucus ex-
committee to place a duty on wool, iron
ore and sugar, lumber, salt and a number
of other articles, and Increase the duty
on sugar and coal, ana yet upon the strong
1t is said that the caucus promoters en-
deavored TO have the members of the COM
mittee bind themselves to abide the result
OF the caucus. and yet the men most inter
ested in iron ore announced that they
would not abide the result when they Sus-
TALK WITH VOORHEES,.
Opinion seems to be divided as to whether
the committee will now make any changes.
The impression is that some changes of a
minor nature Will be made as well as some
concessions granted where the demands
have been apparently just, and where the
changes will not necessitate other changes
In the bill. These matters were brought
out in the conference which was held with
Senator Voorhees, while the Senate was in
session. At that time Senator Voorhees,
talked about sugar. He said his constitu-
entS might sustain him in voting a duty
on sugar because he felt toward Louisiana
as he did toward a neighbor, and the duty
would result in revenue, but they would
not sustain him in voting to give the Sugar
Trust any advantage over the producers.
He would like to grant some concessions
to the Louisiana Senators, but could not
make such concessions as they demanded.
This is regarded as the sentiment of the
caucus by those who were its promoters.
1t is thought that if the finance COMMITTEES
makes any changes in the bill they will be
almost entirely on the lines suggested by
Senator voorhees,.
The afternoon session of the caucus pre-
sented some interesting features. and al
though il was expected that there would be
more voting and not very much talk IL
turned out that II was devoted almost ex-
clusively to talk. Senator German made
the principal speech of the afternoon. II
was UlOAeIdlt anu IN tone.
Coal, iron and all manufactured prod
ucts he thought, should have some pro-
lection so that the party. would be sure
OF holding what ii had gained in the North.
He was opposed TO an extension of the ad
valorem system. and believed, as many
others believed, that better results would be
obtained by specific duties. Speaking for
his own State. he said it was one of the
great producing and manufacturing States
of the country. He did not ask more for il
than he was willing to concede TO other
states He believed that the bill as il
now stood Disseminated against his State
and he made this statement with no harsh
criticism upon those who had framed the
Wilson bill or the Senators who had
amended it, The bill. as il now stood dis.
crir1iuated i'm favor of New England indus.
tries against those Of the Middle States. He
and those who represented these States
felt that some changes should be made
and concessions granted to the men whose
Democracy could not be questioned anC
who felt that their States would suffer Il
the bill remained as il now stood.
Senator Ransom, Of North Carolina, spoke
at some length, and urged party harmony
Senator Jones. of the subcommittee. spoke
in an explanatory manner of the bill, Civ
ing many details of the measure He
thought il would be very poor policy tC
change the work of the committee radio
allv and said that if once begun thert
would be no end TO it. Senators Morgar
and Pugh spoke for iron ore. The former
made a very moderate speech, pointnG
out that free iron ore would mean the
Gripping OF growing and important in