The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-05
The POPULISTS.
Counted Upon BY the Demo-
Gratis in the Tariff Battle.
Mills States His Position-Not Likely
to Be on the Finance Committee.

WASHINGTON, May Notwithstanding
che truce agreed upon between the Demo
cratic and Republican senator's. whereby
IL was arranged that hostilities on the
tariff should cease until next Tuesday,
there has not been a day when there has
been bolder talk and stronger protesta-
tions ON the respective sides of the cham
Der than yesterday.
While the Republican senators have
allowed the Democrats to infer that when
the amendments are publicly announced
and the assurance of vote sufficient to
pass the bill is given they will yield to the
majority, they assert privately that they
know that the necessary votes cannot be
obtained and declare that the Democrats
in the senate are gradually approaching
more serious trouble than they have yet
encountered, and in making this state
ment they assert that Senator'S Murphy
and Smith are as oubtful as is Senator
Hill in the support of the bill as il is TO be
amended. IL is asserted that Senator
Smith only cast his vote for the German
resolution In the Democratic caucus upon
the assurance that the resolution was not
binding.
Looking Toward Populists.
confidence in the success of the bill.
Senator Faulkner says that the bill will
become "a law before June 10, and that
congress will adjourn by July A. Other
Democratic senators declare the tariff
bill will pass the senate before June l.
More than one asserted that both Sena-
tors Murphy and Smith had given as
surance of support.
II ia noticanhia hawava- tl,ot .o,,,a n ~
the Democratic senators are canvassing
the probabilities of securing the Populist
vote in the senate. and they say that SEN
ators Allen and Kyle will vote for the
bill, so that they can lose Hill, Murphy
and Smith, il necessary, and still have the
requisite 43 votes.
The program Of the Democratic man.
ayers is to introduce tariff amendments
on Monday have them taken up in the
full committee on finance on Tuesday and
reported TO the senate, so as to continue
the debate after that date. In the mean
time they will proceed with their work of
clearing up the executive calendar. While
In the committee rooms, they will arrange
for the renewal of the battle, which they
will try to carry by cavalry charge, il
the Republicans do not make definite
terms with them.
How Mills Stands.
Senator Mills. who was not at the eau
Gus, was asked if his absence had any
significance, and said it had none. He
said: ''If l had been there. would prob
ably have talked against concessions and
then taken my medicine like the rest of
them, and agreed to vote for the bill. I
realize that we are in the hands of a half
dozen senators who can defeat the DILL il
they do not get what they want. Since
the bill was first made concessions have
been going on, and instead of cutting
down, rs l desired should be done. they
have been going up and we cannot tell
where they will end"
lie was asked why they did not arrange
the differences in some way and get down
to work.
That is what they are trying to do.
They hope that this matter can be ar
ranged after while and the discussion
of the bill proceed. The country is i'm
patient of delay. They were when the
silver repeal bill was pending. A great
many did not believe the repeal would do
any good. but they wanted the matter
settled. know something about public
opinion, and know that the people re-
becoming very much disgusted"
Speaking Of the work of the finance
committee Senator Mills said he had no |
wish to serve, and served temporarily be-
cause other mem bers were sick. He de- |
clared he would not serve permanently |
upon the committee because he was not |
in accord with the views of the COM |
mittee.
Senator Mills has been regarded as the
person who should succeed the late Sena-
tor Vance az member of the finance
committee, but his words indicate that he
will not
The Docking OF Salaries.
Congressional salaries for the month of
April became due yesterday, SO that
members had their first experience with
the new procedure of docking for
absentseism.
Up TO Thursday night 2i3 mem bers had
filed their certificates, showing the
number of days. II any, they had been
absent. Yesterday about 80 more certid.
Gates were put in. leaving about 100 un-
accounted for
z In the certificate, thus far received. six
days is the greatest number of absent
days admitted by any member. The
"dockage" for this at $l369s dav ia
Ss2.1 10. The great majority of the mem
bers certify that they have not been alb
sent at all, and the most of those who
certify absence limit the period TO one or
two days. AT this rate the total dedue.
tions will be small
Congressman are showing much un-
easiness In making out the certificates. as
there is nothing beyond their word of
honor 70 show how many days they have
been absent. They feel reluctant TO sur.
render part of their salary, and vet are
bound in honor TO report the DAYS for
which reductions are 10 be made. The
only excuse recognized by law is sickness.
Speaker Crisp and Sergeant-at-Arms
bnow are not going back of the face of the
teturns made by each member.