Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-08-09
The CAUCUS ADJOURNS
Decides Not To Embarras IS
the ConferreeS.

raised by Instructions of aay Charu C.
ter from their democratic associates.
This action of the caucus was dis
appointing to its promoters, who had
hoped for a different resdt, whereby
speedy settlement of the matter IN
dispute between the two houses might
c reached.
Another disappointment awaited
those present, in that Mr.. Wilsol, the
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee, failed to inform the caucus
what progress the conferrees had
made; what propositions had been
made and rejected by the repres cnta-
tives of the two houses and when, in
his opinion, a report could be made.
Nor did Speaker Crisp. who spoke
at length, throw any light upon the
situation, for the most that he said
was that an agreement might be
reached at an early day, while he
dampened the spirits of those who are
pressing for an early adjournment by
saying that congress would remain In
session ninety days but that tariff
bill satisfactory to the country would
be passed.
A feature of the proceedings was a
statement made by Mr. Boatner, of
Louisiana. on the authority of Senator
Mills, of Tennessee, that the house
must recede from its objections to the
senate amendments and agree to them
II the passage of tariff bill is to be
expected.
The Characterization of this declara-
tion by Mr.. Cooper, of Indiana, as a
'hluff' seemed likely for a moment to
result in an acrimonious debate.
1t did not, however, so result, and
the entire proceedings We're character
lied by a spirit of harmony and good
feeling
Before the serious work of the eau
Gus began telegram was read from
the clerks desk announcing that Col
oates had carried Alabama by a ma
jority of 25,O00. This was greeted with
loud applause and put everybody in
good humor.
Mr. Holman, the chairman of the
caucus committee, presided The roll
call disclosed the presence of 1GS mem
bers, an unusually large number.
Mr.. Bynum, of Indiana, who was
the moving spirit in securing the eau
Gus said that as one of the democrats
who had been instrumental in secur-
ing the call. he desired to explain that
no reflection was intended on the
house conferrees, all of whom were
his friends, and in each of whom he
had the utmost confidence His pur-
pose in asking for the caucus was to
permit all the democrats in the house
to meet and confer as to the best In
terests of the country and of the dem
ocratic party. He explained at some
length the purpose of his resolution
and stated that 1t was desirable that
the democrats of the house should in
Nite the Senate conferrees to appear
before them at a subsequent caucus
in order that all the official represent
tiVes of the party in the city should
take part in such deliberations and as
sist In reaching q conclusion that
would meet the approval of both
houses.
Mr Bynum said that he knew that
part Of the people, represented by
great clamor in the press, demanded
the house bill But he knew also that
the people in his district favored the
best bill they could get and a prompt
settlement Of the present uncertainty
upon some bin. He was frank to say
he much preferred the senate bill to
no bin at all.
Representative W. L. Wilson. the
chairman Of the committee on ways
and means, was the next speaker. He
said he was glad of an opportunity to
meet the democrats in council, but
might not have selected this time for
the purpose. He did not consider II
fortunate, just at the time when the
situation was most critical-last week
and this week-that the call for n cau-
Gus should be held over the house con-
ferrees. AS far as Mr.. Bynum's reso-
luton was concerned, he said. II ex-
pressed exactly what the conferrees
had been doing and We're now doing.
referring to the merits of the two
measures Mr.. Wilson said that the
house bill had proved to be acceptable
to the people while the senate bill
apparently had not He appreciated
the necessity, he said, of the demo-
Gratis passing some bill, but it was not
desirable that the bill should he one
which put the democrats on the do
fensive. He expressed the opinion that
If necessary more than a month might
well be spent In reaching an auree-
ment upon a proper bill If the house
conferrees did their duty and the
house did its duty, he believed that a
bill would result, honorably alike to
the house and to the senate. But
this end, Mr.. Wilson assured the eau
''''' ''NiN iAotI III lli5 ODlIIIbIlt Db mas
tened by any action that would seem
to advise the senate conferrees that
If they would hold out for some
definite short period of time, that the
house conferrees would agree with
them.
In conclusion, Mr.. Wilson said that
this was the feeling of all the house
conferrees, and that they desired to
carry out the programme along the
line indicated. But he intimated that
If the present conferrees did not repre-
sent the wishes of a majority of the
house they would willingly give way
TO others.
Mr.. Wilson spoke with great earn
estness and much feeling, and his re-
marks We're greeted with applause
Mr.. Bland asked If it would not be
good thing for the committee on
ways and means to report a bill put
ting sugar on the free list. The sug-
gestion evoked a round of applause,
which was followed with laughter
when he continued: While the SEN
ate is considering that proposition, we
can take up bill to increase the in
come tax to hundred million dollars
"A year"