The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-08-16
THE HOUSE HOLDS IT
Solution of the Tariff Middle
Rests With Them
THE FINAL STRUGGLE TO-DAY
The senate Is Waiting Until the House
Shall Have Had an Opportunity
to Express Itself.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12-This has
been anything but a day of rest for the
tariff leaders. They have been on the
90 from early morning until late TO-
night. Il has been day of conference
at the White house, at the private resi-
dences of the conferrees and at the ho-.
tells. Secretary Carlisle was with Pres
ident Cleveland throughout the after
noon. The senate and house conlerrees
made no effort TO get together. ana
they remain us wide apart as when
their meeting broke up Friday night.
The house conferrees were in consul
tation Informally most of the day,
though ut 10 time were they all to-
gether at once. Chairman ilson
spent the day with r. preventative
mandie hotel, and there was called
upon by the other conferrees. Mr.. Will
son did not see the president today.
The meetings of the house men were
brought about through an understand
ing among them as to line of action at
the caucus tomorrow and in the subse-
Quent prt ceedinps of the senate and
house. Tney reviewed the situation
from every possible standpoint and
prepared themselves for all emergen-
cies. AS one of them said tonight, 1t
was going over the field of battle and
learning the topography Of the Held
the night before great fight.
The House Holds the Key.
Speaker Crisp.h been asked to ex-
anime with care the precedents bearing
on the case, and it is understood that
Ill 10 tI,f,
as ex-speaker OF the house, is regarded
as one Of the best authorities on the
parliamentary law. From the EXAM
ination which has been made the con-
ferrees were fully satisfied that the
house had right to pass the senate
bill now or ut any time. This deter
mination went much fur her than has
heretofore been understood. |. was
that the house, having actual physical
possession of the tariff bill,
could pass it with the sem
ate amendmcn.s before Senator Hills
resolutions passed toinor. or after
the Hill resolution was defeated. They
recognized that there were some prece-
dents against this position, hut they
regarded the overwhelming furce OF
authority as with them, and they
therefore accepted as settled that the
house had supreme authority over the
bill without reference 10 what the sem
ate might do tomorrow or thereafter.
This conclusion was of the utmost i'm
portance in bearing OIL the action OF
the caucus tomorrow. 1t assured them
i'll the first place that there was no
need of precipitate action to-
ward accepting the senate bill
before Senator HilPs resolution
had passed. This resolution
could be taken up in the senate ut II
o'clock, and it had been feared at first
that the house caucus, which begins al
10 O'clock. will lie compelled 10 take
hasty action in accepting the senate
bill in order to prevent the house from
losing its opportunity to pass the sen
ate bill by the adoption of the Hill res
olution. 1T was agreed, however, tina
no such haste was necessary. On thu
contrary, it was felt that the house, il
having possession of the hill and par
liamentary right to pass il at any time
had everything to gain and nothing t
lose by deliberate action.
The House VIM Wait.
Under these circumstances it wa
deemed advisable to inform the hous
fully as to the situation and to explain
that preoi piiation in accepting the sen
ate Lii " oul gain nothing, while de
Iiberate action in waiting to see wha
the senate would do might accom- lisl
much good work. 1t was pointed on
in this connection that the house neet
be in no fear of the Hill resolution be
ing rushed through. Mr.. Wilson ant
his associates have some strong friend
in the senate, notably Senators Villas
Gray, Lindsay and others, who could
if the occasion required, insist on
very complete debate of the Hill reso
luton which might last fron
day to day. This the hous
conferrees regarded as assurin
them breathing spell and was making
it plain that the house need not rusl
to its conclusion. Entertaining thes
views, the house conierrees did nc
believe 1t was necessary or prudent TO
the house caucus tomorrow morning
at once pass resolution to accept til
senate bill. They realize that til
situation is so critical that the questio
of accepting the senate bill might com
before the caucus and develo
such overwhelming aud resisile
force that 1t would be useless
oppose it. They were prepared for th
emergency and were ready to accept
III III came. III was lei, uOWeNtIf III
dispussionate statement of the cas-
showing the house would lose none
its right to pass the senate bill by d
ferring action for day or so, woa
bring about conservative result in Il
caucus. Exactly what this action W
be Will not he definitely outlined,
though the house conferrees thought
would perhaps be for the caucus to a
iourn aud wait 10 see what the sena
did.
The Senate Is Waiting.
Meanwhile the senate Is acquesce
and disposed to remain in inactivi
until the house shall have had an o
portunity to express itself upon I
situation. There is undoubtedly {
sire on the part of the large majority
the democratic senators, practicp
all Of them, unless 1t may be the Lou
lana senators, to have the house IL
possession of the bill. This is due
the general belief in the senate Il
the house will accept the sen:
amendments and that the
will thus become law, a
thew fear If the bill sho,
again go to the senate it would he 10
postponed. On the other hand IL
BELOVED If the house should agree TO
senate amendments the senate VIC
acquiesce in this action and waive