Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-26
Democratic Senators Agree to Send
the Bill Back.
NO INSTRUCTIONS 70 TIE CONFEREES
Earnest Speeches Made by Messrs.
- Smith, Villas and Others.
NEW IRON OSITION

Inc democrats OF the Senate are in a fair
way to get the gent hack in the bottle.
The caucus yesterday afternoon decided
after much discussion. that the democrats
should vote solidly to send the tariff bill
back to conference. and they hope to be
able to do this today. There were four
propositions before the caucus. One was to
instruct the Senate conferees to agree to
strike off the one-eighth differentiai duty
from refined sugar. leaving a nat duty
of forty per cent Another was a variation
of this proposition by increasing the fiat
duty to forty-fve per cent. The desire of
the so called conservatives was to instruct
the conferees. to adhSre to all the Senate
amendments. The last proposition, that
finally adopted and the only one that 1t was
believed would not surely defeat all legisla-
without instructions.
Would Not Accept Villas Proposition.
Conservative Senators declared absolutely
and emphatically that they would not &C
cept the Villas proposition to recede from
the difterential even though the ad valorem
should be increased 10 forty-five per cent
or any other sum within reason. Senator
Smith said that such a change meant the
shutting down of the refineries in his state
the throwing of thousands of men out OF
employment. and a general disturbance of
industrial conditions. such as he could not
contemplate with composure. and would not
accept.
The Louisiana Senst tors indicated a will
lingness. as they had done yesterday. to &C
cept the substitution of forty-five per cent
straightr The proposition did not, however,
meet with general favor as the wisest
course to pursue I'm view Of the hostility of
the New Jersey Senator aud those who acted
with him. and in view Of the fact that sew
eral Senators who stated that they agreed
With Mr.. Villas i'm his opposition to the sugar
trust, as a matter OF principle. advised in
favor Of the cessation Of all efforts to give
formal instructions.
CenAfctinG Reports.
There have been few secret conferences
from which SO many conflicting reports
emanated; and IL was apparent that each
Senator took away an understanding to
suit himself as to what implied instructions
the conferees were under. Some felt that
the Senate bill would be adhered to, and
others that the main point Of difference the
is of a cent differential per pound on re-
fined sugar. was to be eliminated, and per-
faps new sugar schedule presented. But
from those Senator'S who have been man.
aging the bill the statement came with
forceful emphasis that upon the main propo-
sitions upon which the houses differed
sugar. coal and iron ore-thcre would be no
change from the Sefiste pill when IL was
returned from conference. One thing which
everyone felt assured of was that forty
three votes be counted on to send the bill
back to conference. The speeches We're as
rule devoted TO advising a strenuous eff
tort to secure party harmony on the basis
OF a bill which would receive the support
of forty-three members of the Senate Sem
ator Villas spoke in general terms OF the
constitutional right of the House to origin
ate revenue bills. and without denying the
concurrent right of the Senate he suggest
ed that the House privilege in this respect
could not be ignored with complacency
safety. He also cautioned the caucus in
strong terms to avoid all appearance of
favoring monopolies I'm view Of the present
feeling on that subject.
The Speeches Made.
Senators Smith, Blanchard and Caffery
also made speeches OF some length. Senator
German devoted himself 10. a verbal state
ment of the parliamentary status Of the
bill. Great earnestness was exhibited in
the speeches of the New Jersey and Louisi-
ana Senators. Other Senator'S as a rule
spoke without any manifestation of feeling
The vote on the resolution to send the bill
to conference again was not unanimous
Senator Villas and a few others opposing il
and explicitly stipula ting that their partici-
patton IN the caucus should not be- con
sidered as binding them to support the con
ference committee when again presented
During the proceedings the attitude of the
popuist Senators Allen and Kyle who have
generally voted with the democrats on the
tariff ball. was alluded to- and one OF the
Senators present stated that he had been
authorized by Senator Allen to say that ne
thought the bounty o ght to be continued
for the present year. The suggestion was
not received with favor. and no action Was
taken indicating the probability of recon-
mending the adoption OF the suggestion.
Senators Hill. Murphy and Irby were alb
sent from the caucus.
New Proposition On Coal.
A new phase was given 70 the Discussion
on coal BY a proposition that the Senate
rate Of - cents a ton should stand. with a
proviso for admitting coal free from such
countries as make a reciprocity agreement
to admit coal from the United States free
This brought out considerable comment IA
vorabie to the proposition and Il was pointed
out that this would give the Canadian coal
free access to this country and vet compel
Canada to remit her present duty on thai
article. While no agreement was reached
the expressions were so generally fsvora bile
to the proposition that IL was regarded rs
one of the poiRts on which a common
ground of agreement In conference could he
reached. There was little discussion of iron
ore and nothing was done to change the
situation on that article.
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