The morning call., 1894-07-31


SENATE bill or none" has been repeated
during the day. but less frequently and
with less emphasis than heretofore. The
only explanation for the brief conference
to-day is the fact that the House confer
reeS feel the situation is changing in their
favor. There are many reasons advanced
that this statement has a good foundation.
1t is known that the mails and the tele-
graph are bringing to the Democratic Sen
ators urgent appeals to pass bill which
will not favor the trusts and which will
be in line with the demands of the party
platform. In fact these requests upon the
Senators are Endorsements of the position
OF the President and the House in the
main points of the difference. That these
kilograms are having effect cannot be
denied and they have caused the Senators
who are more insistent upon the Senate
bill as regards coal, iron ore and sugar no
little concern. The House members also
find considerable comfort in their analysis
of the speeches made by the Democratic
Senators when the conference agreement
was before the Senate, in which they find
that but one Democrat besides Hill made
any pledge of his vote and that was Senator
Caffery, who declared that if the LOuisi-
ana sugar interests were not protected be
would not vote for the bill. None Of the
other Senators, it is claimed, burned their
bridges behind them; none Of them de-
Clared absolutely that they would vote
against the bill if the one-eighth dfferen-
tial on sugar was not retained, or If the
duty on iron ore or coal was stricken out.
But more than this, many of the Sena-
tors declared their desire to obtain bill
which would secure forty-three Demo-
cratic votes. 1t is pointed out that none
of these Senators, not even Caffery, have
placed themselves in a position in which
they cannot support bill if it is returned
without a diferential profession to the
sugar-refners and with coal Snd iron ore
on the free list. 1t is known that great
deal Of pressure is being brought to bear
on the Democratic conferrees of the Sen
ate to report an agreement with modifca-
tlons of the principal items, compromise
being suggested to the extent of a fat ad
valoTem rate on sugar of 10 per cent, with
an extension of the bounty to January l,
1895, free iron ore and coal 40 cents a ton,
with a reciprocity provision that coal shall
be admitted free from such countries as
grant free admission to coal produced in
the United States.
While this proposition has not been snb-
mtted with any assertion that it is an ul-
tlmatum of the House cOnferrees there is
a great deal of talk that such PROPOSE
tion is likely to be presented. This. it is
believed, will secure the votes of the
Louisiana Senators, the two Populists
(Allen and Kyle and Irby of South Caro-
lima. In that event it would take three
other Democratic Senators besides Hill to
defeat the bill, and the House members
declare that number cannot be found.
1t is fact that the situation, turning
Us it does on those lines, has caused con-
siderable uneasness among the Demo-
Gratis of the Senate, and especially those
who are known to be steadfast In their de-
mands for the Senate bill in its main fea-
lures. The reliance of the House upon
outside pressure and the Democratic senti-
ment that seems TO be Tallying around the
President and the House from the country
at large 1t is claimed will grow stronger
from day to day until the Senate confer
Tees will be compelled to yield. The pres
tige which the administration obtained in
the conference over the unconditional re-
peal Of the silver-purchasing law has been
pointed out as being evidence that deter
minatlon now with the solid backing OF
the Democratic leaders in the House will
bring about similar result on the tariff
bill.
The tension between the Senate and the
House was as marked at the close of the
session to-day as it had been at any time
previous. The Democratic members of
the conference found themselves in a COM
LIT do 4 IL
forenoon, and the full conference, called
for l o'clock, found itself without busl-
ness before it convened. The full confer
ence did not continue to exceed fifteen
minutes, and the proceedings consisted of
a statement by the Democrats to the Re-
publicans that the Democratic eonferrees
had been unable to reach an understand
ing, and suggestion on the part oil Chair
man Wilson of the House coDferrees that
the conference adjourn subject to the call
of the chairman, which suggestion was
acquiesced in by the Republicans.
The impression which ex-Speaker Reed
obtained of the situation was embodied in
a rough diagram which be drew while the
conference was in session, which repre-
sented the Senate locomotive rushing
down a steep grade under full steam.
Stretching across the track, and distinctly
in front of the engine, is an immense.
well-supported bumper, which is labeled
"Aouse," the Republican House confer
rees being represented as safely lodged in
tall trees.
That is the situation. We all know
what must happen when an irresistible
force strikes an immovable object" said
Mr.. Reed.
This is as much statement of the stu
alton as could be obtained from any source.
Democratic members OF both houses ap-
preciate to the utmost The extreme gravity
of the situation. The Democratic Senators
who will say anything on the subject say
that to all appearances the House con-
ferrees are as unyielding as they have
been at any time. 1t is stated that the
Democratic cOnferrees of the House ap-
peared even more determined than ever
to main tain their position. Occasionally
a Democrat could be found on the same
SIDE who would express the hope that the
House conferrees would content them
selves with the last demonstr of dis
approval and subsequently agree TO come
to the Senate's terms.
The conferences among Democratic lead
ers in the Senate and between those SEN
ators- and Democratic members of the
House have been frequent during the day
since the conference adjournment. and