Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-29
TARIFF CONFERENCE. Two Hours Session of Democrrtio
 Managers Yesterday. EVASlVE ANSWERS GIVEN By Members Present-Under- stood That the Conference
 Will Begin Monday.
BVAslVE ANSWERS GIVEN

WASHINGTON, July 28.-In an attempt to bring about party unity on the tariff bill, the democratic couferees of the house nnd senate took time by the forelock today and held a meeting for the purpose of dis cussing the chances of untieing the knot. 1t was decided by these gentlemen that the formal onference should begin on Monday next, and invitations were sent to the re- publican conferees to meet their democratic brethren at o'clock Monday. The dem- ocratic managers were in session for two hours only, and while they were one and all reticent to sphynx-lik degree, there was enough in their very evasive answers to questions. 10 indicatessthat nothing had been done. Indeed the house conferees iutimated that they would not recede in the least from the provisions of the house bill, and while no one believes that this will be adhered to with unswerving con- sistency, it indicates that the house man. agers may not be brought to the point of exchanging concessions fer some days.
 Some reason for the apparent firm stand of the house people is afforded in the fact that Representative Catchings of Missis- sippi, one of the leaders in his body, had a talk about the tariff situation with the president this morning, the result of which was communicated to the conferees.
 
 the few who know. There is one thing about Mir. Cleveland, however, that the conferees have not been able to learn, and that is whether he will sign the bill if 1t remains practically as passed by the senate. There have been rumors that the president would veto the bill if 1t preserves that character. and again It IS reported that he would, for party purposes, allow the bill to become a law under the ten days constitutional limit, thus show djcapnr0UQi hv inf aipuinO it- Those who have investigated these reports have obtained no light and say that the presidents position is too uncertain even for conjecture. However, the belief is that he will sign the bill when It comes to him.
 If the conferees did nothing else today they came to one important agreement, or rather were thoroughly agreed in that particular. They were unanimous that this should be the final conference and that no report shall be made to the re- spective houses until differences are ad- justed in such a way as to secure the adop- tion of the recommendations, Which means, of course, that the bill would be sent to the president.
 This, while apparently inconsistent with the expressed determination of the house managers to stand firm on their bill, is nevertheless fact, and it shows that the democratic conferees realize that the situ- ation is critical and that happy outcome rests with themselves alonea AS 8 demo- cratic leader expressed it, "rbe conferees will Not give up the attempt to reach an agresment if they have to remain in session untik the 4th of March,, when the Fifty third congress expires.'.
 The 9ptimaton made by the gentleman above duoted that congress will remain in session until the 4th of March unless sat- ] isfactory agreement is reached Is one that will be fiercely corbatted by great many influential members of the house.
 The desire 10 find basis of agreement that will be fairly satisfactory to all con- cerned finds a strong expression in the movement inaugurated by MT. Springer of Illinois today to secure a caucus on Tues- day afternoon next to consider what 1 action shall be taken to secure the early passage of tariff bill in the i event that no agreement has been reached by the conferees by that time. Tbe call for the caucus was circulated only few min- utes before the house adjourned, and at that time it contained dozen or more sigma lures. MT. Springer believes that suffi- cient number of signatures can be secured | on Monday next to insure a caucus on the date set in the call. It may be said Tn this tconnection that the preparation of the call Is understood not to have been made t with the sanction of the speaker, and some sof the more extreme democrats in the fhouse, who say they will be satisfied with nothing less than the Wilson bill, are un- derstood to differ strongly from MT. Springer as to the advisabiiity of holding caucus until some formal report shall be presented to the house from the conference committee.
 ENORMOUS DEATH BY PLAGUE.