The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-06
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
Opponents Of the Wilson Tariff Bill
Gain Nothing.
SLIGHT SETBACK FOR INCOME TAX.

Its Opponents Gain an Additional Allow
ance Of Two Days for Debate should
This Proposition be Presentsd-Deme-
Gratis Reminded Of Their Duty.
WARRINGTON, Jan 6.--The Democratic
caucus met in the hall Of the house
OF representatives at 8 o'clock last
night to consider the Wilson tariff bill.
There wa1sa good attendance. Judge
Holman was chairman and Mr.. Anderson
was secretary of the caucus. Although
the roll call showed only 124 members
present many came In during the call,
And IL was estimated that there were 147
Democrats in attendance when the pro-
ceedlngs began. The attendance indi-
Gated that In the neighborhood Of forty
who are In the city remained away. There
were no conspicuous absentees among the
'kickers.n
As soon as the roll had been called 1t
was decided to limit the speeches 10 five
minutes each. General Wheeler, who was
one OF the prime movers in the caucus
project, then took the floor and made
vigorous speech against the proposition to
place coal and iron ore on the free list.
speaker Crisp followed. He offered a
resolution declaring that 1t was the duty
= - Sehiotfot w Fott lOI but tOnSlu-
Grafton Of the tariff bill, and also that it
was the duty of all the Democrats to at
tend the sessions Of the house and main
tain a quorum until the tariff bill is dis
posed of. In ringing speech the speaker
took occasion to rather sharply reprimand
Democrats who had been responsible for
the fnaction Of the house during the past
three days.
The speaker said that the proper way to
act for those who were dissatisfied would
be to take up the bill and have 1t oonsid-
cred. They would be given an oppor-
tunity to offer their amendments, and
these amendments could be voted upon.
The party had been given commission
from the people. and It was its duty to
carry 1t out The spectacle Of the past
three days had been disgrace to the
large Democratic majority in the house,
and he sincerely hoped that 1t was not to
be repeated. The words of the speaker
were loudly cheered.
The caucus lasted fee two hours only
only two amendments hooking to a change
of the bill were formally proposed. both
relating to the sugar tax, out neither of
them was voted on. The only result of the
caucus was the strengthening Of the hands
OF those favoring the bill by the passage
OF the resolution offered by Speaker Crisp
declaring 1t to be the duty Of Democrats
to consider .he bill.
This resolution was made the peg on
which those opposed to certain features of
the bill hung their objections Most of
their opposition was directed against the
Income tax, and its opponents gained a
slight victory in an additional allowance
OF two days for general debate should this
proposition be presented to the committee.
The caucus was much more harmonious
than was expected.
After the adjournment Chairman VIII
son said the caucus was entirely satisfac-
tory to him. Representative Whiting, of
Michigan, one of the members of the ways
and means committee, said 1t had been
demonstrated that the tariff blil--includ.
ing the income tax-would pass the house
without trouble.