The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-09

the Provision.
WASHINGTON, May BY a vote of
81 to l, six of the forty-four democrats
being absent. the democratic senators in
caucus today adopted a resolution agree
ing to support the tariff bill of the
finance committee. including the COM
promise amendments that have been
agreed upon by the many conferences
of democratic senators during the past
two weeks. The resolution was pre-
sented by Senator German of Maryland,
the chairman OF the caucus, and dis
cussed at some length, as the session
lasted from a few minutes after 4
o'clock until nearly o'clock. The six
absent senators were: Mills, Murphy,
Lindsay. Irby. Butler and Gibson. It
was claimed that they were all account
ed for and assurances were given that
they would support the tariff bill.
The only persons in whose absence
there might be any significance are SEN
ators Murphy and Mills, the understand
ing being that all others were in accord
with any bill supported by the majority
of the democratic senators. Senator
Mills was not at the senate during the
day, and the call for the caucus was sent
to his house. It is believed that he has
some objections to the concessions that
have been made, but he has previously
announced that he would support any
bill that provided for reductions in the
present law. Senator Murphy's caucus
notice was also sent to his residence.
as he was absent from the capital. His
position has all along been one of doubt,
but several democratic senators assert
that he will support the bill and he is
counted in the fOrty-three which are
claimed as certain TO vote in favor Of
the bill. The other absentees are either
out of the city or failed to secure notice
in time. None of them have been count
ed as against the bill and it was said
that they would indorse the action Of
the caucus.
German COncIIiatOry.
In presenting the resolution and stating
the object of the caucus, Senator Cor
man made a conciliatory speech. He
said it was necessary to make conces-
sions in order 10 secure the united sup
port Of the party, and he further as
serted that it would need a democratic
majority TO pass the bill. He stated that
concessions had been made on all sides
and il was believed that the measure,
with the proposed amendments, would
now meet with the support which was
absolutely necessary TO pass a demo-
cratic tariff bill.
Senator Jones Of Arkansas. the men,
Der of the finance committee who has
taken the most active part in the prep
aration of the amendments known as
the compromise bill, made a speech in
lot nf he
posed amendments and told why they
were necessary. He did not discuss nor
read all of them, but selected the most
important and those affecting the great
est interests.
Senator Mcpherson of New Jersey
spoke in support Of the resolution and
dwelt at some length upon the con-
cessions which northern and east
ern democrats had been Obliged
to make and what they had
to give up in order to meet the de-
mands of the South and West. He
claimed that the concessions that were
talked Of by the other senators were
not wholly on one side.
Senators Palmer and Villas made long
and vigorous speeches urging party har-
mony and the necessity of early action
smith supports 1t.
Great interest centered in the speech
of Senator Smith of New Jersey, and
his remarks were received with a great
deal of satisfaction, for while he said
he was not satisfied with the bill and
was unalterably opposed to the income
tax he was ready to support the meas
ure with the amendments which had
been agreed upon, although he claimed
that what were called concessions by the
southern and western men were but
small compared with the concession
which eastern senators made in support
ing the bill with the income tax pro-
visions.
Senator Hill of New York was not
placated. He spoke only a short time
but II was long enough for him 10 con-
vince the caucus that his vote would
rot be for the bill If the income tax re-
mained in il. He said his position was
well known; he had made his statement
before the country and there was moth
ing to add to what he had said. What
ever the so-called concessions might be
they could not compensate for a rider
in the bill which neither the needs OF
the country nor the party demanded
Without saying so in direct terms, there
were none who listened to him who be-
lieved that he would support the bill
The vote showed what those who had
come into the caucus had expected. The
conference has been going on among the
democratic senators for two weeks and
had given the leaders the information as
10 how the different senators stood, but
they wanted official caucus action upon
what, had been agreed to in the confer
ence room The roll was called in order
TO place all on record, and thirty-seven
senators voted i'm favor of the resolution
and one Senator HID against 1t. The