Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-26
THE SENATORIAL CAUCUS.

OCTallC StudUOJldl ChuSQo SOhfOHS ~
terday that the resolution of Senator
Jarvis to send the compromise tariff pill
back to conference without instructions
was the only course open to the caucus.
The other propositions presented were
those of Senators Villas and his friends,
one of which provided for instruction to
the Senate conferrees to recede from the
one eight of a cent dilltrential on re-
fined sugar without any other change
in the sugar schedule, and the other to
substitute for the present tariff sched-
ule, duty of As per cent. al valorem
without any ditlcrential, and that OF
the conservatives to instruct the COM
mittee to stand by the Senate amend
ments.
Senator Villas and two or three other
Senators opposed the latter course, and
the conservative Senators declared alb
solutely and emphatically that they
would not accept the Villas proposition
to recede from the differential, even
though the ad valorem should be in
creased to 45 per cent. or any other
sum Within reason.
Senator Smith declared that such o
change meant the shutting down of the
refineries in his State, the throwing of
thousands of men out Of employment,
and general disturbance of industrial
conditions such as he could not con
template with composure and would
would not accept.
! 7 indicated
willingness, as they had done yester-
day to accept the substitution of 10 per
cent. straight. The proposition did
not, however, meet with general favor
as the wisest course to pursue in view
of the hostility of the New Jersey SEN
ator and those who acted with him,
and in view of the fact that several
Senators who stated that they agreed
with Mr.. Villas in his opposition to the
sugar trust as a matter of principle, ad-
vised in favor Of the cessation OF all
efforts to give formal instructions.
Senator Villas spoke in general terms
of the constitutional right of the House
to originate financial legislation, and,
without denying the concurrent right
of the Senate, he suggested that the
House privilege in this respect could
not be ignored with complacency or
safety. He also cautioned the caucus
in strong terms to avoid all appearance
of favorng monopolies in few of the
present feeling on that subject.
When Mr.. Villas arose considerable
interest was naturally manifested. He
made lengthy speech, ending with
the announcement that he did not want
to defeat the bill, but was earnestly
in favor of passing bill as soon as
possible and ending the trouble and
giving the country rest and quiet. He
said he would take the matter under
careful advisement and would decide it
in his own mind this morning.
Tbs impression the rest Of the eau
Gus got was that Mr.. Villas would con-
fer with the President and be guided
bv what he advised. Then by unani-
nous consent the resolution of Mr. jar
Wis that the bill be sent back TO confer
ence without rstructions was agreed to.
Senators Smith, Blanchard and Catlrey
also made speeches Of some length.
Senator German devoted himself to
verbal statement on the parliamenta-
nv status of the bill Great earnestncss
was exhibited in the speeches of the
New Jersey and Louisiana Senators.
Other Senators as rule spoke without
any manifestation OF feeling, and the
meeting was upon the whole far more
pleasant than that OF Tuesday.
The vote on the resolution to send
the bill to conference again was not
unanimous, Senator Villas and few
Others opposing it, and STIMULATING chat
their participation in the caucus should
not be considered as binding them to
support the report of the conference
committee when again presented.
During the proceedings the attitude
of the populist Senators, Allen and
Kyle, who have generally voted with
the democrats on the tariff bill, was al
luded to, and one of the Senators pre-
sent stated that he had been author
lied by Senator Allen to say that he
thought the bounty ought to be contin-
ued for the present year. The sugges-
ton was not received with favor and no
action was taken Indicating the proba-
blity of recommending the adoption of
the suggestion. Senators Hill, Muir
ply and Irby were again absent from
the caucus yesterday.
1t is understood that al attempt will
be made in the Senate to-day to carry
into effect the instructions of the caucus
to have the bill sent back to conference.
There may be some delay caused by
more speechmaking, but the Senate
members of the conference committee
are of the opinion that the conference
will be reopened by Friday morning.
Among the reports current in the
House yesterday was one that the dem
ocratic leaders of the House and Senate
had agreed to bring joint resolution
within the next twenty-four or forty
eight hours adjourning Congress on
Saturday, August 1. This, it was said,
would result in expediting the work on
the tariff bill, so that, whatever report
might be agreed upon by the conferrees
must necessarily be passed within the
next ten days. The story found many
believers, but careful inquiry failed to
discover any leader of the House who
would acknowledge its correctness.
There is apparently no doubt, how
ever, that the House is willing to &C
cept any fair report on the tariff bill
which may come from conference. 1t
was openly asserted yesterday by DEM
ocrats of prominence-men who favor
the Wilson bill heartily and would be
glad to see it enacted into law-that if
the Senate bill were brought before the