The morning call., 1894-02-24
TOO MUCH TINKERINd NOW
Bluffs to Scare the Committee
Into Favorable Action.
WHY THE CAUCUS WAS CALLED.
Even Democratic Statesmen CIamor
for a Certain Amount of Pro-
lection to Industries.

WASHINGTON, Feb 23.-The Senate was
not in session to-day, but work on the
tariff bill was in progress. The sub-com-
mittee of the Finance Committee, the off,
cial existence of which has been denied on
the floor OF the Senate, is In session in a
large committee-room, free from all inter-
ruDton by Senators or by the anxious
outside world. There are signs to show
that the situation is daily growing more
serious. Senator German announced this
afternoon that caucus would be held on
Monday morning at 10 o'clock, as re-
Quested in the call which was circulated
yesterday.
1t is the accepted belief at the Capitol
that the call for caucus was originally
intended as bluff by seven Senators, who
met yesterday morning in Senator Buffers
committee-room and who represent the
chief macontents on the subject of The
tariff bill. The call was intended. it is
thought, to scare the subcommittee to a
full Democratic mem bership OF the Finance
Committee into favorable action on arti-
Giles most in dispute. such as sugar. coal,
iron and lumber.
Last evening, however, it became appar-
ent that the committee was not to be
bluffed and the call had to be abandoned
or pushed to the conclusion. That the
latter alternative was accepted is taken to
indicate the desperate character of the op-
position to the bill What these Senators
hope to accomplish in caucus cannot now
be readily foretold, but it is thought they
will endeavor TO pursue a course that will
accord definite action in the way of a vote
binding the mem bers of the caucus TO sup
port the bill. On such a vote the opposi-
ton would undJu btedly be defeated. so
there would be nothing to gain from forcing
the fight to such conclusion.
On the other hand ii was anticipated that
the programme of the kickers is to make
speeches in the caucus of such character
that it will leave them free to vote against
the bill should certain commodities be
left on the free list. Their spesches would
probably be made in the nature of warn
iDgs that if certain things are not done by
the committee they vii feel free to oppose
the bill on its final passage. inasmuch as
six votes taken from the Democratic
strength and cast with the Republicans
against the bill will certainly defeat It.
The force of the opposition and of the
effect made upon the caucus will I'M
doubtedly be very strong. The Democratic
opponents of the bill, 1t is said, claim that
they are sure of ten votes if the bill should
come to the Senate in the form that it me
from the House. There were seven
Senators In the conference of yesterday,
Senators Brice, Butler. Caffrey. German,
bill, Murphy and Smith; in addition they
expect support from Senator Gibson,
Senator Whites successor. and possibly
one OF the Alabama Senators. most likely
Mr.. Pugh.
1t was ascertained to-day that the sub
committee had made overtures to Senator
Caffrey in the hope of winning him from
the opposition by promising him tariff
of cent pound on sugar. he. however.
believes that the interests of Louisiana
will not, be sufficiently protected under
such rate, and insists upon a cent and
half, which the committee is not inclined
to give. None of the opposition Senators
are more earnestly determined to secure
an amendment to the bill than Mr.. Caffrey.
who has not wavered since the beginning
of the fight.
Mr.. Hill, though saying nothing pub
licly. is telling his friends thai the senti-
ments uttered by him In his Wheeling
speech Of 1890 are still entertained by him,
and although he does not believe in riding
protection to DEATH" he thinks that Amer
lean labor ought to be protected by a tariff
that will make it in value equivalent TO
European labor,