New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-17
PRICE THREE CENTS.
"POPGUN" BILLS REFERRED!l
THE SENATE SENDS THEM TO THE DEAD.
LOCKED FINANCE COMMITTEE.
MR.. GORMAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS SUCCEED n
PREVENTING THEIR IMMEDIATE CoNsIDERA.
TIoN-THE FIRST STEP IN THE
DEATH PROGRAMME.
(BY TELEGRAPH Td THE rRrBUxE.l

DEATH PROGRAMME.
fBr TELEGRAPH THE rRrBUxEl
Washington, Aug :6.-The four "popgun"
Tariff bills. which have been for two days on the
desk Of the Vice President were referred sue.
cessivey by the Senate this afternoon to the
Finance Committee. the maJorites in favor Of
this hostile action ranging from 10 to 20. The
radical free-trade element the Democratic
side. which has teen fretting for some oppor.
tuniy to revenge itself on the successful authors
and promoters Of the German Compromise
tariff, fought bitterly to prevent reference Of
those buncombe Consolation measures to the
deadlocked Finance Committee. But In spite Of
the countenance given this effort by Mr..
Vest himself. leading member OF the Finance
Committee. and ry Mr. Cockrell. a prominent
member Of the Democratic Steering Committee"
1t fell amentably short Of success. Mr.. German
controlling enough Democratic votes to secure.
with the aid Of the Republican minority. vote
Of two to one against immediate consideration.
The rollcalls to-day on the question Of refer.
ence developed indeed very plainly the strength
Of the two hostile factions within the Democratic
ranks and disclosed publicly for the first time
since the beginning Of the tariff fight last Febru-
ary the conservative" following, whose more or
less constant support made possible Mr.. Germans
successful warfare on the Wilson bill The
Democrats who voted to send the Free Sugar bill
to the Finance COMMITTEE the first step In the
programme OF killing 1t by ind!recton were
Messrs Blanchard Brice. Butler, Caffery. Cam.
den, Faulkner Gibson. Gorman Harris. Jones OF
Arkansas Murphy. Pugh and Roach. Mr. smith,
of New-Jersey, was paired on the Free Sugar Dill.
but recorded his vote on the motions to shelvs
the free COAL free .ron ore and free baroea
wire bills Mr. Morgan another conservative.
was absent, so the full strength OF Mr.. Gorman's
Democratic following should perhaps be est-
mated on to-day rocall at fifteen.
The radical free trade element could muster
only seventeen votes among the Senator'S present.
although perhaps halc dozen more could nave
been obtained tut for outstanding pairs with
Republicans On direct vote on free sugar or
free coal. four five Of Mr. Germans sup
porters would probably be driven to record their
names on the radical side. yet their assistance
can be depended upon by the Maryland leader
In any parliamentary manoeuvres by means OK
which he may seek to strangle one or all OF the
'popgun" bills
POSSIBLE EFFECT OF THE ACTION
What will be the exact effect Of to-day's refer.
ence Of the House measures 10 the Finance Com
mittee is not quite clear. Mr.. Harris, VINO hao
promised TO do what he could in the deadiocKeas'
condition Of the committee TO procure an im'ne-
dia,a renort on the Free Sugar bill. called meet
ing of the committee this afternoon. but ne was
forced to adjourn It until tomorrow without ae-
complishng anything. The Democratic members
OF the committee are in fact. In little condition
10 force action of any sort. Mr.. VOORHEES, Is away
s,ck and nothing Is known about his views on
the House bill Mr. Harris and Mr.. Jones, OF
Arkansas favor amending the House bill IN del.
erence 10 Secretary Carise's appeal OF yester-
day by levying a 30 pei cent fiat ad valorem
OH all sugars Mr. Vest Is disposed 10 ignore Mr.
Carlisle's admonitions and warnings. and support
a straight free-sugar measure. Mr. McPnerson
advocates a specific sugar duty OF some sort' out
takes little interest in the proposed cam
pagn OF revenge against the trust ana the
Louisiana planting interests. The hve Repuo'
lican members oppose any fiat ad valorem duty
on sugars and favor shelving all the 'popgun"
mea sures for this session. unless one OF them can
be amended so to carry with 1t the iuii re-
enactment Of the Mckinley law.
With the committee a Tie, politically, tnere
seems TO be little chance of obtaining report
on the Free Sugar bill MIR. Harris told the Sem
ate Yesterday that il a deadlock occurred In the
committee he would take immediate steps to
have the existing vacancy filed and thus restore
control TO the ostensible majority But Mr.
German who has general control OF COM
mit,ee appointments. is much averse to max
ing selection for the Finance Committee
at this session. Democratic caucus woud
have TO be called TO settle the claims OK
the many aspirants for this important place. ana
a selection could be made only after much per-,
sonaI friction and factional wrangling. Mr. Cor
man has encouraged number Of Senators. In
Guiding Messrs Hill, Murphy, Brice. White. OF
California and Blackburn, 10 lay claim to the
place and by those who are In the secrets OF the
Democratic steering committee 1t Is generally
understood that the Maryland Senator contem.
plates finally settling the coveted vacancy on
himself He Is conspicuousy entitled TO 1t In
fact, and has only refrained from accepting
similar place before for fear Of arousing the
iealousies OF senior associates.
LACK OF A VOTING QUORUM
Any appointment now would be subject. how
ever to the chances OF failure in the Senate from
lack Of voting quorum. risk which Mr. Cor.
man Is likely to urge on those who demand tnat
the vacancy shall be promptly filled. II, In spite
OF all these obstacles to report. the free sugar
measure Is got again into the Senate, 1t will
be amended and debated until 1t dies natural
DEATH
In accordance with decision reached by the
Republican conference committee this morning.
the Republican Senator'S will not give assistance
IN any further legislation. The Conference Conn
m,ttes voted that the "popgun' bills should take
the usual course through committee. and be SUBJ
iected to a variety of amendments. particularly to
an amendment repeating the act Just passed ana
re.enacting the Mckinley law. 1t decided further
that II is no part OF the duty Of the minority to
remain here all the rest Of the summer and fall
70 help the Democrats keep quorum. Between
nronosnp amendments and breaking quorum Il
is an easy matter to prevent any bills from pass
ing The quorum Is vanishing rapidly. and 1t IL
apparent that II an adjournment resolution Is not
soon adopted there will be no quorum 10 act upon
a. while II does not require quorum for either
House to adjourn from day to day. the Anal ad.
1ournment of the two houses Is a legislative act
reouIring a majority either actually present or
ssumed to exist II no point is made. Should
quorum be broken and that fact be developed BY
a roll call. It would cause more or less emoarrass.
ment But the point Of mo quorum" Is rarely
raised on so generally welcome a resolution -
that OF adjournment sine die.