Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-17
WHAT WAS SHOWN
BY the Opposition Developed in the
Senate.
M kORE LEGISLATION WANTED
Waiting Only for the River and
Harbor Bills Fate.
PROSPECT OF ADJOURNMENT


If any further demonstration was needed
IL was shown clearly enough in the Senate
touay that there was abundant opposition
10 prevent action on the popgun bills at this
id'e stage OF the session. The selection of
senator Whrte of California to ill the va
cancy on the finance committee so as to en-
able the majority party to have a majority
on the committee was one entirely salts
factory to the tariff reformers and silver
men and on personal grounds White would
nave opposition from no quarter The
hsht against his selection is therefore solely
Win the aim of holding the committee out
or the hands of the income tax tariff re-
formers and the silver men The motion
OF Mr.. Harris to appoint White went over
until tomorrow because under ne rules one
Objection was enough to accomplish this.
The Significant Oppositfon,
The opposition shown. however, was suf-
hciently significant. There are a number
OF amendments which could unluestionably
De added to the popgun bills should they
ever get before the Senate in the regular
way. and without that difficulty to encoun-
ter 1t would take a change Of rules to Sc
cure vote on them at this session, even
III a quorum were to be held. The day
gained by having the filling OF the vacancy
go over until tomorrow brings the Senate
mat much closer TO the point where the
repuoilcdnS and conservative democrats can
safely break Il quorum. Ii is a matter of
good policy, IL not of necessity, for them
10 remain until the last appropriation bill
is entirely cISposef of and the fate of the
river and harbo- bill IS known This will
all be accomplished after tomorrow, and
on Mor'day there Will probably not be
quorum That the i're;ii snt Inte,r1S tc sign
the tariff bill Is indicated by the fact that
a copy of 1t is being prepared for print In
the form of a statute.
Prospects of Adjournment.
The belief Is very general that an adjourn
ment of Congress will be reached about the
close OF next week or the beginning of the
week following.
No Decision on Free Sugar.
The Senate finance committee met at 10
O'Clock today to further consider the free
sugar and other separate tariff bills re-
ferred to 1t yesterday. The republican men,
bers of the committee said they could not
take the responsibility of reporting these
bills and if the democrats desired to have
them reported they must do it with their
own majority: that the republicans had four
members of the finance committee here, and
as the democrats had but the same number
the former did not propose to have the
democratic four counted as five. The COM
mtttee Immediately adjourned and then a
meeting of the democratic leaders was held
in the room OF the committee on appropria-
on the finance committee.
TAe Steering Committee.
The dsm0crAtic' steering committee met
in Senator Cockrelrs committee room i'm
mediately after the adjournment of the
finance committee. They were not long in
deciding upon Senator White of California,
and Senator Harris was instructed to pre-
sent his name to the Senate. While there
was some opposition in the steering COM
mittae to the selection of Mr.. White on the
part of members who are opposed to the
supplemental tariff bills large majority
was favorable to his selection.
The conservative democrats who oppose
the selection base their objection largely
upon the time that Is taken to make 1t, and
say that 1t should be allowed to go over
until the choice can be made with delibera-
tion, and not to meet a temporary emer-
gency. The other members of the commit
tee insist, however, that the emergency is
such that the vacancy must be filled now,
and that, In view of the demand of the
country for the passage Of these bills and
the attitude of the republican members of
the finance committee, 1t Is essential that
immediate action should be taken. They
were not prepared for this demand ON the
part of the republicans. and are inclined to
complain somewhat of 1t and of the threat
Of the republicans to join with conservative
democrats to oppose the selection of a COM
mitteeman by a majority Of the democratic
party in the Ser ate.
Republican Senatorial Caucus.
Republican Senators held a caucus after
the adjournment Of the Senate today to
consider the question of party action with
reference to the appointment Of a member
of the finance committee and Of the policy
to be pursued generally with reference to
the free sugar bill and other supplemental
bills.
Before going into caucus there was a great
= - IA e.t< -l-r$
publicans should pursue. Among a number
Of them there was a disposition to enter the
fight and place some other democrat In
place Of White upon the finance committee.
II was understood that Senator Murphy Of
New York was to be pushed by some of the
conservative Senators. Most of the free
silver republicans expressed themselves as
against interfering with the democrats in
making up committees, and also said they
would not want to see an antf-silver man
selected for the place and would, no doubt,
oppose Murphy for this reason.
The House Quorum Melting Away.
There is hardy a quorum Of the House
of Representatives left In town, as men,
bers are anxious to get away, and are leav
ing on every train. Mr.. Reed will see the
session through. Messrs. Payne of New
York, Cogswell of Massachusetts and Can
non of Illinois will also remain to submit
some republican figures on appropriations
And some observations on the tariff. Most
of the democratic leaders are remaining, in
order to make a quorum in case of unex-
pected emergency en- the tariff. It is diff
cult to hold members, however. The dem
ocratic leaders recognize that 1t will be i'm
possible to do any business on which
party division might occur.
Probable Outcome.
The republican Senators in the city at
tended the caucus almost without excep
ticn. 1t appears probable that the caucus
will agree to allow the resolution for the
appointment of Senator White to a place
on the finance committee to pass tomorrow.
1t is also probable that they will indorse
the Murphy resolution, with an amendment
discharging the france committee from the
further consideration of the four supple
mental bills and postponing action on them
until next December. 1t Is believed that the
Louisiana and &C nservative democratic Sen
ators. as well as the populists, would unite