The record-union., 1894-08-13
A Busy Sunday Among Democrats
at the National Capital.
HINTS THAT HOUSE MEMBERS MAY
PLAY A WAITING GAME.
Hope General About the Senate That
This Week VIII See the Last of the
First Session of the Present Con-
gress-Urged to Secure Free Sugar
if Possible.
Special to the REcoRp-uNroN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.-This has been
anything but a day of rest for the tariff
leaders. They have been on the go from
early morning until late tonight. 1t has
been day Of conferences at the White
House. at the private residences of the
conferrees and at the hotels. Secretary
Carlisle was with President Cleveland
throughout the afternoon. The Senate
and House conferrees made no effort 10
get together, and they are now as wide
apart as when their meeting broke up on
Friday night.
The House conferrees were in consulta-
ton informally most of the day, though
at no time were they together at once.
Chairman Wilson spent the day with
Breckenridge of Arkansas at the Nor
mandie Hotel, and was there called u pom
by the other conferrees. Wilson did not
see the President to-day. The meeting
among them was as to the line Of action
at the caucus tomorrow and III the sub
Sequent proceedings of the House and
Senate. They reviewed the situation
from every possible standpoint, and pre-
one of them said tonight. they were GO
ing over the field of battle, and learning
the topography of the ground on the
night before the great fight.
1t was agreed that no haste was neces-
sary. On the contrary, 1t was felt that
the House, in having possession of the
bill and parliamentary right to pass it
at any time, had every thing to gain and
nothing to lose by deliberate action.
Under the circumstances it was deemed
advisable to inform the House fully as to
the situation, and to explain that the pre-
cipitation in accepting the Senate bill
would gain nothing, while deliberate ac-
ton in waiting to see what the Senate
would do might accomplish much good.
1t was pointed out in this connection that
the House need be in no fear of the Hill
resolution being rushed through.
The House conferrees regarded it as as
surfing them breathing spell, and as
making it plain that the House need not
rush to its conclusion. They realize that
the situation is so critical the question of
accepting the Senate bill might come be-
fore the caucus and develop such over
whelmlng and reSistless force that it
would be useless to oppose it. They were
prepared for this emergency, and were
ready to accept it if it came. They would
not, however, counsel it themselves, and
if it came it would have to be the out
growth of this sentiment of the caucus.
1t was felt, however that a dispassion-
ate statement of the case showing that
the House would lose none of its right to
pass the Senate bill by deferring action
for day or so would bring about con-
servative result in the caucus. Exactly
what this action will be will not be def
nitely outlined, although the House con-
ferrees thought it would be best perhaps
for the caucus to adjourn and to wait to
l. i. i
be, caucus could be held and more in
tellgent action taken after the Senate
had acted.
In the meantime the House would lose
nothing. If the Hill resolution was de-
feated and the House conferrees think
there is at least an even chance of its de-
feat, then the conference between the
Senate and House could be resumed with
every prospect, in the judgment of the
House conferrees, that a speedy agree
ment and report could be reached. If, on
the other hand, it was passed, then the
second caucus could accept the Senate
bill, or take such other action as it de-
sired. In any event, the House conferrees
feel that there would be nothing lost by
waiting for the Senate to show what it in
tends to do. AS yet, they say, the Hill
resolution and similar moves in the SEN
ate are merely menaces, and it is we'll
enough to wait to see if they become ac-
compllshed facts.
Meanwhile the Senate is acquiescent
and disposed to remain in inactivity until
the House shall have had an opportunity
to express itself upon the situation. There
is undoubtedly desire on the part of a
large majority of the Democratic Sena-
practically all of them, unless it
may be the Louisiana Senators-to have
the House take possession of the bill.
This is due to the general belief in the
Senate that the House viii accept the
Senate amendments, and the bill will
thus become law, and they fear if the
bill should thus go to the Senate it will
be postponed.
On the other hand, it is believed that if
the House should agree to the Senate
amendments the Senate would acquiesce
in this action and waive the technical
question which might be raised over the
disposition OF the bill. 1t is understood
that Senator Hill, Notwithstanding his
opposition to the bill, would be disposed
to accept the favorable action of the
House and permit the bill to go to the
President without raising any parlia-
meDtary questions.
The bill has had it's day in court, hav-
ing gone to the calendar, and could not
be taken up except upon a vote of the
Senate. 1t is also suggested that without
the actual possession of the bill an IN
u0HHlle pOStDOu0ulGuO WOulQ De OrueroQ,
and the only means by which the Senate
could secure possession would be
through motion to reconsider its action
granting a conference, and then to ask to
return the bill. There would be two
difficulties in the way of this plan. Re-
consideration could not, IN view of the
lapse of time since granting the confer
ence, be had except by unanimous con-
sent, and even with this secured and the
request made upon the House, the return
of the bill would depend upon the
courtesy of that body. It would there
fore seem tn at the Senate can do nothing
with reference to the tariff at its present
stage
SECURE FREE SUGAR, IF POSSIBLE.
SPRINGFIELD Qll.), Aug. I2.-Goyernor
Altgeld tonight wired Representative
Springer as follows: Secure free sugar,
if possible. The whole American people
are united in this. Free bituninous coal
would only benefit New England and
the seaport towns and help a few men
who own foreign mines. Tho entire
country west of New FORK cares nothing
about il. Our soft coal is sold for nearly
starvation prices. Free coal will benefit
but small section. You should not
stand in the way OF a measure for the re-
lief Of the whole country, and it is vital
that such bill be passed at once.v
CONGRESS.
Hope That the Present Session VIII
Adjourn This Week.
WASHINcToN AuQ 10 The hone is