The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-15
REPUBLICANS CONFER
Minority Senators Hold a Caucus
on the Tariff Measure,
But After Four Hours of Discussion Fail
to Agree On Programme, Except to
Vigorously Oppose the Bill.
PROGRESS OF THE DEBATE
Only Two or Three Amendments
Disposed of Yesterday.
PROGRESS OF THE DEBATE
Mr.. Harris Disgusted-The Gift to the
Sugar Trust-EffOrt to Revive the
State Bank Tax Repeal Bill.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Republic
an member Of the Senate were in caucus
at Senator Sherman's house tonight, from
s o'clock until IL so. The caucus partook
more of the nature of an informal recep-
ton than business meeting, and while
1t was called with the purpose of arriving
at a conclusion as to the method to be
pursued by the Republican party in the
Senate. 1t closed without eliciting anything
in the way Of party declaration. There
was no vote on any proposition whatever,
and the proceedings consisted in a large
number of speeches.
There were about twenty-five of the
thirty-seven Republican Senators present,
and every one there had something to say
in the course of the evening. There was a
great divergence of views. Indeed, the ac-
counts of the meeting agree that while
there were probably twenty speeches,
most Of them, of course, brief, no two of
them were on the same lines or advised the
same manner Of proceeding. There was no
agreement except upon the one point
that the bill should be beaten if possi-
bic. On general lines the great divergence
of opinion was on the ability of the Re-
publicans to beat the bill at all, and while
there was no formal decision which would
permit Of accounting, the caucus appeared
to be about evenly divided IN sentiment
upon this question. A statement that
Eastern Senators were favorable to a con-
tinuation Of the opposition to the lines
which are now being observed, and that
Western Senators were opposed to any
effort to secure delay, for delays sake
would be in a general way correct, but
there were exceptions on both sides
Senators Aldrich, Chandler, Frye and
others contended that the bill could be de-
feated. and said that all that was necessa-
ry to demonstrate the correctness of this
assertion was to give the Democrats time
to widen the breach which they asserted
now exists. Some of them declared that
four or five Democratic votes could be
counted on opposed to the bill, while
one of those present went so far as to say
that he was assured of the opposition of at
least seven Democratic Senator's. No
names of Democratic Senators were given
however. The opposition element contend
ed that there was no positive assurance
or any Democratic support in opposition
to the bill, and that the only means of
testing the truth of rumorSr or sfDemOcratic
dissatisfaction was to let the voting go on.
There was much talk as TO the general
demerits and inconsistencies of the bill,
and some of the silver Republican Senators
did not fail to call attention to the lack
of sympathy which had been displayed on
the part of the Republican. Senator'S
when the silver repeal bill was before the
Senate last fall and to intimate
that they had no desire at this time
to heap Goals of fire ON the heads of
that element in the party at this
time by doing kindness in return for what
they termed inconsiderateness. They agreed
in the main with their Republican col
leagues to the undesirability of passing
the bill, but declared they would not fill
buster. especially in view of the strong
probability of the passage of the bill de-
spite any opposition that might be made
to 1t. The more radical opponents of the
bill replied that they had no desire to OF
intention of flibustering, but asserted that
the bill was one which could be opposed
by legitimate methods for long time.
There was also an exchange OF views or
the policy of Republicans voting for the
Democratic amendments to the bill, but the
only agreement reached upon this point
as upon the other, was to allow. for the
present, individual Republican Senators tC
act in accordance with their own inclina-
tions. Some of the Senators expressed the
opinion at the close of the conference that
another meeting of the party in the Sen.
ate would be held at an early day.