The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-17
BRrcE's BET.
He Contends the Tariff Bill VIII Pass
by June Is


Washington, May 16.-Sitting in Cham
berlin's restaurant last night there were
a number of senators, among whom were
doe Blackburn, Vest, Brlce, Smith. Cor
man and Stewart, the republican The
conversation, of course, turned to the
tariff.
when are you democrats going to pass
this tariff" said Stewart with smile on
his rubicon. face.
by June is, said Brice
Never" grunted Stewart.
Then we win put the brakes on YOU,
said Joe Blackburn, land apply closure
Vest, who had remained huddled up in
himself like raccoon on a cold night or
a weazel on night when the moon is
shining, put down his glass and I'm that
nasal twang Of his, declared that the bill
would pass But not by the 18TH of
June"
II would like to make you bet on that
point" said Brice.
We'll, what amount will you bet"
said Vest.
81 will go further than that" resumed
the Ohio senator. II bet it passes the
conference by that time, and will start
of with the wager of $50
Done said Vest, and 500 was forth
with put up in Joe Blackburn's hands,
and somebody touched the button.
Vest made the bet, hoping that he
would lose, and Brice laid his wager, be-
lieviug, as he always does when he bets,
that he would win.
The above conversation was reported to
the MORNING News correspondent bv a
witness to this little scene, and declared
that Stewart looked startled when Brice
made the assertion that the bill would
pass the conference by the middle of next
month. Whatever may be said of
Brice he is looked upon in the Senate
as one OF the best prognosticators in that
body. He has claimed, ever since the bill
left the finance committee, that it would
pass the Senate by June 10. | am inclined
TO think that he will lose his bet by a
very small margin. 1t is the unbroken
history of the Senate that as soon as the
majority prove their ability to pass
measure the opposition of the minor
lty dwindles away. This was seen
IN the force bill fight when those
opposed the measure clearly showed that
| they were able to defeat IL, the bill was
sidetracked. The same was true in the
| extra session during the contest over the
| repeal of the Sherman purchasing clause.
| The very moment that the minority
were assured that the majority would
and could repeal the clause the minority
| allowed legislation TO take its course
The republicans, as yet, do not feel GER
tain of democratic victory, and will keep
| up their tilibustering tactics for some
| time to come.
Senator Brice not only spoke for him
| self when he made the bet, but for the
element which is called conservative, and
| from whom the republicans expect some
| aid, namely, German, Smith, Murphy,
! Gallery and Blanchard.
| Hill is left out of all considerations
| when democrats are discussing the pass
age Of the bill He is a willy citizen and
is preparing for big play. When it is
| made ii will be seen that it was play,
| and in this play lies the danger to the
| New Y ork senator. He will claim that
| he is the only free trader in the Senate,
and that he has never asked the finance
| committee for duty on a single article
! His latter claim can be substantiated.
| He will declare the income tax a populist
| and not democratic measure. In this
| he will find many TO back him in his own
| party in the east. He will find it hard,
| however, to convince the country that he
has not in some way betrayed the party
| to the republicans. r si
The recent caucus of the republicans,
| held at the home of Senator Sherman,
| developed the fact that there were as
| many discussions in their ranks as exist
| in the democratic. If a party is peaceful,
caucus never lasts more than two hours.
This Is political maxim in Washington
The republican caucus lasted over four,
| and there was great wrangllng in 1t every
moment of that time, The silver repub-
licans are bitterly opposed to filibuster-
ing, and so expressed themselves. They
took the ground that nothing could be
gained by it. Even Sherman himself was of
the opinion that 1t was useless except so
far as it would go to show the Republican
party that they were doing all they could
to protect this great republican measure.
Aldrich and Chandler insisted on the
present mode OF attack being continued
for awhile at any rate, and they were
practically given the power by the eau
Gus to further test the ability Of the dem
ocrats to pass the bill.
The next week at the furthest will
demonstrate one OF two things. Either
that the bill can pass, or that the bill can
not pass. And the democrats feel as
sured that the bill will pass. If there is
any effort made by the republicans to de-
lay the passage after this fact is adevel-