The sun., 1894-08-13
PREPARING TO SURRENDER
THE HoJSE CAUCUS To DECTDE the
FATE OF THE TdRIFF BILL.
IL IL the Programme OF the Leaders thss
he Caucus Shall U-ge the Accspts.ce
OF the Senate Bm'. a-s AI-s th.t Is
shall ne Rushed Through the House .-s
Seat TO the President for Ei. Approy,,

OF the Senate Hii. ard AIss th.t ut
Shalt ne Rushed Through the Houo. ..s
Seat to the President for Ht. Approy,l
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.-It il the universal
opinion In Washington tonight that the caucus
OF House Democrats, to he held tomorrow
morning, will take action looking to the ao-
ceptance Of the Senate amendments to the
Tariff bill and its prompt passage by the House.
This Is the programme mapped out by the
leaders, and II influence is not brought TO bear
TO induce them 10 hold out little longer simply
for the sake of appearances, the plan of rush.
ing tho Wilson bill with the Senate amend
ments to the President will be put through
Nine out OF ten members Of the House favor
1t, and the only doubt that now exists M to its
success grows out Of the fear that President
Cleveland may write another letter or adopt
some other means to influence the House con-
ferrees against their best Judgment Speaker
Crisp and the House leaders mako no conceal
ment of the fact that nothing whatever Is to be
hoped from further meetings of the conferrees,
and many OF them. while they do not admit Il
equally confident that no bfll except the
Senate bill can pass that body. The House
leaders who are fully prepared TO surrender.
insist that their course Is not controlled In the
least by the effort OF the Senate TO pass the Hill
resolution and regain possession OF the bill, be-
cause they claim that they have right TO 40
CepL tne senate amendments and pass the
measure no mater what It's parliamentary
status is.
Gen. Catchnss. Speaker Crlsp's lieutenant on
the floor of the House and the ranking member
of the Committee on Rules next To the Speaker,
said 10 THE SuN correspondent tonight that
there Is not the slightest doubt ex-Speaker
Reed and the other parliamentary authorities
TO the contrary notwithstanding, that the House
at any time accept the Senate amendments
~
makes no difference whether the bill Is In the
House or the Senate. or where It Is, the power Of
the House is the same lie says. moreover, that
even IL the Senate should pass resolution dis
charging its conferrees and asking for the re-
turn of the bill 10 the Senate. or even
IL the Senate should receive the conference rc-
port and postpone IL until next January, the
House can Mt this session or the next. OF mt any
time during the life Of this Congress and under
any condition of things, agree to the Senate
amendments and pass the bill.
In view OF this claim on the part of the House.
the leaders say tonight that, no matter what
action may be taken by the caucus tomorrow. IL
will not be influenced In the slightest degree by
anything the Senate may or may not do, and
that II the House decides to take the Senate bill,
IL will be because they convinced that the
conferrees cannot reach an agreement and that
II is therefore the duty OF the Democratic party
10 end the DEADLOCK ana pass n tarlH Dill.
BY the United Pres.
The House conferrees were not in session tn
day. but Messrs. Wilson and Breckenridge spent
the most OF the afternoon together talking over
the situation. They were Joined later In tho
evening by several gentlemen, and the under
standing tonight is that no opposition will be
made at to-morrow's caucus 10 the motions to
concur in the Senate amendments to the Tariff
bill.
There has been some question as IN the Presl-
dents wishes regarding the caucus. II was
thought In some quarters yesterday that he
might use his influence with the House leaders
10 prevent the caucus and thus continue the
contest between the two Houses. There Is no
good reason 10 believe that the President will at
tempt to interfere. On the contrary. one Of the
most distinguished Democrats in public life.
who Is deeply interested In the House bill, saw
the President this morning and explained 10
him the situation as viewed from the House
standpoint. Incidental mention made Of
to-morrow's caucus. but the President had
nothing 10 say with reference TO 1t. He did not
approve II nor did he condemn IL. and was ap-
parently indifferent to its result AS though II
were a mere matter OF routine action.
Another subject OF speculation to-day was
what action the President will take II the Sem
ate bill BE- sent to him. II is said by those who
are closest to the President. both in personal
ana pclitlchl sense, tnht ne Will approve any Dlu
which comes to him with the sanction Of the
House conferrees. His approval might take the
form Of permitting il to become law without his
signature. but it. IS not believed that he will
veto IT,
member % tine Senate steering committee
predicted tonight that the House caucus to-
morrow would agree 10 accept the Senate hill,
and that all the Democrats In the Senate. with
the exception OF two or three, would facilitate
their efforts To secure the hill and pass IL. This
gentleman believes that the bill Is In the
possession of the House, and In that opinion
the leading House Democrats agree with
him. II is openly asserted tonight ny
certain Democratic senators that II the hill hs
retained in the Senate It is dead II IL for this
reason that the Senate friends Of the measure
will use their efforts 10 get II before the House,
feeling that II this cannot be accomplished
there is possibility Of tarlfr legislation by this
Congress.