Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-08
ALL SAID "WAIT."
House Democratic Caucus on
Tariff Bill a FizzIe.
All Propositions to Instruct House
Conferees Sat on by Leaders.
Crisp and Wilson Think That Two we,ks
More viii Settle Question.

Ocratlc caucus, tOiay, lasted an hour and a
half and adjourned after deciding that the
House conferees on fhe ta,iff bill should
not be embarrassed by instructions of anv
character from their Democratic associates.
The entire proceedings were characterize ed
by spirit of harmony and good feeling
One hundred and sixty-n members, an
unusually large number, were present, in
Guiding Wilson and McMillin, two of the
House confereea, and Speaker Crisp. BY
mum, who was the moving spirit in securing
the caucus, offered the following resolu-
ton:
Whereas, House bill 4S4i, for the reduc-
ton of taxation and to provide revenue for
the goyernm ant, passed the House February
| and the Senate July g. and was sent to a
conference July last;
Whereas, The commercial interests of
the country is held in suspense awaiting the
final settlement of the question;
Whereas, The people of the whole coun-
try have, through the public press and by
petitions and memorials to both Houses Of
Congress, demanded speedy decision
that industries may, as soon as possible, be
adjusted to proposed changes;
Whereas, the conferees appointed by the
two Houses to hold full and free confer
ence over the disagreeing ones of the two
House have had matters in dispute under
consideration for one month and have
failed,to come to any agree ment whatever; :;
Whereas, the House of Representatives
which, under the constitution of the United
States, is clothed with exclusive power to
originate bills raising revenue, and is
therefore clothed with the right to pass up
on all amendments proposed by the Senate
freely and without restraint;
Whereas, the members of the House of
Representatives have not availed them
selves of the opportunity to consider said
Senate amendments or any of them which
right, under parliamentary law, is superior
to all others:
Whereas, it is currently believed that
said conferees are unable to agree; there
fore be it,
Resolved, First, that it is the sense of this
caucus that the Democratic sconferees of
the House and Senate should meet in
spirit of liberali y, to the end that the two
Houses, by mutual concessions, may agree
upon measure which will meet the ap-
proval of each. Second, the caucus stands
adjourned until o'clock Friday, Aug. Is,
in which time, in case no agreement is
reached, it shall reconvene to take such fur
ther action in the premises as it may deem
necessary and appropriate; and the chair
man of the House caucus is hereby author
ized and directed to invite the Democratic
senators to meet with the Democrats of the
House at that time in joint caucus.
Mr.. Bynum said, that as one of the Dem
ocrats who had been instrumental 10 circu-
lating the call, he desired to explain tn At no
reflection was intended on the House con.
ferees, in each of whom he had the utmost
confidence. His purpose in asking for tn
caucus was to permit all Democrats in tn,
House to meet, confer as to the best inter
ests Of the country and of the party. He
explained the purpose of his resolution and
stated that it was desirable that the Demo
Gratis of the House should invite the Senatt
conferees to appear before them at the sub
sequent caucus, in order that all official
representatives of the party in the city
should take part in such deliberations and
assist in reaching conclusion that would
meet with the approval of both Hous 5.
Mr.. Bynum said he knew that part of the
people, represented by the great clsmor in
the press demanded the House bill. He
knew also that the people in his district
favored the best bill they could get and the
prompt settlement of the present uncer-
tainty upon some bill. He preferred the
Senate bill to no bill at all.
Mr.. Wilson, chairman of the committee
on ways and means, said he was glad of an
opportunity to meet the Democrats in
council but might not have selected this
'ime for the purpose. He did not consider
10 bot 81 ok NH bo
situation is most critical, that call
for caucus should be held over the House
conferees. Mr. Bynum's resolution ex-
pressed exactly what the conferees had
been doing and were now doing.
Mr.. Wilson said the House bill proved
acceptable to the people, the Senate bill
had not. He appreciated the necessity of
the Democrats passing some bill, but it was
not desirable that the bill should be one
which put the Democrats on the defensive.
If necessary more than month might well
be spent in reaching an agreement upon the
proper bill. If the House conferees did
their duty and the House did its duty, he
believed the bill would result honorably
alike to House and Senate. This end would
not, in his opinion, be hastened by any ac-
ton that would seem to advise the Senate
conferees that, if they would bold out for
some definite short period of time, the
House conferees would agree with them.
Mr.. Wilson said this was the feeling of all
the House conferees that they desired to
carry out the programme along the line in
dicated. He intimated that if the present
conferees did not represent the wishes of
the majority of the Democrats in the House,
the would willingly give way to others.
Mr. Bland asked if it would not be
good thing for the committee on ways and
means to report bill putting sugar on the
free list. The suggestion evoked applause
and laughter. when Mr.. Bland continued:
"While the Senate is considering the pro-
position we can take up the bill to increase
the income tax to 500, 900, 900 year.
Mr.. Livingston offered this substitute for
Mr.. Bynum's resolution: Resolved, That
we have unlimited confidence in the House
conferees and request them to present q
tariff bill that will meet the pledges and
principles of the campaign and platform of
1892. Mr.. Bynum ssid the vote upon his
substitute would place the members
of the caucus in false position.