Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-25
DESPERATE EMOCRATS.
Resolved to Pass q Tariff Bill at ANY
Cost.
Democratic Votes Secured Mt All
Changed If Necessary.

by this Congress through the medium of
public sentiment or anything else over
look the almost reckless desperation to
which the democrats are reduced by the
difficulties which they are encountering.
They have reached point where they have
decided that at whatever cost 1t may be
they will pass tariff bill speedily. If to
do so they have to sacrifice item after
item of the measure to placate dissatisfied
democrats, they will make the sacrifice.
They propose to secure the support Of all
the democratic Senators, either by CO.
ercion concession, and then. having a
majority Of the Senate ready to vote for
the bill. to force vote by whatever means
are necessary for the accomplishment Of
this object.
Will Change the Rules IL Necessary.
The speech Of Mr.. Mills In the Senate
yesterday materialized the spirit Of his
party. If 1t Is necessary to change the
rules Of the Senate to pass the bill they
will turn in for that, regardless Of the
previous attitude of the party on that
question. If, in order to accomplish q
change in the rule 1t is necessary for the
Vice President to take an arbitrary posi-
ton and override traditions, as Mr.. Reed
did in the House, it Is said that the Vice
President will do this. The one PROPOSE
ton is to pass the oill and to pass 1t
soon. 1t is not proposed to permit any
delicacy Of feeling or regard for consist
ency and tradition to interfere.
Any Means to Secure Votes.
Any means necessary to secure the sup
port of a majority for the bill will be re-
sorted to. and after that whatever meth
DDS are required to force a vote will be
adopted They regard IL as a ground
h<~rr c,,I
BILL even II they have to smash .hings in
doing it, and IL the bill after passage
amounts to no more than one Of the single
pop-gun bills put through the House by
Mr.. Springer during the last Congress.
This is the upshot Of their conferences on
the matter.
A Compromise Tariff Bill.
1--WE have got a tariff bill which will
pass" said Senator Brice of Ohio today "It
will go through early in June or perhaps be-
fore that; at least as soon as the repub-
licans get through talking. The bill which
has been agreed upon is one which Will re-
| ceive the support of the entire democratic
party in the Senate. 1t has been made up by
Secretary Carlisle. representing the admins
tration, and who has had frequent CONSUL
tations with the President, and Senator
Jones, representing the finance committee,
Senators Cockrell, German, myself and
others, who have interested themselves, and
the result has been a bill which will meet
| the approval of the democratic Senate"
Senator Brice was asked to specific
items, in which ii Is supposed changes have
| been made, and said that he could give no
specihc changes. II those having actual
charge of the matter cared to make known
the changes they might. but he did not care
to say anything about them.
How Ii Has Been brought About.
| I'VE have taken the Senate bill, the Nc.
kinley bill, the Mills bill and such informa-
ton as has been furnished, and made a
tariff bill that will pass"
| How will 1t be brought into the Senate?'
| THE changes will be in the form OF
| amendments offered as finance COMMITTEES
amendments to the pending BILL and will
be supported by the democrats of the
| Senate
Asked further as to details, Senator Bric,
said that he could not give them. AS fol
himself he had not asked a thing or under
| taken to dictate a single schedule.
| Il have aimed" said he ito secure a re
duction of about 30 per cent from the Nc
Kinley law, and that is about what tn,
| reductions will average"
A Modified Income Tax.
'The income tax will stay?" he wa.
asked.
Eyes, with some changes and limita
tions.'
Continuing, Senator Brice said: "Wher
the bill passes it will go to conference. A
strong conference committee will be nameS
and there will no doubt be some changes
| made but in the end bill will pass. Ther
| the democratic party will have redeemed
the three principal promises it made, tn,
repeal of the silver purchase act. the re
peal of the election laws and the enactmen
| of reform tariff measure"
| What Senator Jones Says.
Senator Jones of the finance committee
| when asked about the current report tina
| a compromise had been reached on th'
tariff bill, said that no agreement had beer
made. He admitted that there had beer
numerous conferences among democrati,
Senators with view of adjusting the diff
ference supposed to exist, but said tina
there could be no agreement until all tn
pers ons interested in the changes on botl
sides of the question had given their as
sent, and also that If he felt disposed TO "
into details it would be impossible to do -
at this time, and they had not been agreed
| to even by those who had the matter il
hand. The Senator expressed himself Al
very hopeful that the party would soon b.
united on the bill, but farther than this h
would not CO.