The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-13

Wilson did not see the President through
the day. The meetings Of the House men
among them as to the line or action at the
caucus tomorrow and in the subsequent
proceedings OF the Senate and House. They
reviewed the situation from every possible
STANDPOINT, and prepared themselves FOR all
emergencies. AS one Of them said tonight,
and learning the topography of The ground
on the night before the great fight.
At the outset the House conferees salts
fed themselves of the parliamentary situa-
ton OF the bill. They had done this with
the greatest care toward securing accu-
rate and authoritative decision. Speaker
Crisp had been asked TO examine with care
the precedents bearing on the case, and it
was understood that he had in turn con-
suited with Secretary Carlisle, who, as ex-
Speaker Of the House OF Representatives,
is regarded one OF the best authorities
on parliamentary procedure. From the ex-
aminati0ns which had been made the con-
fereeS were fully satisfied that the House
OF Representatives had the right to pass
the Senate bill now or at any time. This
determination went much further than has
heretofore been understood 1t was that the
House, having the actual physical posses
sion of the bill, could pass 1t With the Sem
ate amendments before the Hill resolution
passed tomorrow or after the Hill resou-
ton was defeated. That is, SO confident
pass the bill any time that they regarded
their rights as entirely unaffected by any,
thing the Senate could do with the Hill
resolution, or with any other reso-
luton They recognize that there were
some precedents against this position, but
they regarded the overwhelming force of
authority with them, and they therefore
accepted it as settled that the House had
supreme authority over the bill without
reference TO what the Senate might do to-
morrow or thereafter
HAVE THE RIGHT TO PASS IT.
This conclusion was of the utmost i'm
portance in bearing on the action of the
caucus tomorrow. 1t assured them, in the
first place, that there was no need of pre-
cipitate action towards accepting the SEN
ate bill before Mr.. Hills resolution had
passed. This resolution could be taken UP
in the Senate at II o'clock, and it had been
feared at first that the House caucus
which begins at 10 o'clock, would be COM
PEELED to take hasty action in accepting
the Senate bill, in order to prevent the
House from losing its opportunity to pass
the Senate bill by the adoption of the Hill
resolution. 1t was agreed, however that
no such haste was necessary. On the con-
trary. 1T was felt that the House, in having
possession OF the bill and a parliamentary
right TO pass 1t at any time had every
thlnS TO gain and nothing to lose by de-
iiberate action. Under these circumstances
it was deemed advisable to inform the
House fully as to the situation, and TO ex-
plain that precipitation in accepting the
senate bill would gain nothing, while de-
liberate action in waiting TO see what the
Senate would do might accomplish much
good.
1t was pointed out, in this connection.
mat the House need be in no fear of the
Hin resolution being rushed through. Mr..
Wilson and his associates have some strong
friends in the Senate, notably Senator'S
Villas. Gray. Lindsay and others. who could,
if the occasion required, insist a very
complete debate of the Hill resolution,
which might last from day 10 day This
the House conferees regarded as assuring
them a breathing SPELL and as making il
plain that the House need not rush to its
afVnfa
House conferees did not believe that it was
necessary or prudent for the House caucus
tomorrow morning to then and there pass
q resolution to at once accept the Senate
bill They realize the situation SO crit
ical that the question OF accepting the SEN
ate bill might come before the caucus and
develop such overwhelming and resistless
strength that it would be useless to op
pose il. They were prepared for this
emergency, and We're ready TO accept ii if
ii came They would not, however, coun-
sci il themselves, and if it came it would
have to be the outgrowth Of this spon-
taneouS sentiment in the caucus. 1t was
felt, however, that dispassionate state
ment of the case, showing that the House
would lose none of it's rights to pass the
Senate bill by deferring action for day
or so, would bring about a conservative re-
suit in the caucus. Exactly what this ac-
ton win be was not definitely outlined, al
though the House conferees felt that il
would perhaps be best for the caucus to ad-
journ and wait TO see what the Senate did.
Then, if need be, another caucus could be
held and more intelligent action taken after
the Senate had acted.
HILL MAY BE DEFEATED.
In the meantime the House would lose
nothing If the Hill resolution were de-
feated-and the House conferees think there
is at least an even chance of it's defeat
then the conference between the Senate and
r House could be resumed with every pros
pect, in the judgment of the House con-
ferees, that a speedy agreement and report
could be reached. If, on the other hand, it
was passed, then the second caucus could
accept the Senate bill or take such other ac-
conferees felt there would be nothing lost
by waiting for the Senate to show what it
intended 20 do. AS yet, they say, the Hill
resolution and similar moves in the Senate
are merely menaces, and ii is well enough
to wait and see if they become accomplished
facts.
Meantime the Senate is quiescent and is
shall have had an opportunity to express
itself on the situation. There is undoubted-
ly a desire on the part of the large majority
of the Democratic Senator's, practically all
Of them, unless it may be the Louisiana
Senator's, to have the House take pos
session of the bill. This is due to the gen.
eral belief in the Senate that the House will
accept the Senate amendments and that the
Senate bill will thus become law, and to
the fear that if the bill should again so to
the Senate it would be indefinitely post
poned, while, the other hand, it is be-
lieved that if the House should agree to the
Senate amendments the Senate would ac-
quiesce in this action and waive the tech
nical objections which might be raised over
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