Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-13
A RACE FOR Time.
Fate of the Tariff Bill as Uncer-
tain as Ever.
House Depended on to Secure Some
Sort Of Tariff Legislation.
Fight is Now Wilson ksains. Mckinley Not
House Against Senate.

uShsV Nyaih SehaASs
WASHINGTON, Aug. l2.-The week just
ended left the tariff bill hanging io mid-air,
What its condition will be by the time the
present week has ended the most sanguine
politician will not predict. The belief is
that time for action has arrived and the long
and tlresome struggle is about 10 cease.
The situation has become clear to certain
extent that it is no longer question of
choice between the Senate bill aud the Will
son bill, bnt between the Senate bill and
the Mckinley law. At the conference of
the conservatives and the steering commit
tee of the Democrats, Saturday, the opin-
ion was general that the Hill resolution
would pass by a good majority if vote
was taken, and il was believed then that Il
vote would be reached tomorrow afternoon.
A Senate conferee said, this afternoon,
that if the Senate passed the resolution the
conferees would certainly bring in diss-
greeing report and the Senate would hold
that it had the bill before il subject TO action.
What action will be there is no contrariety
OF views, as Democrats and Republicans
alike now admit that if the bill gets before
the Senate again, it will be defeated.
Democrats who want TO see some sort of
a tariff passed by this Congress, look to the
House for political salvation, and the situa-
ton nows appears to be race for time.
The House, in caucus, will be urged to
take up the Senate bill, accept
It as it came to that body, and
thus end the struggle, some of the
Democratic authorities on parliamentary
law in both branches maintainiug that this
can be done legally, although the bill is now
in conference. At least its show of legal
,ty would be as good as that contemplated
by the senator's 10 demanding disagreeing
report on the bill, so that they may kill it,.
No business of any kind can be done in the
Senate until this tangle is unravelled, and
it appears that there are votes enongh to
keep the matter before the Senate GER
tain number of hours each day.
1t Is said that, by Monday, it will be
proved to the Louisiana senators that they
cannot get the bounty, which, it is asserted,
the House conferrees promised them, and
as soon as they know this, they will again
vote as they did before on all motions in
tended to help defeat the bill. Yesterday,
they voted in favor of going into executive
on a similar question in the opposite direc-
non. The debate on Hills resolution will
begin promptly after routine morning bust
ness, Monday. Leading Democrats, leagued
with the administration in this issue, say
that there will no. be any effort at filibuster-
ing against it.
The only item Of business arranged for
the House this week ia caucus of the
Democratic members called for 10, tomor-
row morning, to determine upon the policy
to be pursued with respect to the tariff bill.
Upon the issue of that caucus probably will
largely depend the subsequent proceedings
of the House. If it shall be determined
that business is to be continued, it will un-
doubtedly be proceeded with along the lines
followed during the past few weeks.
Few committees still remain on the list of
applicants which have not been awarded a
day for the consideration of business re-
ported from them and the committee on
rules feel inclined, if the opportunity and
time remain, to grant them the same privi-
leges the other committees have enjoyed.
Under the rules the committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia may ask for tomorrow's
session to consider its business.
The night before the House caucus
which will settle the fate of the pending
tariff legislation, finds the Democratic
leaders in that body, who have charge of
the measure, calm in spirit and confident
Of a satisfactory solution of the knotty
problem before them. The House con-
ferrees were not in session today, but
Messrs. Wilson and Breckinridge spent
most of the afternoon talking over the
situation. They were joined, later, by
several gentlemen, and the understanding
is, tonight, that no opposition will be made
at tomorrow's caucus to motion to concur
in the Senate amendments to the tariff BILL
There have been some questions as to the
Presidents wishes regarding the caucus.
1t was thought in some quarters, yesterday,
that he might use his influence with the
House leaders to prevent caucus and thus
continue the contest between the two
Houses. There is no good reason to be-
lieve that the President will attempt to in
terfere.
One of the most distinguished Democrats
in public life, gentleman deeply interest sted
in the House bill, saw the President, this
morning, and explained TO him at consider
able length the situation az viewed from the
House standpoint. incidentally mention
was made of tomorrow caucus, and the
President had nothing to say with reference
to it. He did not approve of it. or did he
condemn it, but was apparently as indif-
ferent to its result as though it was a mere
matter of routine action.
Another subject of speculation, today.
was what action the President will take if
the Senate bill be sent to him. Will he
veto it, or sign it, or permit it to: become a
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