Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-13


took some time and members shifted un-
easily for the decisive action ahead.
Chairman Wilson's Statement.
Chairman Wilson took the floor immedi-
ately after the roll call and began a state
ment of the situation. He spoke calmly and
dispassionately and received the closest
attention. Members left their seats and
crowded eagerly about him, listening in
tently to every word. 1t is seldom that
such eager interest has been shown at a
caucus. Mr.. Wilson began with a recital of
the difficulties that have been encountered
de went over each stage Of the situat ton
with much detail. He said that each step
had been pursued with an ardent desire
TO support with honor the desires of the
House OF Representatives and to resist what
was regarded as the unreasonable demands
of the Senate.
Mr.. Wilson did not confine himself to gem
erallzation He took up the contested sched-
ules, particularly sugar, coal and iron ore
and reviewed the differences in conference
on these main Items He took I'D each prop-
osition on sugar and spoke of the vast prof
us TO the sugar trust which would result
from many Of these propositions. He did
not indulge in the sharp criticism that was
expected on the motives of the Senate con-
ferees.
A Startling RumOr.
While Mr.. Wilron was speaking the word
the conference in the Speakers room had
resulted in decisive action and that Speaker
crisp himself v ould move that the House
recede and accept the Senate BILL AT first
tne information was SO startling that IL
was doubted, but as member after mem
Der heard Ii ard made inquiry the opinion
became general among the best Informed
men In the House that the raport was cor
rect, although it could not be positively
'erined from Mr.. Crisp or the conferees
MI: wilson spoke of the fight made by
the House conferees for a specific duty on
sugar on the ground that under an ad va
lorem system II would be impossible TO tel,
on account of the invoice methods the ex-
act advantage which would accrue to the
sugar trust. He made the remarkable state
Inent tnat ne had been credibly informed
ana oeieved that the sugar trust had an
tcipating the enactment of the Senate
sugar schedule, purchased S112 600 600 worth
OF raw sugar If this were true, he said.
the Ponts accruing to the trust from this
investment in advance of the enactment of
the Senate schedule would be at least $40
W.op Mr. Wilson also pointed out at
length the embarrassment attending the
efforts to adjust the coal and iron sched-
ules.
The Battle With the Sugar Trust,
The great battle" said Mr. Wilson.
warming up to his subject. lis between the
american people and the sugar trust. 1t is
a battle in which the trust has taken the
people by the throat. and it will never end
until We throw OFF the grip"
There was enthusiastic applause Mt this
He proceeded to state that the House CON
1erees had been willing to concede almost
everything except these vital items of sugar
iron and coal; that the Senate conferees had
also seemed willing to concede much and
held much the same views, but were an
parently dominated by the knowledge that
IL they conceded what they were willing TO
conceoe, the Dill could not pass and the
agreement would be useless.
Mr.. Wilson concluded by saying that he
had now become satisfied 1t was either the
senate Dill or no legislation.
Mr.. Wilson closed at II :O5 O'clock ba WING
talked just an hour
Mr.. Montgomery then took the floor and
substantiated what Mr.. Wilson had said as
to the details Of the conference
Speaker Crisp's Resolution,
Mr. Crisp followed in the line of Mr..
Wilson. saying 1t was either the "Senate
bill or no BILL He said that as long as
there was desperate chance of securing
concessions the House demanded he was
in favor of standing out, but he was now
satisfied the time had come when further
I,sLstence py the House was useless. He
closed his remarks by Offering the follow
Ing resolutions:
Resolved. That 1t is the sense Of this
caucus that the order heretofore made
senate
the disagreeing votes Of the two Houses
on II. r. 1854 be rescinded. That the con-
ferees heretofore appointed on the part of
the House be discharged from further duty
IN that behalf and that the House recede
from Its disagreement to the Senate
amendments to said bill and agree to the
same.
Resolved. further, That the House shall
at once proceed to the consideration of
separate bills placing the following arti-
cies on the free list viz: Sugar in all its
forms. iron ore. coal and barbed WIRE
The committee on rules Is requested to
report an order providing for the prompt
consideration of such motion and bills.
This was adopted by an overwhelming
vote, the nays being almost insignificant.
Thanks to the House Conferees.
Representative Tucker Of Virginia then
offered a resolution thanking and COM
mending the House conferees for their loyal
service. The resolution was follows:
The democratic members of the Fifty
third Congress- in caucus assembled, hav-
ing learned from the conferees on the part
of the House on the tariff bill that, in their
opinions, an agreement with the Senate
coDferees Is now impossible. this caucus
desires to put on record its unqualified ar-
prevail Of the great struggle our conferees
have made for the adoption cf the House
bill or some kindred measure, and to as
sure them of our hearty approval of their
actions in the premises
This was adopted with shout Of ap-
proval.
A great burst of applause greeted the
reading of the resolution, but half a dozen
irate democrats were on their feet de-
maLding recognition, among them being
Bourke Cochran OF New York.
BOurke COckrnn's Opposition.
Owing to the lateness of the hour, a rule
was adopted limiting further speeches to
five minutes. Then Mr. Cochran, being rec
ognized. delivered a vigorous and eloquen.
speech against surrendering to the Senate
Better no tariff legislation than the Sen
ate bill," he said.
Mr.. Cochran declared that there was no
necessity for the House TO surrender as yet,
and challenged Mr.. Wilson's statement that
four democratic votes II the Senate would
be lost to the bill II the fight proce eded. He
demaEded the names of the four Senators,
but Mr.. Wilson refused to give them.
The Debate.
The previous question was demanded on
the Crisp resolution, AMI orde.ed by a vote
of 1I2 to q. Among those who voted
against the previous question were the
Louisiana members. Cochran of New York
AMI others. Thirteen minutes were then
given to the opponents of the resolution to
state their position.
Mr. McMillin followed in vigorous STYLE.
He repudiated the statement made by Mr..
Cochran that the Senate bill was worse
than the Mckinley law.