Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-10
1t Has Excited Much Indignation
Among Democrats in Congress.
SPECULATION As TO HIS SUPPORT
With Republican Aid He May De-
feat the Tariff Bill.
TO DRAW LINES TIGHTER

An immense amount of Indignation has
been excited among democrats in Congress
by MIR. Hills speech There has not at any
time been any doubt in the minds of those
who have held their eyes and ears open that
Mr.. Hill would oppose the tariff bill to the
last ditch and then cast his vote with the
republicans. The boldness of his speech and
the freedom with which he takes position
concerning which there can be no doubt
leads to the inference that he feels confident
of a sufficient following to render his efforts
effective. OF course, under the rules of the
Senate it would not be impossible task
for him, aided by the republicans, to pre-
vent the bill coming to a vote for many
months, but 1t is believed that he has conf
dence in his possession of a greater power
and that he will try to defeat the bill by
votes
Speculation to His support.
The speculation is as to whether he will be
sustained in his position by Murphy and
by Smith With those two votes to sustain
him he could Kill the bill. There are six
or seven Senators on the democratic side
of the chamber who will vote to strike the
income tax feature out of the bill, but there
is doubt felt that all but these three
will vote for the bill finally, even If the
income tax is retained. On the other hand,
the bill, even if that feature were stricken
out
When Croker was here during the con-
sideration of the Wilson bill in the House
he disclosed his purpose to have the bill
defeated, regardless of the income tax, but
thought that clause would furnish good
reason for the attack upon the bill 1t is
pretty well understood that Mr. Hills sem
timents do not differ greatly from those of
Mr. Croker in this respect. Indeed he dis
closed almost as much in his speech, and
it is not thought that the bill could be so
changed as to get his vote.
The Income Tax Not to De Stricken
Out.
There is very little chance that the in
come tax will be stricken from the bill in
the Senate. Ii is believed that more repub-
licans will VOTE with one motive and an
other, to retain that feature in the bill
than there will be democrats who will vote
to strike it out. But If ii were possible to
strike it out of the bill in the Senate the
sentiment in favor of an income tax is so
strong in the House that no agreement
could be reached on a bill not including it.
1t is generally conceded therefore that the
two propositions of a reduction of duties
and the levying of an income tax must
stand or fall together
The action of the republicans in agreeing
that the tariff bill should occupy the time
of the Senate each day this week with1 1t
interruption, from l O'Clock until ), is of
that the democrats were anxious about the
vote expected today on MIR. Harris PROPOSE
ton for the Senate to meet at IL O'Clock
each day. They were not at all certain
that the motion would not fail, and its
failure would practically have sealed the
doom of the tariff bill. Aside from the pos
sibility, perhaps probability, that the mo-
ton would fail, there was threatened when
when the Senate adjourned yesterday that
systematic tlibuster would be inaugur-
ated at once.
The terms of the agreement offered by
Mr.. Aldrich today were in effect lust NhaI
Mr.. Harris wanted and q great feeling of
relief followed
Why the Republicans Agreed
what Induced the republicans to make
the agreement is matter of doubt 1t NAV
have been no more than desire on their
part to avoid the starting of a flibus1er
thus early in the proceedings which would
hecessltate long sustained effort with ex-
haustlng consequences
II may be that they are confident enough
In their ability, with the aid of Mr.. Hin
ana his friends, to defeat the bill on a di-
rect vote. But what is more shrewdlv
Regarded as the fact in the case is that
those democrats who are working with
the republicans interposed to prevent
test vote being forced at this time which
would neceSs tate their all openlv taking
position on one side or the other at the
very outset AT all events, a very interest,"
ing vote was avoided, to the qualification
of both sides of the conflict
VIII Pass the BILL
1t is the purpose of the advocates of the
bill after they have run along through this
week under the agreement, to try to get
something better and from time to time to
press harder and harder upon the OPPOSE
ton, so as to draw the lines tighter and
tighter at every turn of the wheel
Some of the democratic Senators profess
10 ieel a relet since Hill has defined his
position and say that there may be Sem
ators as much opposed TO the bill as he who
Will be satisfied TO let him occupy that
position alone. feeling as they will that il
disposes of him as a possible candidate for
the presidency.