The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-01
CAUCUS ON THE TARIFF BILL.
pruocRATIc SENATORS BEPUDIATE
THE WILSON MAKESHIFE

n. Bill Reeonuitted 90 the Full Demo-
.r,,ic Membership OF the Finance COM
-ut-s, with the Understanding that It
viii he SO Amended ne 60 Receive the
U,,r,mou. suppert OF the Party In the
s.,.,.-Tse Comu,Ittee Expected TO Re-
art III. Biu TO the Senate on Tuesday
S.st-sp,.ehe, by senator. Gormnu. Tiiii.
..s Nurpby-A Proposition to Put = Duty
,s 30 Gents Ton o. Iro- Defeated by
o,,y Two Votes, with Two se-stor- All
..,,-TAe Comuaittee 10 Restore Irop,
r,,,, aad sag ar 20 the Dutiabis List, md
a Make Other Changes In Accordance
wits the Views Expressed In tn, Caucus.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S-The Wilson Tariff
Mi has run tho gauntlet Of the Senate caucus
md has reached the end OF the line pretty
h.alv wounded. The result OF the three days
oorfarepce OF the Democratic Senators IL
Che Abortion of n resolution introduced by
sena,or Voorhees, expressing the sense OF the
caucus that a tariff measure should be per-
fscted which will carry out the policy Of
tho Democratic party. To omplish this
the Wilson bill will be taken from the control
OF the sub-committee OF the three Southern
free traders To- m ORE w and sent to the Finance
Committee. to be licked into shape in accord
snce with tho views EXPRESSED by
the Democrats Senators in caucus. and
particularly those who were in session
last night at Senator Brice's residence.
Mr.. Voorhees, resolution is couched In very
ambiguous language and literal translation
OF IL would not furnish correct idea OF just
what the caucus intends to have done. What
the resolution means, however. is that tho so
called conservative" Democrats have served
notice on their free trade colleagues that tho
Wilson bill must be amen ded so as to be ac-
eeptable to those Senators who want the tariff
duties equi,ably distributed on a revenue
raising basis. or that the bill will 10 defeated
In the Senate.
Chairman Voorhees, OF the finance Commit
tee is not reputed to lie very wise man. nor
IL his knowledge o! the tariff question pro-
found. He Is wise and shrewd enough. how
ever. to know when he is beaten. and the voice
ofbis Dem cratic colleagues in caucus was
too loud and emphatic to DO at all uncer-
tain For several days the " free trad
srs" have declared that they would not
yield But they will. Tho break in the
line came to day when the vote was taken on
Senator Tuch's motion expressing the sense
OF the caucus that the Wilson bill should be
amended by placing q duty OF fifty cents q
ton on iron ore. This motion was fol-
lowed by one made by Senator Martin
OF Kansas to put lead. copper. salt.
lumber. and sugar and agricultural prod
ucts generally on the dutiable list. The
row then began and continued all day. nearly
OIL! the Senators taking part in it Finally the
vote was taken. and, to the utter consterna-
ton OF the free trade element. the result was
~ yeas to ~ nays, TWO senators. one OF them
Mr.. Hill. not voting. This vote showed the
free traders" and the ''conservatives,' that
save the bill they must Yield to the demands
OF those Senators who insist on amendments
hs n result sS adopoa o the
RESOLUTION. which the senators Of both sides e,
justment of our differences"
1t was again the conservative and astute
senator German OF Maryland who brought the
fore when they were on the verge Of u disas-
trons, fHetional fignt. He made u long. able.
and shrewd speecn ut the afternoon session OF
the caucus, urging his Democratic colleagues
10 cast aside their differences and get together
~ sSopSfs % Si that will not only receive
bug that will DO endorsed by the Democrats
throughout the country, and on which the
Of TO the defeat which surely. confronts them
!! they cling 10 the FREQ trade chariot; Mr..
against anybody. but he pointed out In NJ
uncertain language that the Wilson bill
asst present framed isa piece OF crazy patch
measure, neither iRriE for revenue only bill
nor an equItahly distributrd scheme OF taxa
lion. lie said that sono OF Its provisions
would be fatal - tho Democratic party in GER
tain States. that I. Was unfair unjust. I'M
democratic. and un-American throughout.
He said that thoBs senators. OF whom he
himself Is one. who desire amendments
sncies they rspr.Senti Should be IIs SSd to
and their advice Needed. and he urged that the
bill to framed. not In accordance with the
theories VI tarln rstorIner alone. bur to meet
the necessities of the American producer and
consumer. and to make II a measure that could
NOT be successfully attacked by the Republican
During his speech Mr.. German was inter-
rupted by more than dozen Of the Senators
representing tho so-eallsd free trade element
and was piled right and left with questions
which served to bring out not ONLY his master
ful Qualities rs n shrswd political leader. but
also his consum mate knowledge OF tho de-
tails OF tho tariH question. To all the inter-
rugtions lie r"pl:ed IA perfect, good nature
aud never dis played moro ability as a party
manager than he did today.
vs Senator Murphy made his maiden speech
Guessed many OF the leading business interests
edge Of the industries OF that State. He was
listened to with close attention, and he created
disputed points in the controversy over the
Sroteetion asked tor tho collars andicufls in
duty on these articles retained. '"'
Senator Hill also continued his speech OF
o. the az yalorsIn and specific system OF du-
tea Mr.. Mils is the great exponent In
Congress Of adNalorem duties and he defend
ed his theory with yiGor. senator Hin
took direct issue with him and claimed that
the sd yAloremlsystsm is not only wrong In
principle. but Impractical Of execution There
were other speeches from Senators on both
sides Of the question. bur no vote was taken.
except that on the question OF placing duty
Inon iron ore. No vote was necessary after
According 10 the informal agreement In the
caucus the b. will be taken 40 to- an Orrow bV
nn .'nnAhee Committes and considered until
me- hS' tuesday, when. i !. to be reported 70
kne senate The conservative" EenatOrs
have. OF course. no written contract
with the members OF the Finance Com
sgreepent OF the caucus. but they have no
tsAI hhatsVer that any attempt will be made
70 eyade the rule o. procedure as Indicated ~
we vote on the iron schedule and the speeches
o. the various Senators ia behalf Gf the induA-
ested '' 'N's''
IL 10 understood that the following are the
tslp33ttant changes TO be made in the hill by
we finance Committee in accordance with the
fSusIs agresmeHt; sugar Will be protected
" a DUTY OF eiRht-tsnths OF one cent per
20 pound with an increase OF one-tenth OF a cent
On eaeh grade from SOt 100. the b u est grade
Nus carrying q duty Of one cent per pound