Evening journal., 1894-03-01
TARIFF CAUCUS ENDED.
Bill Returned to the Committee
Without Instructions.
FIGHT MAY NOT BE SETTLED YET.

aud Go Into Close Conference Isiand
Got His Quorum, but Soon Lost IL Again.
Frye Makes Another Hawaiian speech.
WAsHIxGToN, March The Democratic
senatorial caucus on the tariff bill Is over. /
and both sides are claiming TO have made /
progress for the interests they represent.
The outcome Is in the nature Of a victory |
for the Democratic members Of the finance |
committee, who prepared the bill, as it was |
returned to them without any instructions |
TO make changes.
Immediately after the adjournment of |
the caucus Senators German, Brice, Hill, |
Smith, Murphy, Camden and one or two |
others, who have been known to he very |
much opposed to the bill Of the finance !
committee as it was prepared by the com
mittee, held n consultation, and their atti.
tude was in direct contrast with the mem
bers Of the finance committee.
During the three days while the tariff
bin was being considered but one vote was
taken, and that but few minutes before
adjournment. This was on a proposition
TO instruct the finance committee TO put
iron ore on the dutiable list without fixing
any rate whatever, and this was lost by
vote Of 10 TO IA.
Pugh VIII Not 30 Bound.
Senator Pugh Of Alabama stated that he
would not be bound by the action Of the
caucus and reserved the right 20 support
his motion in the senate. Several senators
at once declared that It would be useless to
take any more votes, because IL senators
did not intend TO abide by the action Of the
caucus 20 put an end to the power Of the
caucus.
Soon after this Senator Voorhees,, chair
man Of the finance committee, moved that
the caucus adjourn to meet at the call Of
the chairman, with the understanding that
the finance committee should continue its
work on the bin and report il as soon as
possible. 1t is said that Senator Brce
passed the adjournment resolution to SEN
ator Voorhees,, with a request that he
present it, Senator Brice, who was one of
the prime movers in the caucus and who
during its sessions has had as much TO say
| in criticism Of the bill as any other senator,
said that the result could not be considered
in the light of defeat for those who were
| instrumental in bringing about the eau
Gus They went into il with not more than
one-quarter or one-third of the Democrats
Of the senate in accord with them, and
they came out about equally divided on the
only proposition upon which there was any
test whatever. Further, the men who had
called the caucus adjourned IT, The Ohio
senator claimed that a great deal had been
accomplished in presenting to the commit
tee the ideas and wishes of individual SEN
ators upon the tariff. He believed it had
been demonstrated to them that certain
schedules in the bill did not meet the ap-
proval of a large number of senators, and
done in more impressive manner than
could have been doue without the caucus.
L NI.. L.. NaaNN
every senator, and that was a great deal
more than many had been able to obtain.
He said every Democratic senator between
now aud the time when the bill is reported
will be accorded hearing by members OF
the finance committee
Committee Claims Victory.
While members of the finance committee
are generally retieent, what they do say
and what their friends say indicates that
they feel that the caucus has resulted in a
vindication of the bill which they have
prepared, aud instead OF being instructed
by the caucus they are free TO present such
bill as they think is best suited to the
principles of the party and the necessities
Of the revenue.
1t is claimed that those who brought
about the caucus expected to secure votes
instructing the committee TO place duty
on wool, iron ore, sugar, lumber, salt and
a number Of other articles and increase The
duty on sugar and coal, and yet upon the
strongest proposition they fell short two
votes. IL is also alleged that the caucus
prompters endeavored to have the mem-
hers OF the committee bind themselves to
abide the result Of the caucus and yet the
men most interestedin in iron ore announced
that they would not abide the result when
they sustained defeat
Opinion seems to be divided as to wheth-
err the committee will now make any
changes. The impression is that some
changes Of a minor nature will be made, as
well as some concessions granted where
the demands have been apparently just and
where the changes will not necessitate 9th
er changes IN the bill. These matters were
brought out in the conference held with
Senator Voorhees, while the senate was IN
session. At that time Senator Voorhees,
talked about sugar. He said his constitu-
ents might sustain him in voting a duty
on sugar because he felt toward Louisiana
as he did toward neighbor, and the duty
would result in revenue, but they would
not sustain him in voting Go give the Sug
ar trust any advantage over the producers
He would like TO grant some concession.
20 the Louisiana senators, but could moi
! MAKE sNcN CONCESSIONS as lueN demanded
/ This IS regarded as the sentiment of the
caucus 10y those who were its promoters
il is thought that if the finance committe,
D makes any changes ia the bill they will b,
almost entirely on the lines suggested los
Senator VOORHEES,.
German Asks For Harmony.
The afternoon session of the caucus pre-
seuted some interesting features, and al
though il was expected that there woul,
be more voting and not very much talk &
turned out that it was devoted almost ok
d, clusively TO talk. Senator German mad
, the principal speech OF the afternoon
. was moderate and conciliatory in tone. ll
said great deal about the necessity of par
ty harmony and Of getting a bill tha
would command the solid support of th
e Democratic party.
v Several senators expressed the belief tina
4 Il would be impracticable 70 attempt Q
amend or make tariff bin in caucu,
Senator Pugh's motion for a duty on iro