Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-30
The Tariff Situation Now More
Critical Than Ever.
NEITHER SIDE DISPOSED TO YIELD
The Proposed Caucus Has Added
to the Difficulty.
IODAY'S MEETING FRUITLESS

and shows less promise of settlement to-
DAY than heretofore. There is a very strong
In preston that no agreement can be reach
ed. III every republican in Congress is
truly anxious for the defeat of all IegisIa-
ton 1t seems possible for them to bring
1t about. The action of Mr. Springer and
others in the House in calling a caucus of
the democrats Cor the purpose of instruct
1ng the House conferees to yield to the
Senate has seriously embarrassed the situa-
ton- This action on Mr.. Springer's part
opens a fire in the rear of the House con-
ferees. and encourages the cOnferees on the
part of the Senate to continue in their un-
yielding attitude.
\ Fight Within the House.
Mr. Springers proposition amounts to a
fight against the House from within it's own
organization. For the caucus to take such
action would be practically to pass a vote
of lack of confidence in the conferees In
the eagerness for an adjournment there is
undoubtedly a considerable minority of
the democrats who would take most any
bill. but in the absence Of any intimatiOn
from the House conferees that they are in
O position where caucus instruction would
De acceptable TO them, Il movement of this
Sort is calculated TO cmbarrass them in
conference and TO destroy any prospect
they might have of gaining anything from
the Senate.
The Anti-CIeveIand Sentiment.
The anti-Clevel1nd sentiment-the desire
to down Cleveland-is believed to have a
great GeaI 20 do with the caucus PROPOSE
tion. 1t is said, further, that some of the
prime movers in the matter have got
ttnrough the Seuate) certain things fixed in
the bill to suit themselves, and are there
fore anxious 20 have the bill adopted, re-
gardiess OF its general character. Caucus
on legislation pending in the House or in
committee is quite usual. To caucus on a
dispute In conference without any intima-
tiOn fem the colfeFtes would be regarded
as extraordinary, 70 say the least. 1t is not
believed that anything can come from the
Caucus, but IL a majority of the democrats
assembled should vote in favor of yielding
to the Senate, unless the resolutions were
worCed in very vague terms IL is entirely
probable that the chairman of the ways
and means committee and other members
of the conference would construe this ac-
tion as an expression of lack of confidence
and would resign from their positions.
Should such a situation as this develop it
would not be surprising if Mr.. Cleveland
would veto the bill.
Before the conference reported. pro forma.
O general disagreement they had actually
agreed on good many of the schedules,
the House rates or practically SO standing.
1t is understood now, however, that the
Senate confereeS have gone back on all
these agreements, and insist upon the Sen
ate bill in every particular.
The Caucus Is Not Called On.
Representative Springer is proceeding
with his petition for a House caucus on The
tariff. He says the report that the move
for a caucus has been abandoned Is not
warranted, and that it was merely held in
allegiance.
1T may be found desirable" said he. ito
put of the time from Tuesday to We'd
pesday in order to give the .onferees fur
ther time to come together, but if 1t be-
comes apparent today that there is dead
lock then the caucus will be held tomor-
row.
Mr.. Springer says a caucus is altogether
desirable at the present time and that it
will be In the line of precedent of caucus
action always heretofore had during the
pendency Of a tariff bill. While the Mills
bill was pending" said he, I'VE caucused
almost daily. In the present contest the
democratic Senators have been caucusing
Constantly and their present resistance is
the result of caucus action in which they
agree to stand together. 1t Is rather sim
gular, therefore, that there should be any
question as to the desrability of having
the House democrats get together. When
the banking committee, of which 1 am
chairman. was considering the state bank
question, caucus was called without con-
sulting me and caucus resolution was
passed favoring a state bank bill TO whlch
i was opposed. But / took no exception
to that action, nor should there be excep-
tion to move at any time TO get an ex-
preston from the entire democratic repre-
sentation in the House. Certainly this SEN
timent is what should guide and direct the
conferees who act for the House, and, IN
my judgment, 80 per cent OF the demo
cratic members of the House 1eel tnat
way"
Consulted With No One.
Mr.. Sprir ger has been asked if he had
consulted Speaker Crisp or Chairman Will
son as to the caucus. To this he has
answered that he had consulted no one and
did not feel called upon to do so. He had
proce eded as a democratic member OF the
House and in this was executing what was
known to be the inclination OF very large
proportion of the democrats of the House
Chairman Holman of the democratic eau
Gus committee says the only question as
to the caucus is the date. He agrees with
Mr. Springer that the meeting may be put
OF for a day to let the democratic conferees
come together although IL will be held to-
morrow IL il is clear that deadlock exists
Neither side VIII Yield.
When the House conferees came to the
House for their noon recess 1t was made
known that the two hours discussion with
the Senators had been fruitless in reaching
any basis of agreement. The Senators had
been unyielding and the House men had
been equally determined. Nor was any
middle ground proposed which save hope
for the future. 1t was a deadlock in every
sense OF the word MeHlDeTS Ol lLc I1OuSe
heard this news with much misgiving. as
they had hoped the two extremes would at
least see some basis of agreement ahead,
even if il was not actually reached
Met and Adjourned.
The full conference committee on the
tariff met shortly after 1 o'clock, and on
suggestion of Mr.. Wilson, il was decided to
adjourn to meet at the call of the chairman,
the statement being made that the demo-
Gratis were unable to agree among them
selves as Vet, and further conference of the
full committee would avail nothing.
Springer and Barbcd Wire.
The conference today accomplished moth
ing. The Senate conferees are simply H.
sisting on the Senate bill exactly as it is in
every particular. There is no question but
they are more conf lent in their position on
account of the Springer move for caucus.
1t Is said III explanation of Mr.. Springer's s
anxiety to have the Senate bill accepted
that he wants to preserve the Senate rate of
duty on barbei wire fencing.
The House rate was about 35 per cent,
ard, by what is known in the House as the
springer amendment" which was adopted
In of Nr aIy he rat Ua