Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-06
The Democratic House Caucus on the
Wilson Bill Was
A MOST HARMONIOUS MEETING,
Resolutions Unanimously Adopt
ed Declaring IL to Be the Sense
OF the Meeting That Democrats
Should Attend the Sessions of
the House and Vote-No Oppo-
sition to the Tariff Bill Devel.
Oped.
spee.si 7.l.crsm 70 a, R.s,..r.

resoi'eu lIseIi into Democratic tariff
reform love feast" said Chairman Will
son tonight, as he came out OF the
Democratic caucus which was call ed
for the purpose of considering the tariff
bill, and all that the other members said
bore out the truth OF Mr.. Wilson's
remark. The "kickers" were cowed
and made ashamed Of themselves at
the start by the speech which Speaker
Crisp made. In this speech he briefly
recalled the record OF the party
on the tariff question aud
the innumeraele pledges 1t had
made OF reforming the tariff and
the right the country had to expect and
demand the prompt fulGllment OF these
pledges. The assembage wildly cheer
ed the strong words OF the speaker, and
not an ntterance was made during the
discussion which followed that
did not recognize the necessity
OF passing the Wilson bill. The
whole burden OF complaint OF those who
bave heretofore been objecting to the
tariff schedules OF the bill, was against
the income tax feature. Not a man in
timated that IL he did not obtain
amendments TO the bill be would vote
against II, and with the ad adjournment OF
the caucus the conviction became deep
er than ever that the bill will pass the
House substantially as 1t comes from the
committee.
WAsHNGToN, d. c., January 5.-The
Democratic caucus met In the hall OF
the House OF Representatives at eight
O'Clock tonight TO consider the Wilson
tarlf bill. There was a good attend
ance Judge Holman was Chairman
and Mr.. Anderson, Secretary OF the eau
Gus. Although the roll call showed
only l24 members present, many came
In during the call. and it was estimated
that there were 147 Democrats in at
tendance when the proceedings began
There are 2l6 Democrats in the Bouse,
and caucus quorum is los. The
attendance indicated that In the neigh
oorhood OF forty who are in the city
remained away. There were no CON
spicuous absences among the ''kickers."
As soon as the roll had been called, on
motion II was decided to lmi. the
speeches TO five minutes each.
General Wheeler. who was one OF the
prime movers in the caucus project,
then took the floor aud made a vigorous
speech against the proposition to place
coal and iron ore on the free list
Speaker Crisp followed. He offered a
resolution declaring IL was the duty Of
every Democrat TO vote for the consid-
GRAFTON OF the tariff bill and also that IL
was the duty OF all Democrats To attend
the sessions OF the House and maintaia
quorum, until the tariff bill
IS disposed Of. In ringing speech the
Speaker took occasion TO rather sharply
reprimand Democrats who had been re-
sponsbie for the inactioD Of tho House
during the past three days. He said
that the proper way To act for
those who were dissatisfied would
be TO take the bill up and
have II considered. They would be given
an opportunity to offer their amend
ments and these amendments under the
terms OF the resolution OF the cons nit
tee on rules could be voted upon. The
majority could decide. No member
would lose any Of his rights
and IL would be 10 the
honor and credit Of the party TO 90 for.
ward and legislate. The party has been
given commission from the people.
and IL was us duty TO carry it out The
spectacle Of the past three DAYS had
been a disgrace to the large Democratic
majority 10 the House. and be sincerely
hoped that IL would not be repeated.
The words Of the speaker we're loudly
cheered.
General Sickles. Of New York. I'm re-
plying TO the Speaker. declared that 10
was no part Of the duty OF any Demo
crat 20 vote for the consideration OF a
revenue bill, some OF the features Of
which had not yet been reported by the
committee. lie directed his assault
chiefly against the proposition for al
income tax, which he declared IN Dem
ocratic. unpopular, i'm polite.
Mr.. Sperry, OF Connecticut, followed
ia the same line, justifying his course
in refusing 20 vote on practically the
same grounds He carefully avoided
mention Of the tobacco schedule. which
Us understood 20 be the chief ground OF
his objection 20 the Wilson bill.
Mr.. Outhvaite followed in support OF
the Speakers resolution, declaring that
the time allotted for debate vas enough
and more than enough. What the
country wanted, be said, was action.
Mr.. Sibley. Of Peunsy con
tended there was not time enough.
Mr. Robertson, Of Louisiana. who re-
Trained from voting FOR She last three
days, except on the last vote to-day,
and who is opposed 20 free sugar. created
something Of sensation Oy a ringing
speech in support OF the resolution.
lie wanted DemQcratic tariff bill
passed, and be thought the
Wilson bill discriminated against
his State. He had started out 20 op-
pose its confederation, but when he be-
held the Republicans 10 solid phalanx
charging the broken lines Of the Demo
cratic party, bis Democratic blood rose,
and he resolved 70 support the Demo
cratic measure with the hope that his
party would overrule the committee on
the sugar proposition.
Mr.. DE Witt Warner, Of Kentucky.
also warmly supported the Speakers
resolution. He had received two thou
sand letters iu the past few weeks from
his constituents, many OF whom op-
posed certain features Of the bill. But
on one proposition they wsr e a unit
They wanted the uncertainty removed