Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-08-18
THE CAUCUS

Mr.. Holman. chairman OF the cau-
Gus, took the chair. When the roll
call (which showed ljS members
presently was completed, a hush OF
expectancy fell upon thescaucus. Mr:
Wilson, chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee, took the floor.
Although outwardly calm and eool.
he was manifestly laboring under
deep emotion His speech for the
first five minutes was general IN
character and contained no specific
points. II was devoted in the be-
ginning to an explanation Of the en-
barrassments under which the House
conferees had labored He said that
the representative Of the House had
gone into the conferences with a
desire OF faithfully representing the
wishes of their colleagues. That
thew had failed to reach a satisfac-
tory conclusion-a conclusion honor
able alike to the House and the
Democratic party-was not their
fault.
Mr.. Wilson went on to show that
the House people had commended
stoutly for specific rather than sn
ad valorem duty on sugar. A spechc
duty would show precisely what ben,
eft the Trust would get, while II
would be impossible to determine
this accurately under the ad valorem
system. He said that the Sugar
Trust, becoming convinced that the
Senate schedule would be adopted
had made heavy purchases OF foreign
raw sugar. He then made the start
ling statement, on the authority Of q
leading Democratic Senator, that the
Trust had bought sugar TO the
amount of $112, 600, 900, in foreign
markets, in anticipation OF the senate
sugar schedule receiving the ap-
prevail OF the President: Under the
Senate schedule the Trust would
reap a profit of $40, 0M The de
claration made by. Mr.. Wilson that
1.-The Sugar Trust had the people by
the throat and that it was now q
battle between the people and this
great monopoly, was greeted with q
hearty round of applause.
Mr.. Wilson referred to the proposl-
ton made to the House conferees by
their Senatorial associates to accept
free sugar. This proposition was re-
iected, inasmuch as the representa-.
tives of the House had ascertained
that compact existed in the Senate
to defeat tariff legislation or postpone
it's consideration until next Deem
Der if free sugar were made q part OF
the conference report. He turned at
this point and called upon HE asso-
ciates Nessrs. Montgomery, Breckin-
ridge. Mcmillan and Turner, to sub
stantiate this statement.
Mr.. McAlillin Immediately arose
and said that from the beginning OF
the conference they had been given
to understand from day 60 day that
anv displacement OF the Senate votes
on sugar, coal and iron ore would
lead TO absolute defeat or III least &
postponement of the bill.
Mr.. Wilson stated substantially
that there was 40 prospects for tariff
legislation unless the Senate bill was
adopted.
When Mr.. Wilson had finished.
Speaker Crisp arose and was greeted
with applause. lie began by saying
that the House must take the Senate
bill. While the Senate bill must be
adopted, the House would make a
determined effort for free sugar. &c
elaborated his statement that the
Senate bill must he accepted, %
there would be no tariff legislation al
this session, and his declaration that
the House Of Representatives had
used every honorable and fair means
to secure the passage Of their bill
without avail was vigorously APP
piauded.
speech by offering resolution that
the House recede from its position
and accept the Senate bill. The re-
solution also includes q provision
placing barbed wire, sugar, coal and
iron ore on the free list by a series OF
Senate bills.
Two propositions werc made OF
the resolution. On the motion to &c
cept the Senate bill the vote stood
1870 to 81. There was no division on
the vote to pass separate bills placing
coal, sugar, iron ore and barbed wire
on the free list.
At 1852 the caucus adjourned sine