New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-25
THE CAUCUS DOES NOTHING.
DIFFICULTIES" TOO, FAR-REACHING TO
BE OVERCOME.
MR.. Villas REFUSES TO WITHDRAW HIS MOTION
AND THE CONSERVATIVE SENATORS
STICK TO THEIR POSITION.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE tribune

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE Tribune
Washington July 24-The caucus Of Demo-
cratic Senators held this afternoon to devise, II
possible. some means Of getting the Tanr Dill
safely back into Conference Committee was not
expected to reach any satisfactory concusion-or
indeed any conclusion of any sort, and in neither
respect was this reasonable expectation unful-
filed. The "dihiculties' within the Democratic
ranks are. In fact. so far-reaching that no party
caucus can we'll hope to adjust them, and the
most such a gathering can do Is to disclose the
obstacles which stand in the way OF any plan
looking toward party unity.
The main object which the Democratic man.
ayers had in view to-day in calling their caucus
was TO sldetrack, If possible. the motion OF Mr.
Villas 70 instruct the Senate conferrees to recede
from that portion OF the Senate sugar schedule
which puts n dfferential duty Of one-eightn OF
n cent on refined sugar. Mr.. Villas, who Is sup
posed to represent the wishes OF Mr.. cleveland
more subsequently than any other Democrat
among the "Cuckoos." had up till to-day refused
positively to withdraw his threatening motion
OF instruction. which fatty violated the agree
ment made at The Democratic conference whlch
Indorsed the Jones-Gorman bill and which couId
not fail to precipitate an open division IN the
Democratic ranks, gravey imperilling the sue
cess Of any tariff measure at this Juncture' III
the caucus this afternoon Mr.. Villas explained
that the recession by the Senate from the one
eighth dferential duty for the benefit OF the
renners would be accepted by the President as a
sufficient concession TO democratic principles
so far as sugar was concerned, and the Wisconsin
Senator is understood also to have held OUT the
rather shadowy assurance that in return for this
Sacrifice" to Democratic "princple the House
conferrees might be Induced TO commit little
In, ba tuny Df aCcellnR
the imposition Of duties on iron ore and coal.
As there are a great many Democratic Sena-
tors who would be delighted personally to vote
against the one-elghth dfferential. but who. IKE
Mr. Villas. had not the moral courage even 10
rrofest against this feature Of the schedule when
II was pcndinC the suggestion that the caucus
authorize a vote on the question OF recession was
debated for some time. The LOUISIANA oehd'oI >
protested violently. however, against me aoa''-
donmant Of any part II the sugar duties ds d
a,Pr,nf breach of good faith TO them ana thelr
constituency and Mr. smith, OF New-Jersey' aiso
warned the caucus that II any retreat rom 'ne nc
Senate bill were sanctioned now ne WouIu Fole ~
defeat any and ali tariff legislation at this ses-
sion Mr.. Pugh had. meantime lnc'nenta1y
given notice that II ;he coal and iron ore uua.eS
were changed he and mis- colleague. MI MORGAN,
would vote against the altered bill MI. Murphy
dlt not attend tho caucus but he was also re-
portcd as firmly opposed to any change IN me
sugar schedule or any other feature Vi '"e
senate measure. ..u,.,,
In yIoy II this formidable display OF hostility
10 any uroposed departures from the agreements
! of the original conference the ldca OF lS.e,is 70
from the one-eighlh OF cent ulhe'et'la' .,,a ~,
SUGAR was quickly abandoned as poSS.IgJie
means of securing Democratic harmony. -il
Villas could not be induced. however 20 protnsss
! 10 withdraw his motion with regard 10 nv
| one-eighth dlnerential. and in despair oi reacn
! t,, an agreement even TO send the bill back
/ - the conference without Instructions the eau
! Gus finally adjourned until tomorrow afternoon
the contest for harmony Will be renewed
/ To-day's developments have made u an .nt .
moro apparent that the fate OF me IarlIt on
Is held firmly In the hands OF the ll''lc KNOT "
T.,,,,.ra,ic Senators who are holding ont for
~ surrender 20 the House or the PRESIDENT
with the aid Of tho Republicans thty 0dn az
mr.. and against their determined VIII me sulV, -
- 10, .,,',,, have the slightest avail They have
| ,riv - remain obstinate 10 bring the houSe -
| ,p.lr terms or 20 force X 10 go pach 10 .A. w
.,,.r,r, with 2 record q Democratic promises 'ei
,,,,ert,hlv unaccomplishcd and Democratic
,Tai,rs cvnically violated and ignored.