Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-15
Democratic Senators to Confer To-
night or Tomorrow.
A CLOFURE RULE TO Be DISCUSSED
Some of the Leaders Are Recorded
as Opposing 1t.
UNCERTAINTY AS TO RESULT

There is a possibility that the democrats
Of the Senate will hold a conference to-
night or maybe tomorrow night at the
house Of one of their number to discuss the
tariff question. 1t is more than likely that
no action has at this time been taken
definitely looking to this end, but the news
of the republican conference OF last night
has unQuestionably started in the minds OF
the democratic managers the idea that IL
would be well for them TO get together and
consider ways and means for the passage
of the tariff bill. Should such a conference
be held the main subject Of discussion
would probably be the adoption of a cloture
rule, and it is understood that. looking TO
this end, the democratic members OF the
committee on rules OF the Senate have to-
day been quietly discussing the subject, SO
as to be able TO formulate a proposition
suitable to the situation should the confer
ence of Senators decide upon such a course.
Adoption by No Means Certain.
The adoption of a cloture rule. even
though a conference should agree upon It.
is by no means certain. There are many
democratic Senators, and particularly sew
eral Of the leaders in this fight, who are
unalterably opposed TO cloture in any form
Among these are Senators Cockren. Harris
and Morgan. who are on record as oppos-
ing this proposition. Estimates OF the
strength of the cloture idea in the Senate
have been mao from time TO time. but no
one has been Ound. coming from conserva-
tive sources, that has given the cloture rule
a majority. There are many republican
Senators who are ready under ordinary cir
cumstances to vote for cloture, for they feel
II would be good policy. generally speak
ing. TO do something to relieve the Senate
of the odium of public scorn for its talka-
tiveness. Yet while the present bill is un-
der discussion these Senators would un-
questionably vote with the party 10 re-
ject any cloture proposition coming from
the democrats. adopted apparently for the
sole purpose of forcing this bill throush
the Senate. II would be impossible. except
by revolutionary methods, such no one
is now bold enough to advocate. TO put the
new cloture rules through the Senate, with
out a debate of enormous length. for the
proposition TO change the rules is as fully
debatable as any bill. This was demon
strated in the autumn. when, in the MIDST
Of the silver debate, Mr.. Hill precipitated
change the rules. which lasted for nearly
a week, while the pending measure was set
aside from consideration.
Wouldn't Help the Bill.
In the event therefore of the democratic
caucus being held with the result of the
presentation of a cloture resolution. there
is no certainty that the passage CT the
tariff bill would be facilitated in the least.
for republicans, angered by this attempt
at what they call gag rule. would feed
the flames OF the cloture debate from the
fuel that they have been piling on the tarin
fire heretofore. In other words they would
be very apt to filibuster openly against the
adoption of the new rule until perhaps the
friends of the tariff bill would be ready TO
cry quits and TO agree TO resume the usual
course of debate. Considerable progress
has been made with the tariff bill today
and the republicans have shown no ten
dency to fihbuster. In fact. more advanoU
has been made among the paragraphs than
on any previous day. the reports Of last
nights conference TO the contrary not
withstanding. The republican policy seems
10 have been shaped upon what they have
already accomplished, and IL is probable
that henceforth throughout the debate the
republicans will continue TO insist upon the
I retefition OF the Mckinley rates, falling
which they will offer compromise rates
somewhere between the Jones hill and the
Mckinley act. When all their propositions
have been rejected they will agree to the
Jones amendments in every case where the
rate has been raised from the House bill or
from the finance committee amendments.
They will oppose only those paragraphs
where reductions have been made.
The real fighting. however on the bill
will not come until the more important
schedules have been reached. such as wool.
lead, iron. coal and sugar, TO say nothing
of the income tax At each of these points
the fighting is likely TO be resumed with
] fiercer energy.