Evening journal., 1894-07-26
ANOTHER CONF ERENCE.
Democratic Caucus Has Agreed
Upon It.
THE TARIFF SITUATION CLEARING.
Tho senate Conforees Expected 90 Stand
by.1heir Eili. hut They. Are Uninstruct-
ed, and a Compromise May he Effected.
House Conforees Weakening.


specific Instructions whatever.
This was the conclusion Of the Demo
cratic senatorial caucus, which has adj
lourned sine die after two days sitting.
While the caucus did not commit itself To
any definite line of policy i'm so many
words, the conforees feel, with their Dem
ocratic colleagues that they understand
what "a majority OF them desire, and they
believe this To- be that they shall stand
substantially for the senate bill.
This is not the individual preference of
many, perhaps of majority Of the Dem
ocratio senators, but it represents the
opinion Of most of them, as expressed i'm
the caucus as the only practical course
open to the Democrats who think that the
present congress must pass tariff bill OF
some kind, whether it be what they prefer
or not
No Progress Since March.
In other words the result Of the caucus
which has just closed is the roascertaining
of what was known when the three days
caucus closed last March-that il is i'm
practicable to pass any tariff bill through
the senate which does not meet the de
mands of the SO called conservative sena-
tors and the Louisiana senators
IL became evident soon after the caucus
iNllAIUE
Jarvis to send the bill back TO conference
without instructions was the only course
open 20 tho caucus Tho other propositions
presented We're those of Senator Villas and
his friends, one Of which provided for in
structions to the senate oonforoos to recedo
from the one eighth of cent difforential
on refined sugar. without any other change
in the sugar schedule, and tho other to
substitute for the present tariff schedule
duty of 40 per cent ad yalorem, without
any diferential, and that Of the oonserya-
tives to instruct the committee TO stand
by the senate amendments.
Senator Villas and two or three other
senators opposed the latter course, and
the conservative senators declared abso-
lutely and emphatioally that they would
not accept the Villas proposition to rocedo
from the difiercntial, even though the adj
valOrom should he Increased TO 40 per cent
or any other sum within reason
Senator Smith declared that such a
change meant the shutting down of the
rehnerios i'm his state, tho throwing of
thousands Of mon out of employment and
general disturbance of industrial condi-
tions, such as no could not contemplate
with composure and would not accept.
The Louisiana senators indicated will
ingness as they had done Tuesday, to nc
copt me substitution Of 40 per cent
straight The proposition did not, how
ever meet with general favor as the wisest
course TO pursue i'm view Of the hostility of
tho New Jersey senator and those who
acted with him, and i'm Wow of tho fact
that several senators, who stated that they
agreed with Mr. Villas in his opposition
to the sugar trust as matter of prlnci.
u. 4 Al.
all efforts to give formal instructions.
Conferecs Not Instructed.
There have been few secret conferences
from which SO many conflicting reports
cmanatod. and IL was apparent that each
senator took away an understanding To
suit himself as to what implied instruc-
tions the confereos were under. Some felt
that the senate bill would DO adhered to,
and others that the main point of differ
| cnco-tbe one eighth of q cent per pound
| on refined sugar-was to be eliminated
ana perhaps new sugar schedule present
| ed. But from those senators who have
boon managing the bill the statement
came with forcoful emphasis that upon
| the main propositions upon which the
houses difered-sugar coal and iron ore
There would be no change from the SEN
ate bill when it was returned from con
florence. ono thing which every ono felt
assured of was that 43 votes could be
counted ON TO send the bill back to con
ference.
The speeches were generally shorter and
were as "a rule devoted TO advising siren
uous effort to secure party harmony on
the basis of "a bill which would receive tn,
support of 43 members of the senate. Sen
ator Villas spoke in general terms of tn,
constitutional right Of the house to orig
mate financial legislation, and without
denying the concurrent right of the sen
ate ne suggested that the house privilege
I'm this respect could not be ignored witt
complaconcy OF safety. He cautioned thu
caucus in strong terms 20 avoid all ap
pcaranco of favoring monopolics I'm view
OF the present feeling on that subject.
Senators Smith, Blanchard and CATER,
i also made speeches of some length. Soma
tor German devoted himself TO a verba
statement on the parliamentary status O
the bill Great earnestnoss was exhibite
i'm the speeches of the New Jersey ant
Louisiana senators.
Other senators as n rule spoke withou
any manifestation of feeling, and IN
meeting was upon the whole far NOR
pleasant than that of Tuesday.
A vast majority of those who partic
patcd In the caucus came out when it nd
iourned with their faces wreathed 4
smiles, and most OF them indicated b
their actions that thoy believed they ha
inauguratcd a line Of policy which woul
insure the passage of tariff bill. Som
, of Thorn, who would say nothing Of th
, proceedings of the caucus announce
, ! themselves as confident OF the ultimai
success of the bill
; nm, Murphy and Irby Absent.
The vote ON the resolution 20 send n
Z bill to conference again was not unan
, nous, Senator Villas and few others o.
% posing &c and explicitly STIMULATING thu
their participation I'm tho caucus shoul
i not bo considered as binding them to SUI
o. port the report OF the conference commi
e tee when again presented.
p During the proceedings the attitude
!, the Populists- Senators Allen and Kyle
e who have generally voted with the Dem
! Gratis on tho tariff bill, was alluded to at
= one of the senators present stated that
had been authorized by Senator Allen
= say that he thought tho bounty on sug
should bo continued for the present. ~
I suggestion was not received with fave
/ and tho action taken indicated no pro
aafs