The morning times., 1896-01-08

Owing to the late session OF the Senate
the Republican caucus that took a recess
unti AFTERNOON, was postponed until today
after the adjournment OF the Senate.
1t is confidently believed that at that
conference the Republicans will, by a very
comfortable majority, direct it's members
on the Finance Committee to report the
tariff bill to the senate as IL came from the
House. and without amendments Of an y kind
shortly after the caucus convened yester-
day morning Mr.. Quay moved that the COM
mit;ee be SO instructed. and this motion
led to the debate that followed. But une
Senator indicated any desire to reconstruct
tariff bill along Republican lines.
That Senator was Mr.. Barker. OF Kan
sss. a new man, and his associates In the
Senate looked upon his Zeal as the result
or his suDramiliarity with the conditions that
surrounded the Senate at this time.
MANY AXES TO GRIND.
There were other speakers who desired
amendments to be made and said they
would Insist upon them II the door was
opened at all. but n the consensus OF opinion
was that this should not bc done they would
De satisfied and support the ma 1ority.
There Is division in the Finance Com
mittee itself AS to the wisdom OF amending
the House bill. and IL was because of such
division that this caucus was held. Mr..
Sherman favored an additional rate on
crockery, II changes were to be made; Mr..
Piatrs State was largely Interested In the
raising OF tobacco and If amendments were
IN order he was constrained TO look after
that schedule; Mr.. Allison's constituents
were largely Interested in agricultural
products. and he, TOO. would be compelled
to insist on an increase there.
on the other hand Mr.. j cnes, the Popu-
LIST t..r that
been Disseminated against when the House
refused to increase it by 10 per cent, as 1t
had every other schedule In the bill.
FRIEND OF SUGAR.
Mr.. Jones insisted with vigorous pro-
testatioDs that raw sugar should be given
this additional 10 per cent in the Senate.
He was reinforced in this contention by
Mr.. Perkins OF California and Mr.. Thurston
OF Nebraska, both OF whom represent States
that are engaged in the growing OF beets
for sugar and the manufacture OF sugar
from that farm product. Mr.. Thurston
was not here in person TO urge the COM
mittee, but he has done so very effectuaIly
by the aid of the telegraph.
In view of these contentious il is easy
to See that the Republicans OF the committee
were very much at sea a to what should be
the policy they ought 10 pursue. Hence
their appeal to the full membership of their
own party.
Should the caucus today, as now seems
likely, instruct the committee to report the
bill without amendments, and should it
agree to support the bill thus reported and
vote down any and all amendments, a |
dead lock between Mr.. Jones and the Repub- |
lican members OF the committee appears |
to be imminent.
JONES IS THE MASTER.
Mr.. Jones holds the balance of power in |
the committee. His vote is necessary |
to report the bill. and without him the Re- |
publicaDs cannot report the measure in any |
shape. Mr.. Jones said last night that he |
would insist upon the addition of the
10 per cent to the sugar schedule. If the |
caucus so decides the Republican members |
will not grant it.
Mr.. Jones' it seems. must then either |
change his mind or the bill will remain in
he files of the Committee on Finance. |
Republicans profess TO believe that Mr.. /
Jones will not thus put himself on record, |
but that after urging his proposition, he
Will yield to the Will Of his former Repub-
ican associates and permit the bill TO be
reported. II looks as If Mr.. Jones was
master OF the situation.