The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-09
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
Senators Decide Not to Disturb the
House Tariff Bill.
THE TREASuRY'S GOLD STATEMENT.
The Anti-Silvcr Democrats Hold a
Short Conference.
NORTON AND GARDEN SEED.
A Committee to Inquire into the Question
of Their stoppags Pensions to
lie Increased.

Washington, January s.--Thc feature OF
the republican senatorial caucus held to-
day was a discussion OF the ACCESSIBILITY
of amending the house tariff bill by add
ing a free coinsgc bill to It in the senate.
This discussion was confined largely to
the free coinage wing Of the party. The
result of tho meeting was the adoption
OF MIR. Quay's resolution introduced yes-
tcrday declaring the sense of tho CONF
mlttee that the finance committee should
report the bill MS II came from the house
with the exception of q few unimportant
verbal changes
There was no roll call but there were
a few dissenting voices. There was no
formal effort to bind the senators to sup
port the bill when II should come before
tho senate. ana II was left open TO amend
mont al the proper stage of the pro
ceedings. IL was while the advHablllty
| OF attempting to- secure plclge of sup
| port was under consideration that the
silver question caine up. u was sprung
| by question az to what the silver re-
puhlicAns would do In case ~ free silver
amendment should be offered TO the tar
| IN bill in the senate
Senator Mitchell OF Oregon was the
| first to respond to this inquiry lie
stated that he should Join the silver forces
| In the effort to secure the adoption or
the free coinage substitute for the house
| bond blu, but with the silver question
DISPOSED of In that connection he would
advise that the silver republicans refrain
from participating IN any effort that
might nc made to amend the tariff bill
by adding n free coinage provision.
| senator Carter followed IN the same
| line OF argument, advising united action
on the part of the silver republicans IN
: Inv ,.l
of previous passage OF the silver subsii-
tutc for tho bond hin. lie said ne thought
| their action on the bond bill would be
| sufficient indication TO tho country Of their
attitude He did not say that he would
| oppose snch an amendment by his vote
! in case OF failure to secure unanimous
action by his silver colleagues. but urged
| them strenuously 20 agree TO this line OF
! action.
senator Teller said he had, when the
MCKINLEY BIZ was before congress fore
gone the opportunity OF amending that
| measure with n free sllvor coinage pro.
| vision on the representation that the bill
| with such an amendment would be vetoed
| only to be told afterward BY the friends
of Tint bill that the Sherman bill was
passed AS the only hope of defeating free
conage, He declared that he would not
again be placed IN That prcdicanont Brief
| speeches were also made In this con1cc-
| tion by Senator Dubois. Shoup ana others,
| There was sufficiently general oxpres-
| sion of opinion among the senators To
| show that there was not TO exceed n
half dozen who would hold out against
unanimous agreement 10 refrain from vot-
| Ing for a silver amendment, and this show
| ing was such as to lead the nntl-silvor
men In the caucus to conclude that IL
| those who had expressed themselves as
against the policy OF amendment could be
| induced to vote against these amendments
regardless Of the action of their colleagues.
they could defeat II silver amendment
| when offered
| Senator Baker announced himself ms
| friendly to the proposition to coin the
| American silver product and said that he
| would offer mn amendment TO this effect
! to both the bond and tariff bills.
Mr.. Baker also reiterated his declaration
of yesterday TO disregard the Instructions
| OF the caucus and vote against the bill
unless amended on protection lines. Thore
! was a general expression of opinion that
| whether amended or unamendod In the
senate II never would become law. Sew
! eral senator's expressed the opinion that
| IL could not receive executive sanction,
After the conclusion of tho tariff hill an
| effort was made to proceed with the re-
| organization OF the senate by clcctlng Off
Gers. but the senate adjourned without
| taking action on this proposition.
Immediately after adjournment call for
a caucus was made for the consideration
! Of this question, and a sufficient humber
| of signatures were received to secure n
| caucus for that purpose at the time speci-
| fed.