Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-08
CAUCUS on TARIFF BILL.
Apparent Republican Dead-Lock-
POpulist J0ues-Sugar Schedule.

WASHINGTON, ID. C.. January I.-Ow-
ing to The late session OF the Senate
the Republican caucus that took recess
until this afternoon was postponed until
tomorrow. after sdjournmerl of the Sen
ate. 1t is confidently believed that at that
conference the Republicans will, by
very comfortable majority, direct us
members of the Finance Committee TO
repori the tariff bill as II came from the
House Shortly after the caucus con-
yened this morning MIR. quay moved
that the committee be SO instructed,
ana this motion led to discussion.
But one senator indicated any desire
TO reconstruct the tariff bin along Re
publican lines. That senator was Mr.
Baker, of Kansas, a new man, and his
associates In ',ae Senate looked upon his
speech as the result of his unfamililrity
with the conditions that surround the
Senate at this time. There were 1lher
speakers who desired amendments to De
made. anu said they would. insist upon
them If the door was opened at all, but
IL the consensus of opinion was tnaS
this should not be done he would be
satisfied and support the majority.
There is a division in the Finance Com
mittee itself as TO the wisdom OF amend
ing the House bill, and il was because
OF such a division that this caucus was
held. Mr.. Sherman favored an additiOnli
rate on crockery. If changes were to be
made; Mr.. Platt's State was largely in
terested in the raising of tobacco, and If
amendments were in order he was CON
strained TO look after that schedule. Mr.
AllisOns constituents were largely In
terested In agricultural products. and he
IL. t..a.H
increase there.
RAW SUGAR
on the other hand. Mr.. Jones. the
Populisi member urged that raw sugar
had been Disseminated against when the
House refused TO increase ii by 10 per
cent, as il had every other schedule
in the bill. AIR. Jones insisted with vigo-
rous prote tions that raw sugar should
be given this additional Is per cent. in
the Senate. He was reinforced in this
contention by Mr.. Perkins. of California,
and MIR. Thurston, of Nebraska, both
of whom represent States that are en-
gagged In the growing of beets for sugar
and the manufacture OF sugar from that
product
Mr.. Thurston was not here in person
to urge the committee. but he has done
so very effectually by the aid of the
telegraph.
In view of these contentious il is easy
to see that the Republicans OF the com
mittee were very much at sea as 10
what should be the policy they ought
to pursue Hence their appeal to the
fun membership OF their own party.
Should the caucus tomorrow, as now
seems likely, instruct the committee 10
report the bill without amendment, ana
should it agree to support the bill thus
reported, and vote down any and all
amendments, a deadlock between Mr..
Jones and the Republican members of
the committee appears to be imminent,
BALANCE OF POWER.
Mr. Jones holds the balance of the
power In ghe committee. His vote is ne
cessary to report the bill, and without
him the Republicans cannot report the
measure in any shape. Mr. Jones said
tonight that he would insisS upon the
adoption OF the Is per cent. addition 10
the sugar schedule. If the caucus so de
cides the Republican members viii not
grant IL. Mr.. Jones, II seems. must then
either change his mind or the bill Will
remain i'm the files of the Committee on
Finance
Republicans profess to believe that Mr.
Jones will not thus put himself on re-
cord but that, after urging his PROPOSE
ton. he will yield to the will of his for
mer Republican associates and permit the
bill to be reported.
II looks tonight as if Mr.. Jones were
master Of The situation.