The herald., 1897-04-11

organization, It was decided that the
combination should hold out for the as
signment of Democrats to all places or
committees heretofore held by Demo-
Gratis, while 1t was agreed that the Re-
publicans should have the places here
tofore filled by Republicans. This will
give the Republicans all the committee
chairmanships vacated by the retire
ment of Senators Cameron, Sherman,
Dubois. Squire. Mitchell OF Oregon and
Brown, but will give the combination
about seventy vacancies. while 1t allows
the Republicans only about thirty. The
combination decided against making
any concessions, even that providing
for allowing the Republicans to fill one
of the three vacancies in the committee
on appropriations.
The silver Republicans say their prin-
cipal incentive in entering the coalition
ie to protect the finance committee,
which. they feared. might become an
anti-silver organization in case the Re-
publicans were allowed to have their own
way in committee organization. All in
tention to interfere with the passage of
the tariff bill through the senate is de-
MED by the parties to the agreement
cerned," said Senator Jones of Arkan-
sas, who Is a member of the senate COM
mittee on finance, their plans are sim
pie and easily understood. 1t is our pur-
pose to debate the bill thoroughly and
completely. so as to show up the incon-
sistencies and lack OF uniformity of
rates in the bill. and then allow the bill
to pass, provided there are votes enough
to pass it,"
"will you attempt to amend the bill?"
I'VE shall, in all probability, offer
amendments to make the bill conform
to our ideas of fairness and uniformity.
1 am not prepared to say that we shall
offer any amendment providing for the
free coinage of silver. but so far as ami
concerned. should think that our party
would support amendments looking to
the suppression of trusts, so far as that
can be done in tariff bill"
The Republican senators are not in
clined to credit the reports of coalition
against them in the senate, and say,
Furthermore, that the committees had no
authority to represent their parties and
that the agreement cannot be made
binding. Moreover, they predict the
election of senator from Kentucky
next week. which. they say, would cer-
tainly solve the problem in the interest
of the Republicans.
DEMOCRATS CAUCUS.
WASHINGTON, April 10.-The dk-
ferences of opinion among the Demo-
cratic members of the house OF the pol
icy to be pursued by the minority, which
cropped out druing the debate in the
short session held today, induced the |
Democrats to hold a caucus immediate |
ly after the house adjourned to seek |
their bearings.
Bailey made the first move by offering |
a resolution, in substance as follows:
Resolved, That the Democratic mem
bers of the house of representatives are
willing to consider any legislation which
the Republicans may propose, to support
it if it is good. to oppose it If it is bad
But. believing that most Of the measures
proposed by the Republicans are op-
posed to the best interests of the coun-
try, they will not urge the Republicans
to take action.
The Bailey resolution was adopted by
a vote of about two to one. Then De
Almond of Missouri offered a second
resolution, declaring that the Democrats
did not endorse the Republican policy of
house sessions every third day. The De ,
Almond resolution was adopted also by !
a small majority, many having left the /
caucus when the vote was taken.