The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-30
Republican Members, GOaded by Pub
lie Sentiment, Anxious to Pass the
Measure and Adjourn
OPPOSITION TO THE BEER TAX
HANNA, "TOMc PLATT AND sPOONER
WORKING FOR THE BREWERS.
Little Probability that the Senate
'Pitchfork" TiIIman's Resolution.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON May 29.-Practically no
headway was made with the tariff bill to-
day, and the Senate adjourned over until
Tuesday. The Democrats are not openly
employing obstructive tactics, but they are
consuming unnecessary time in discussing
the minuta0 of the schedules This is very
calling TO the Republicans, who are hourly
becoming more impressed with the desper-
ate earnestness of the people in their desire
for quick action in the passage of the bill,
so that the country may be free from agi-
tation and be able to think of business. The
mail of every senator is loaded with urgent
appeals to hurry the tariff measure to
conclusion and give the country rest.
Four years of distress have made every
body mpatient-everybody except the DEM
ocrats, who, for politics, would prolong the
agony indefinitely.
In many quarters fears are beginning to
be entertained that the fight against the
internal revenue features of the tariff bill
may yet beat it, and although these appre-
tensions do not appear to be well founded,
there is enough to the speculation TO oc-
casion uneasiness among Republican lead
ers that the brewers are organizing for a
strong fight, but their weak point lies in
the fact that the tariff bill which will be
passed by the Senate will be dictated prob
ably by the caucus. They are relying on
the continued fidelity of their strong
friends in the Senate and they profess to
believe that these men viii stand out 10
the end in their behalf. The Republican
senators who are most strongly opposing
the beer tax are Hanna of Ohio, Platt of
New York and Spooner of Wisconsin. For
party reasons these gentlemen are very
anxious not to arouse the powerful oppo-
sition of the brewing interests in their re-
spective States, and they are making an
honest, energetic fight for the brewers. But
il must be remembered that all three or
these men are, first of all, Republicans, and
that it is their rule of political action TO
submit to majority dictation within
their organization. If it should happen
that they should be defeated in eau
Gus in their fight for the brewers,
it is hardly within the range of
possibilities that they should go to the ex-
tremities of boiling the caucus in this one
particular. And herein is where the brew
cry gentlemen may fail. The tariff being
distinctively a party measure it is extreme
Iy unlikely that three great party leaders
should go back on a caucus order in the
matter of beer and still insist on other
members Of the Senate obeying its dictates
in all particulars.
There is an understanding among some or
the Republican leaders that the Senate SUI
gar schedule will not be insisted on. For
this reason those in the House capable or
doing so effectively have refrained from
making damaging public attack on the SEN
ate sugar schedule and Mr.. Aldrich's de-
fepse of it in the Senate. There is no
desire on the part OF Republicans in the
House to unnecessarily hold members OF
their own party in the Senate up to public
condemnation, and the Senate schedule Is
claimed to be so obviously indefensible that
they expect to be able to have it correct
ed without being compelled to publicly de-
nounce it, as many tempted to do.
1t is not expected that Mr.. Aldrich Will
stand out stubbornly for the accuracy or
his figures and estimates on sugar, and il
is even intimated that he is not wholly re-
sponsible for them, but depended upon in
formation furnished him which he was
warranted in assuming must be accurate,
coming from those familiar with the SUBJ
iect. 1t is not believed that the schedule
as reported will ever get through the
Senate.
The very evident desire on the part OF
the Senate 20 ignore the Tillman resolution
for another committee to investigate the
Sugar Trust scandals does not meet the
approval of the ''pitchfork' senator. He
again declared to-day that he Will not let
the matter slumber and that II the conf
move to have il DISCHARGED from further
consideration of the question, that 1T may
be brought directly before the Senate for
action. He is being attacked on all sides
in his own State and feels the necessity or
creating q diversion and building himself