The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-09
UNITED REPUBLICANS.
Caucus Decisions on Tariff Bill Will
Bind Party Senator's
New Sugar Schedule Agreed
Upon Yesterday.
4 Stvng Sentiment In Favor Of coniInuIna
the Hawaiian Treaty.

Washington. June 9.-NearIy every Re-
publican senator attended the party
caucus yesterday. including Mr.. Aldrich
The chief feature OF the meeting was
an agreement to stand golidly by eau
Gus decisions, which means the early
passage OF the tariff bill. Almost the
entire time OF the caucus was consumed
In the discussion OF the sugar schedule.
Some other differences were not reached
No agreement was reached I'm regard
10 the Hawaiian treaty, and the COM
mittee Is expected TO report some amend
ments or a provision which will not leave
the matter In any uncertain condition.
or absolutely abrogate the existing re-
ciprocity provisions OF the treaty.
An important feature OF the caucus
was the determination reached 10 vote
together az a party which insures favor
able action on all contested schedules
and the passage of the bill as approved
by the majority. This determination
was reached upon suggestion made by
Senator ThurstOn. This suggestion led
to the most interesting incident Of the
caucus. There had been several refer
ences 10 the meeting as conference"
Mr.. Thurston objected to this designa-
tion. saying that conferences never
bound anyone. and that he wanted 1t
definitely understood whether this meet
ing was to be binding or friendly chat
without further results, for II II did not
bind all senators on all schedules he
would not agree to abide by the decision
upon the sugar question.
This speech brought Senator Hanna
to his feet with an earnest plea for party
harmony and united effort on all the
features Of the bill. He referred to the
apparent divisions at present existing
I'm the senate and said il was high time
that perfect understanding was
reached.
Senator Thurston then put his sugges-
ton in the shape Of motion to the effect
that the agreement Of the caucus should
be binding upon all Republican sena-
tors, and 1t carried by large majority.
The main propositions on the sugar
schedule were those fixing the rate on re-
fined sugar. There were three OF these
propositions. The one adopted fixing
the rate at 95-100 cents per pound in
place Of 1 875-1000 cents, as fixed by the
house bill, was suggested by Senator
Spooner. Senator Perkins suggested
3-16, and Senator Wellington the rate
of the house bill.
The two last amendments were voted
down viva voce and the Spooner amend
ment accepted by an almost unanimous
vote.
Mr.. Aldrich, who Is generally credited
with the authorship of the finance COM
mittee provisions, had been expected to
stand out stifily for the amendments,
but he did not do so. He said that his
interest In the success Of tariff revision
as a whole was superior to his interest
in any particular schedule that he had
no pride in the rates fixed by the COM
mittee, and that Notwithstanding his
conviction that the committee rates were
equitable and in the line of Republican
policy, he was willing to subordinate
his Judgment to that Of the majority.
The announcement was received with
demonstrations Of approval. Speeches
were made by almost all the senator's
present. Mr. Hoar made a vigorous
plea for unity of action. but said the
sugar schedule should be definitely
agreed upon at this time and put in such
shape as to. terminate the unfriendly
criticism that had been aroused.
Senator Frye asked the caucus to con.
slider the necessity Of protecting the
Hawaiian reciprocity treaty and made
a speech in that behalf This occurred
karly in the proceedings, and the IIa-
waiian question was apparently lost
sight Of in the subsequent proceedings
over the main features of the schedule.
The caucus was compelled to adjourn
at noon, when the senate met. and was
unable to take up any other question.
Indeed, senators generally were Of opin-
ion that with the Hawaiian question un-
disposed Of. the sugar question was not
finally settled, but there WAS no agree
ment for future caucus.
The failure of the caucus to take steps
looking to the protection Of the Ha-
waiian reciprocity treaty has caused
considerable comment, but the friends
OF Hawaii In the senate say that the
omission was due to no other reason
than the want Of sufficient time. They
feel confident that II the point had been
reached an amendment similar to that
proposed by Senator Davis continuing
the treaty In force would have been
accepted. They base this assertion upon
the manner In which Senator Frye's
speech was received and the side re-
marks made upon the subject. They
now express the utmost confidence that
the finance committee will accept the
amendment without caucus action.
Senator Frye's speech was a jealous ap-
peal for the maintenance OF the treaty.
He said that Pearl harbor was ceded to
the United States In exchange for the
concession to Hawaiian sugar by this
country, and declared that It's abroga-
tion at this time would be an act OF bad
faith