Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-05-27
THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAM.

Monday in the Senate They will
offer no obstruction to the passage
Of the bill after the defects OF the
various schedules have been pointed
out. The dip into internal revenue
will be opposed. Obnoxious aud bur
densome sections will be brought out
fully.
Senator McEnery Of Louisiana will
lead the fight on the sugar schedule.
His announced intention OF Offering
the House schedule as substitute
for the Senate's trust-dominated sec
ton has brought to his aid all the re-
publican forces in the Senate oppos-
cd 10 this particular schedule. There
, ID no doubt about the result unless
the Directing republicans are whip
ped back into line. 1t will be over
whelmingly defeated. Already there
can be counted upon as opposed to
it every democrat, all but one OF the
popullsts and four republicans.
The only element of doubt is the
one of whether the republicans who
have told Senator McEnery they are
with him in this fight will have back
bone enough to Withstand the newt
able pressure. " is being exercised
now. They are told that unless they
quickly return to trust environment
and influence they will not be allowed
anything they favor that is of immed-
late local consequence to their consti-
tuents. This overt act of compulsion
may break down the opposition, but it
is more likely to solidify>it.
The proposition to increase the tax
on beer was generally criticised as an
effort to increase the price of "the
poor mans beverage" which was
pronounced wholly unjuStifiable in
time Of peace and with $12O,OOO,OOO
Of idle money in the Treasury. The
proposed beer tax was condemned as
o war tax.
The discussion of other features Of
the tariff bill was only desultory and
no conclusion beyond that stated was
reached. Senator German suggest
cd the advisability of the introduce
ton Of a substitute for the entire bill
and made speech in support Of the
proposition, but it was soon made ap-
parent that the sentiment of the eau
Gus was almost unanimous in oppo-
sitlon to this course and the PROPOSE
ton was not pressed to a vote. Mr..
German gave only brief outline of
q substitute. He said he thought a
bill could be prepared which would
levy revenue duty on tea and coffee
and other articles which would in
crease the government customs re-
Ceipta sufficiently to make the GUS
toms revenue Of the Wilson bill sat-
iSfSctory.
At the conclusion of the caucus
Senator German, chairman, gave out
the folling statement concerning it:
"ThO conference Of democratic SEN
Ators was held today and it was unan-
lmously agreed by them that,notwith-
standing the delay iD furnishing the
comparative statements which would
enable them intelligently to consider
the bill, there would be no opposition
to Immediately proceeding with the
consideration of the same on Tues
day, as they recognized the business
interests of the country requires as
speedy disposition OF the question
a. is consistent with an intelligent
consideration of the measure, They
were further unanimously Of the
opinion that the excessive increases
in rates on imported articles provided
for, both in the Dingley bill and as
reported to the Senate, should be an
tHgonized only to the extent of ex-
posing their enormities.
Recognizing, however, that the re-
publican party is committed to these
increases, the democrats will be con-
tent with only a fair discussion upon
these propositions. The democrats
were further unanimously of the
opinion that they would oppose the
increased tax on beer, tobacco, cigars
and the other items embraced in the
internal revenue schedules. Neither
party was committed to such incress-
90, and there is no governmental me-
CSesity for such increased burdens
npon those articles"