The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-03
NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS
One by Mcclellan Precipjtates a Row.
All Referred.
PROCEEDINGS IN REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
Henderson Chosen Speaker. Representative
Hepburn Endeavors But Without Success
to Effect Some Changes in the
Rules If Last House.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, Nov. 30.-The Democratic
members of the House of Representatives
met in caucus in the hall OF .hc House at
III o'clock today. There are 151 Demo-
Gratis and eight Fusionists, S;lverites and
Populists in the new House. OF these
members of the minority 1873 were pres
ent, including Mr.. Shafroth. of Colorado,
and Mr.. Newlands, Silverites. Mr.. Neville
and Mr.. Starke, Populists, of Nebraska,
declined to enter the caucus. Mr.. Hay,
of Virginia, chairman of the Democratic
caucus, presided. Without opposition the
following selections were made for Off
GERS of the House to be presented at the
meeting of the House next Monday:
Speaker, Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee;
Clerk, Representative James Kerr, of
Pennsylvania Sergeant-at- Arms, ex-
Representative e. Brookshire, of In
diana; Door-keeper, Charles Edwards, of
Texas, and Postmaster, James X. jack
son, of Alabama. The selection of Mr..
Richardson, as candidate for speaker
clothes him officially with the minority
leadership. The four places on the House
roll allowed the minority will be filed by
Isaac R. Hill, of Ohio, assistant sergeant
alarms; Aid, James F. English, OF Cali
fornia; FELTON, B. knight, of Georgia, and
Ewing Bland, son of "Si]ver Dick
Bland, special employees.
Mr.. Richardson briefly thanked the
caucus for the honor done him and
said: s
En How ,fna fu
about 1850 members. If every member
of this opposition will attend our ses-
sions and answer when his name is
called we will oftentime be able to de-
feat our opponents in their efforts to
pass unwise and improper measures. If
we are punctual in our attendance, al
though in the minority, we will be able
to do much in the way of enacting
wholesome legislation and more and
above that, will he able to prevent the
enactment of many bad laws
The interesting portion ct the caucus
followed. Representative Mcclellan, of
New York, by direction of the Democratic
members of the New York delegation who
had met just prior to the assembling of
the caucus, offered the following resolu-
tiOn as an expression of the sense of this
caucus:
Resolved, that we shall promote 20 the
utmost of our power the removal of the
oppressive, restrictive and Otter, prohibit
tory features of the existing tariff. 1t has
been truly declared to be the mother
of trusts. The tendency To create COM
binations of wealth and establish prac-
tically monoplieS in the manufacturing
and commercial industries of the United
States, threatens the future existence of
individual manufacturers and mar. HANS
and traders of moderate or small means.
That tendency must undermine the stall dy
independence Of large bodies of Amerjt az
citizens, and may we'll be deemed the
most serious menace to the moral anG
political welfare of the country. The
time has come when our industries, man
ufacturing as we'll as agricultural which
practically, enjoy no protection for the
reason that their products are exported
and because. whether or not duties be
levied in their favor no competing pro-
ducts can be proftably imported. Should
be permitted to avail themselves of for
eign markets to the fullest extent, as
they cannot do under existing restric-
tions. Highly protected industries should
no longer be permitted to sell more
cheaply to foreigners than 10 their own
corntrymen. Fit and thorough relief can
be had only by amendment CT the present
tariff act. But we shall favor such recir-
rocity treaties as will reduce even if they
do not altogether remove the unfair and
oppressive burden of the present system.
3D. We shall favor just and favorabl:
treatment of the inhabitants of Porto
Rico and Cuba. American obligations tc
Cuba should be sacredly performed
Having freed her from Spanish dOnlin-
ion and assumed over her protectorate
and even some of the peroragatives OF
her sovereignty we are bound by every
consideration of justice and generosity
to allow her the largest practical liber-
ty OF commercial intercourse with our
own country.
"3. We are opposed to the subsidy bill
presented at the last session as calculat-
ed to create shipping monopoly.
I'VE shall oppose the expenditure in
any form of the money of all the people
for the exclusive benefit of private in
terests.
"A. We shall insist upon the sacred
force of the fundamental American rule
of Democratic self government. What
ever protectorate over newly acquired
islands or lately conquered peoples may
be necessary for longer or shorter time
whatever limited sites for naval stations
may properly be retained or acquired
by the United States, we are opposed to
any Incorporation into our republic OF
other islands or the assumption of sover
eighty over them, except as their inhab
1,r
eminent and except as the protection OF
our constitution no less than of our flag
may be extended to them with safety tc
ourselves. We are opposed to the estab
lishment Of any colonial or other system