The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-08
Four Refuse to Be Bound By
Resolution and One
Leaves in a Huff
DEMOCRATS HAVE TWO
LESS THAN MAJORITY
Forty-hve Pledged to Support
the Measure Internationally
and Forty-eight Needed
to Make Senate a Tie

WASHINGTON, July 7.--Forty-fve
Democratic senator's rose as their
names were called in the Democratic
caucus this afternoon and pledged
themselves absolutely and uncondi-
tionally to support the tariff bill az
the caucus has approved II. and to
vote for no amendments unless they
are approved by the finance commit
Gee or the caucus
Two other Democratic senators
Newlands. OF Nevada, and Shafroth,
OF Colorado--stated that II was their
present intention to support the bill.
but they declined to be bound by any
resolution OF the caucus or to pledge
themselves uncondiian*lly These
pledges, including the limited promises
OF Newlands and Shafrofh. gave the
Democratic leaders two itss than n
majority OF the senate Two sena-
tors. Ransdell ard Thornton, OF
Louisiana, announced t1tt they, would
not support the BIN In the fern In
which the senate caucus lag left H.
Two other Demo senator's were
absent--Culhersor OF Texas, who is
III at Atlantic city, hn. will support
the bill. and Hitchcock. OF Nebraska,
who Voluntarily Ghs. nted himself af-
ter The caucus rejected his amend
ment impoatrg "a graduated tax on
the manufacture ~ tobacco.
The Democrats claimed after the
cauSuc adjourned that they had
hedges OF a sufficien. number OF
vote 10 pass the bill.
TIL caucus met at o'clock this
afternoon. and was In session more
than three hours. The resolution as
finally adopted reads;
The Resolutions.
.:Resoived, That the tariff bull
hts fhix conference In Its
amended form In declared to he a
party measure and we urge it's nn-
divided support as duty by Demo
cratic senator's without amendment.
Provided however. that the confer
ence of the finance committee may
after reference or otherwise. propose
amendments to the bill
Forty-.7ve senators voted for this
resolution, three short of a majority
Of the senate One voted against It.
Senator Newlands. of Nevada. and
three refused 10 vote. Thornton ana
Hansdell. of Louisiana. and Shafroth.
of Colorado. There were two absen-
tees.
I. a statement made public at the
close OF the caucus by senator John
K. Kern, leader Of the majority In
the senate, said:
"Prev.ous to the adoption OF the
resolution upon a roll call for the pur--
pose o. obtaining an expression OF
opinion Of senators, forty-seven sena-
tors declared II their present inten-
ton to vote for the bill and against all
amendments not approved by the n
nance committee or the conference.
Forty eight votes would make the
senate a tie with the vice president q
deciding vote in favor OF the Demo
Gratis.
Work on BiIl Completed.
with the adjournment of the caucus
the work OF reconstructtng the tarin
bill has been practically completed.
The only other business transacted
In the caucus today was the adoption
of a motion postponing the date at
which the duties on wool shall be eff
fective so that free raw wool shall
not begin on December LIST. and the
decreased duties on the manufactures
of woolens shall not go into effect
until January list.
The situation that confronts the
Democratic leaders In a serious one.
From the time the caucus met this
afternoon until II adjourned their at
titude was one OF Cancellation and
compromise to prevent an insurrec-
ton in their ranks
A reading of the resolution adopt
I'd by the caucus is conclusive to any
one that II is binding upon no tndivtd-
ual senator. 1t Is an expression OF
opinion that II Ia party measure
and the caucus goes no further than
TO urge" its undivided support as a
duty by Democratic senators.