People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1894 — LET THEM ALONE. [ARTICLE]

LET THEM ALONE.

House Decides Not to Interfere with Tariff Conferrees. Washington, Aug. B.—Opinions vary i as to the effect of the house caucus upon the tariff situation. The caucus itself was a quiet affair. When the roll was called it showed 166 members present. Mr. Bynum presented a set of resolutions declaring that the commercial interests of the country were being held in suspense awaiting the settlement of the tariff question, and since it is currently believed that the conferrees are unable to agree upon satisfactory legislation, it was the sense of the caucus that the democratic conferrees of the house ! and senate should meet in a spirit of liberality to the end that the two houses by mutual concession's may agree upon a measure which will meet with the approval of each. The resolutions also provided that the ‘‘caucus stand adjourned until 3 o’clock p. m. Friday, the 10th inst., at which time, in case no agreement has been reached, it shall reconvene to take such further action in the premises as it may deem necessary and appropriate, and the chairman of the house caucus is hereby authorized and directed to invite the democratic senators to meet with the democrats of the house at that time in joint caucus.” Chairman Wilson, of the ways and means committee, spoke of the hard work which the house conferrees had done and referred rather reproachfully to the criticisms which had been passed upon them by some of the democratic members of the house. He characterI ized the movement which resulted in the caucus as an attempt to undermine the house conferrees and to subject them to a fire from the rear. He believed that if the house conferrees did i their duty and the house did its duty a j bill honorable for the house and sen- | ate and acceptable to the people would : be the result. Such a result would not be brought about by any action | that would notify the senate that if it : would hold cut to a given date the | house wor.V .struct its conferrees to recede. I e house democrats could propose ; plan likely to sustain the house bill its conferrees would wel- , come it. Something of a sensation was stirred by the forging to the front of Speaker I Crisp when the general debate was wel’. under way. The speech of the speaker was temperate but very I forcible, and its logic was so irrei sistible that at its conclusion Mr. ’ Bynum, the mover of the resolution, withdrew his motion. The speaker declared that it was and should be the j purpose of the democrats of the house as democrats to redeem the l pledges they had made to the peoj pie. The tariff bill had gone to conference to be met with the most determined opposition from the senate. He pointed out the workings of conferences, long struggles which sometimes took place over disputed points, and illustrated it with reference to appropriation bills which had been again and again sent to conference, the I house refusing to yield to the demands of the senate, the senate protesting ’ that it never would consent, but finally j consenting. He deprecated the passage of any resolution at this time. The senate had not withdrawn its support from the senate conferrees and the house should stand by its representatives. No vote j of confidence was needed, while on I the other Land the passage of Mr. Bynum’s resolution would be a virtual surrender. He gave it as his opinion that the conferrees could reach an agreement within a couple of weeks at most, but they should not be harI assed by a -‘back fire” from their own house. The house should be loyal to i itself and its representatives, i The proposition for a joint caucus of the democrats of the house and senate in case no agreement was reached, made by Mr. Bynum, the speaker characterized as an abandonment. Pass a resolution to that effect, he said, and serve a notice on the senate that you want to meet with them. If you do that, said he, you might as well hold the joint caucus to-morrow. The ' speaker’s speech was received with approval, and in conclusion he suggested that the caucus should adjourn. Mr. Bynum evidently realized that i the caucus had slipped out of his hands, i He therefore suggested that he would i be glad to withdraw his resolution if I Mr. Wilson would rise and say that an agreement was in sight. He paused for a reply. Mr. Wilson made no move. He gave no apparent recognition to Mr. Bynum. The action of the chairman excited no little comment, as it was taken to mean a declination to have an.y controversy with Mr. Bynum. Inquiries were made regarding the status of negotiations upon sugar, coal and iron, but no definite information was forthcoming. Speaker Crisp said that the senate bill was more highly protective in most of its schedules than the house bill, and that there were many points of difference to be settled and intimated that they were being settled, but that was as much enlightenment as the inquiring democrats obtained. Finally Mr. Bynum withdrew his resolution, explaining that he was satisfied with the representations made, and on motion of Speaker Crisp the caucus adjourned.