National Republican., 1883-02-19
An Attempt TO Limit All Further Debate TO Ono
Hour Raises Storm in the House.
A Whole Afternoon Consumed and No
Progress Made.
Mr. Shermans Amendment 10 the Steel Schedule
Debated in tho Senate
RESOLUTIONS OF Respect 10 the Memory Of
Congressman ShnciSlefOrn.
THE HOUSE.


Others in favor of an amendment to the con-
sttution for the legal enforcement Of the
obligation of contracts entered into by any of
the states of the union. Referred.
Mr.. Washburne submitted the conference
report on the bill authorizing the construc-
tion of bridge near the head of Lake Cham |
plain, and it was agrccdto.
On motion Of Mr.. Robertson of Massa-
chuetts, resolution was adopted calling on
the secretary Of war for information rs to
whether during the current year damage by
food, or otherwise, has been done to the
works for channel improvement at or near
Plumpoint, or at or near Lake Providence, in
the Mississippi river.
Mr.. Miller from the committee on elections,
submitted u report on tho contested election
case of Sessinghaus VS.. Frost from the
third congressional district of Missouri, de-
claring the contestant entitled to the seat.
Laid over for future action.
Tho house then, ut 11:35, went into COM
mittec of the whole (Nlr. Burrows in the
chair, on
THE TARIFF BILL.
The pending anne endments were those offered by
Messrs. Bayne and kasson, the one reducing the
standard from 8 to 2l9 cents per pound; the other
fixing the rate at 21s.
These two amendments gave rise to long
debate, in which several member took part
though no special interest was excited until
Mr.. Dunncll took the floor, and, after some
preliminary statements, went ON to express
his surprise at the unabated interest which
was manifested in the pending bill in the
light of the fact that there was no earthly
hope of its passage. Members had been de-
batting the provisions of tho bill, and at the
same time had admitted here and elsewhere
that it was not TO be passed.
Mr. McKinley L deny that so fnr as am com
cerned.
Mr. Dunncll, The next few days win verify the
truthfulnes5 Of my statement
Referring TO the appointment of the tariff
commission, he said that he had opposed its
appointment because he saw just what was to
be the fact is the history of the forty-seventh
congress- What congress ought to have done
had not been DONE but had been turned over
to u commission. Now, within few days of
final adjournment, with one-third of an cnor-
nous bill passed over, everybody was pressed
with the conviction that the bill could never
pass. 1t was utterly beyond the expectation
Of its most sanguine supporter that the bill
would pass. The house had been deluding
ITSELF deluding the country, and unsettling
the great business interests of the country
with the secret fat gone forth and cherished
that the bill should not pass this congress.
Already steps had been taken to pass through
the house next Monday the internal revenue
bills, taking of from capital what labor de-
manded should be taken off. Therefore"
Mr. Dunnell concluded, eve are debating
bill dshonoring ourselves on this side as the
dominant party and dishonoring congress in
is treatment of the people," Applause on
the democratic side.
This speech of Mr.. Dunnell's revived the in
terost in the debate, and tho knot of members
who had surrounded him during rs delivery
moved up the aisle to listen the more atten-
lively TO Mr.. Kasson, who rose to reply:
If the hOuse. he said. had confined itself To
tho proper consideration of the business qucs-
ti0ns embraced in the bill the measure would
have been passed before this. 1t was not on
the republican side of the house that the re-
sp1psibility rested. Dersive laughter and
cries Of "oh !" from the democratic side. He
himself had seldom taken the floor in the
debate. He was one of that class
of republicans who believed that
no tariff bill should pass through
congress without first fairly considering
the interests of the people. He belonged to
those who thought that the vast interests OF
the country had right to, be heard before
any proposition was made to strike them
down or seriously affect them. Therefore he
had advocated q tariff commission in order to
bring the house in contact with the people
and not leave the lobbyists and agents to give
information to tho committee on ways and
means. The commission was appointed and
its report was made. The ways and means
committee took it as basis of action, made
notifications in it as promptly as possible
and brought to the house bill, and the gen
tleman from Minnesota (NIr. DunnelD had
not been present with the committee as he
examination. Applause ON the republican
sidcl He wanted the debate closed, he
wanted the bill passed, "but you" he con
cluded, pointing to the democratic side
stand here obstructng it,"
Immediately the hall was in great con
fusion, Messrs. Morrison, Carlisle, and Tucke
being on their feet in emphatic denial of Mr.
Kasson's assertion and Mr.. Haskell demand
ing to be recognized to make a privileged mo
tion. Comparative quiet having been re
stored, Mr. Haskell moved that the com
mttee rise.
And report the bill to the house, suggested MI
Mr. Carlisle. The gentleman knows that that
not n privileged motion:
Mr.. Haskell's motion having been agreed Ia
the speaker resumed the chair and Mr.. Has
Rell moved that the house again 90 into com
mittee Of the whole, and pending that move
that all debate on the pending section of tn
bill be closed in one hour.
Not comprehendng the wide scope of thi
motion, which would cut of debate on tn
pendiug schedule and all remaining schedule:
Mr.. Carlisle exclaimed ave will accept that,
but upon Mr., HaskelPs explaining what h
intended by his motion Mr.. Carlisle raise
the point of order that the motion was no
in order. "If you will give us a bill maxim
90 per cent. reduction" exclaimed Nj
Morrison, 1--WE will pass 1T before night.
[Cries of Vote Voter on the republiea
sdel
Mr., Carlisle speaking for the democrati
side, said that he was willing that all debat
on the pcnding schedule should close in thirt
minutes.
Mr.. Carlisle then took the floor in advocac
OF his point Of order. Under the rules of tn
house, which had prevailed ever since tn
house was first organized, the representative
of the people had right to have all bills pre-
pressing TO impose taxes or make approprii
tions read by clauses and every clause col
sidered, BY the practice Of the house tn
gentleman in charge of such bill had a rigl
to move that the committee rise and that d,
bate be clos,,i on the pending paragraph
an amendment but there was no rule b
which the house could close debate upon
cut oil amendment to clauses which had n,
yet been read or considered.
The speaker said that the motion was M
to cut OFF amendments. If IL were the cha
would rule the proposition out at once,
Continuing his argument Mr., Carlisle sal
that this was a proposition to do what ha
never yet been done in the house since Il
organization of the government, SO far as
knew, and If the gentleman from Kans
could cite single instance where such
motion had been entertained he would hay
nothing to say. The gentleman knew tn
no such proposition could be entertained
far as he was concerned he was perfect