The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-18
Mr.. Morrison and the Other Leaders Endeav
Oring to Devise Plan to Suppress
the Coming Flood of ElOQuence.
The POlice-COurt Methods Prevailing
in the Jeannette Inquiry.
Banker Bateman Withdraws His Charges
Against General Swaim-PrOspect Of
Congressional Deadlock.
A DREARY PROSPECT.
Seventy Great Orators Who Desire to Talk
About the Morrison Bill.

Seventy Great Orators Who Desire to Talk
About the Morrison Bill.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 17.-There are about sew
enty names on the list of those who will speak
on the general subject of tariff revision who have
not yet been heard. The House usually devotes
five hours or less per day to general debate, and
at this rate it will require at least three weeks
before the bill can be taken up by sections. The
action of the House on Tuesday, therefore, in
deciding to take up the tariff bill means that for
the next month nothing whatever can be done
with any of the otherimportant matters that are
pending before Congress. Your correspondent
has made some effort to ascertain the probable
fate of the BILL and learns, as the result of care
full inquiry, that there is majority of at least
twenty-five who would vote to strike out the
enacting clause tomorrow, if the question came
up against proposition to pass the Morrison
bill in its present shape Even among those
who voted for consideration there is large
number who have no intention of voting for the
passage of the bill. Many of them state that
they voted for consideration solely for the rea-
son that they desired to go on record as favoring
revision of the existing tariff law, and that
they have not the slightest idea of in
dorsing any such absurd attempt
at revision as this scheme of Morrisons l had
a talk today with a Democratic representative
whose constituency are about equally divided
between tariff revision and tariff stability
why" asked him, did you vote to consider
the Morrison bill, when you know it cannot
pass7"
He replied: "The tariff is a campaign issue.
The Democratic party is in a bad predicament.
If we leave the tariff as it is we are gone sure.
If we reduce it we are as badly off Therefore,
l voted to consider the bill, in order that my
tariff reform constituency may know that am
willing to give the friends of the measure an op-
portunity to express themselves. On the other
hand, my farmer friends do not want the wool
tariff reduced and can safely vote against the
passage of the BILL unless it is so amended as to suit
their views. So that, you see, L can by voting
to strike out the enacting clause-when that
proposition shall come up-suit both sides of the
party. This whole matter is nothing more than
an ante-campaign opportunity for each Democrat
to vote the other way from the way he thinks.
He can meet the charge of Inconsistency by
pointing out the Inconsistency of the BILL"
PLANS FOR CURTAILING THE DEBATE.
The speeches which have been made on the
tariff have attracted very little attention. When
tariff talk is there is most beggarly array of
empty seats. The subject has been so much
discussed in Congress in recent years that it is
almost impossible to say anything new about it.
Members of Congress admit this both verbally
and by absenteesm. 1t is time for action, not
talk. The fact that the speeches are not going
to attract attention has suggested to the manag-
ers the propriety Of curtailing the debate The
number of men set down for speeches shows
that the debate might be extended to most un-
reasonable length Mr. Morrison and the other
leaders think this ought not to be permitted. In
this view of the matter, Mr.. Morrison has called
meeting of the ways and means committee to
consider the question. 1t is proposed to cut off
speech making as practically to conine it
within the limits of the fve-minute rule, with
leave to print Another proposition is to have
evening sessions Of the House for delivery of
tariff speeches. Mr.. Morrison will move, next
Monday, to suspend the rules and make an order
for such sessions. Under either plan it is thought
vote on the bill could be reached by the 1st of
next month