The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-16
The House, by Very Close Vote. Determines
that the Measure Shall Be Considered,
and Debate Begins at Once,
The Author Of the Bill Making the Open
ing Speech in Its Favor.
Mr.. Kelley Makes an Earnest Argument in
Support of PrOtectiOn-The Vote and
Debate in Detail.
VICTORY FOR MORRISON.
The House Decides in Favor of Considering
the Tariff Reduction Bill.
Sancia he Indin La L.

The House Decides in Favor of Considering
the Tariff Reduction Bill.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 15.-As anticipated by the
bestinformed, the tariff reformers carried the day
i'll the House The Morrison bill was takenup and
discussion of it launched on the legislative sea.
1t was not, however, glorious victory. 1t was
expected that the vote would be close yet it was
not expected that the reforners would have a
majority of only two; but such was the case.
| When the vote was announced there was
burst of applause. There was a very full at
tendance on the foor and the galleries were
crowded. 1t happened that there was a big
cluster of reformers whose names commence
with the first two letters of the alphabet but the
next two letters furnished an Offset and so
it went on down through the whole list. It was
very close. Never, during the whole call, was
either side ahead more than seven votes; they
generally kept within two or three of each other.
Many members on the foor were keeping tally
lists, but the vote was so close that they could
not tell, when the call was over which side had
it. There was, consequently gathering around
the Speakers desk as the clerks made out the
result When Mr.. Carlisle announced, ''14O to
1873" there was silence for moment; then there
broke forth loud applause from the
l40, and from the galleries too.
This quieted down, the House went
into committee of the whole, with Mr. Cox, of
New York, in the chair, and the debate on the
tariff was commenced by Mr. Morrison.
There is talk among those opposed to reform
of the tariff of moving to strike out the enacting
clause. Such motion cannot be made, how
4 4ho4
will not be until the general debate is closed 1t
will take more than two weeks for general de-
bate Even then there is no chance of the en-
acting clause being stricken out. A majority of
the House have decided, practically, that the
tariff bill shall pass Mr. Randall has, tonight,
analysed the vote, and says the bill will pass.
He however, analyzed the House this morning,
and predicted that the vote would he against
taking the matter up. Mr.. Morrison and the
tariff-reform leaders say the bill will undoubted
ly pass, and that the House will thus declare its
principles on the question involved. They
are not jubilant because they have such small
margin, but they are satisfied.
Just before the call of the House, three or four
Democratic members--one from Indiana--were
seen eXpostulating with Mr. Lamb, 1t is said
that he would be read out of the party in Indi-
ana if he voted against consideration of the bill
Mr. Lamb was not to be moved, however; he
had his mind made up, and it could not have
been changed had dynamite bomb been direct
ed toward him.
Mr.. Wood, i'll commenting upon Mr.. Lambs
vote, said he would regret it, that he was the
only member in the party from the State who
had the hardihood to break away from the ma
jority, and that, having an agricultural district,
he doubted if Mr.. Lamb would be renOminateti.
Mr. Wood thought the fact that Mr. Lamb
had some large factories in his district was of no
consequence.
Judge Lowry, of Fort Wayne, created the only
diversion during the voting. He came in with
his overcoat on, just after the final call of names
had been made and by wild motions he attract
ed Mr., Carlise's attention He looked like Il
man who had been sentfor and though perfect
ly able to come, was little behind hand in his
coming. Mr.. Speaker said Mr. Lowry, Il
want to vote for consideration" He said this so
pleadingly that, being kind man, Mr. Carlisle
would certainly have allowed him to vote if the
rules had permitted.
"Was the gentleman in his seat before the
call was fnishedr he asked
NO" said he, Il was not exactly in my
seat
'The gentleman cannot. then, VOTE said Mr.
Carlisle; and Mr.. Lowry sat down amid broad
grin, looking disconsolate and soured with the
whole world.
PROBABILITIES OF THE DEBATE.
Up to the hour Of adjournment, this after
noon. more than eighty five Renublicans had
placed their names on the list of the chairman
of the committee of the whole, for recognition,
to make speeches on the tariff bill A motion
TO close the general debate will be in order in
the House, pending motion to go into commit
tee of the whole which is requisite to continuing
the consideration of the bill each legislative day:
but although the narrowness of the majority
by which it was taken up to day suggests d
possibility of success in such an attempt to force
a final issue, the leading opponents of the
measure say they will offer no objection to
full general discussion The duration of the de
bate of this nature is variously estimated at
from ten to twenty days, the best informed
opinion nclining to the lower estimate. as the
House will doubtless order some evening
sessions for the purpose and many speeches will
be printed in the Record without more than a
nominal delivery. The progress of the debate
will probably be interrupted however, from
time to time to admit the speedy action on one
or two prominent appropriation bills.
Opinions are very much divided as to the ulti-
mate fate of the bill, both sides claiming TO be
able to muster majority
Messrs. Calkins and Brown, of Indiana, were
absent, and paired. No statement was made of
how they would vote if they had been present,
but it is supposed they would have voted in the
negative.
Details of the Debate,