Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-15
STRUCK OUT.
That's What Happened to the
Enacting Clause.
Vote. 159 to 154--151 Democrats Kept
The Faith.
The Vote on the Tariff Bill.
RANDALL'S SPEECH.

RANDALL'S SPEECH.
dall's speech. His argument was that
capital was timid; that this agitation
alarmed it; that it was an essential
condition that laws should be stable or
public confidence would be disturbed
and industries affected would be the
sufferers by the uncertainty. He
was sure that it was unwise
as party policy. He said
1t meant sure defeat He
criticised the bill as based On a wrong
principle; and as calculated to work
great detriment to some industries.
But he said it meant moro. 1t meant a
return to free trade and that meant
disaster. He said, wait, let us beat
the republicans, then the tariff can be
reformed, on the principles of the
Ohio platform and all will be we'll
WASHINGTON, May 6.-The audi
ence which throughout the day had
crowded the galleries almost to suffo-
cation husheG its hum of conversation
and watched with intense interest the
further proceedings on the floor. AS
the clerk began to read the bill, Con
verse left his seat IN the last row of
seats. and walking to the bar of the
house stood nervousIy lingering the
pieces of paper which he held in his
hand When the reading of the first
paragraph had been completed there
was an embarrassing pause. Con
verse was engaged in earnest CON
yersatiOn with Hunt and did not
appear to know that all eyes were
fixed upon him.
Mr. Kasson, fearful that the time
when a motion to strike out the en-
acting clause would be in order.
would expire before Converse's atten-
ton would be attracted to the fact,
rose and enquired of the chair wheth-
CT the proper time had come to
make a motion.
Before the chair could respond Con
verse, pushing to the front, moved to
strike out the enacting clause This
was the signal for a volley of Kisses
and groans from the democratic side.
This demonstration being met by
rounds of applause from the repubi
can side. The scene in the chamber
was one of intense excitement and
confusion, to which the galleries rem
derGd no little aid by loud tokens of
approval. Tellers being ordered, Con
verse ana Idorrison were appointed by
the chair. Before taking his place,
Morrison called to the clerk of the
house who was standing by the speak
er's desk, and exclaimed, CLERK, see
that no one who is paired goes between
the tellers."
Mr.. Clark promising to see fair
play should be had, Morrison took his
station, giving Converse a very cool
shake of the hand, as he stood oppo-
site that gentleman. Then the voting
began and the tellers announced an
affirmative vote.
The first man to pass through in
negative was Reagan, of Texas, who
had been brought in on an invalid
chair IN order to cast his vote. He
was heartily applauded by his friends
and received many congratulations on
his apparent recovery from his last
sickness.
The negative vote was announced
as 1856, and then Wise VA voted in
the affirmative, Uaking the vote stand
159 to 154
Then cheer followed from the re-
publican side and cheers we're taken
up by the galleries and reverberated
from every nook and Granny of the
halls. Ladies stood up and waved
their hapdkerchiefs and men their
hats. Morrison yielding gracefully
to the inevitable, walked smiling to
his seat and the tariff bill was dead.
On Converse's motion the commit
tee rose and the chairman reported its
action to the house.
The SPEAKER stated the question to
be on striking out the enacting clause
and Morrison and Turner Ky call
ing for the yeas and nays, it was
agreed-yeas, 159; nays, 155; as fol-
lows: