The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-15
The Closing Scenes Of the Debate on
the Morrison Tariff Bill.


earnest. and he so thoroughly forgot
himself in his zeal for this pet measure
of his that the members paid him the
tribute of leaving their seats, gathering
around him and frequently interrupting
him with applause. Even some OF those
who were opposed to his bill rendered
him their congratulations after he fin
ished.
When Mr.. Morrison sat down the con-
fusion was very great. The members
were so excited that they gathered IN
the aisles, some of them gesticulatlng
rather wildly, and all talking so loudly
that the most vigorous thumpS OF the
gavel by Mr.. Cox, who was IN the Chair,
could hardly he heard. AlesSrs. Mckln-
ley, Kelley, HiscOcB, and Reed on the
Republican side stood in their places,
trying to help Mr.. Cox restore order,
while Mr.. Randall on the Democratic
side urged his friends to be silent
enough to allow the Chairman to pro-
coed with the business of the hour.
At last there was comparative quiet,
and Mr.. Cox announced that by vote of
the House general debate on the bill
was ended. Everybody then looked over
to McKinley's seat. 1t was expected
that he would make the motion to
strike out the enacting clause. McKin-
ly stood there in his place, but he was
seen to be nodding suggeStively to
somebody Oh the Democratic side. Then
KassOn came hurriedly down the aisle
and made some significant motion in the
same direction, and then some one near
Randall said:
''Mr. Chairman"
Every eye was turned upon this
speaker, and it was found that Converse
of Ohio was the Democrat who had the
courage to make the motion. Mr.. Con-
verse waited for a moment until the
House was quiet, and then said:
MIR. Chairman, move that the en-
acting clause be stricken out"
y perfect thunder roar of applause
followed, not only from the Republican
side, but from many Democrats. The
republicans had desired that some Dem
Ocrat should make the motion, though
in view of the Democratic caucus it was
regarded as asking great deal of any
Democrat to do more than vote for the
motion. But this morning Converse
said that he believed the bill and the
agitation that had arisen from its con-
sideratiOn were damaging to the coun-
try and the Democratic party, which
was responsible for legislation in the
House, and that he would be glad to
express his conviction by making the
motion to strike out the enacting clause.
When Mr.. Cox put the motion the
volume of sound that those who voted
aye sent up to the roof was fully equall-
ed by that of those who voted no. 1t
seemed as though every member exert
ed the full power of his lungs.
Il call for DIVISION" shouted Kas-
son, as he rushed down the aisle, mean-
ing thereby vote 10y tellers. 1t was
ordered almost unanimously, and Con-
verse and Morrison were appointed tel
lers, and those who favored the motion
began to pass between them. Before
taking his place as teller, Morrison call
ed to the Clerk of the House, who was
standing 10y the Speaker desk, and eX-
claimed:
CLARK, see that no damned scoundrel
who is paired goes between the tellers. =
Clark promised to see that fair play
should be had, and Morrison took his
station, giving Converse a very cool
shake of the hand, as he stood opposite
to that gentleman.
Morrison nervously tapped each man
on the shoulder, while Converse kept his
tally without such aid Zone hundred
and fifty-siX in the Affirmative, said
Morrison, as the last affirmative voter
passed through, and he knew that he
was beaten. lie had not counted on
more than us in the affirmative. Then
those who opposed the motion passed
through, and when the last man had so
voted Morrison said, lone hundred and
fifty-one in the negative" and walked
sadly back to his seat.
Then there went up such a shout as
is seldom heard in the House. 1t was a
wild yell and hurrah. DemuTe Repub-
licanS forgot themselves and threw up
their handkerchiefS and volumes of the
Record as they shouted. Some Demo-
Gratis did SO too. There was no control
ling them, and the Chairman made no
attempt tOdO SO. They pounded their
desks, clapped their hands, and shouted
until fairly tired. The Morrison bill
was beaten. The outcome of the cleo
ton of Carlisle as Speaker was neutral
lied. Morrison recovered his self-con-
troll after moment or two and looked
smilingly on at the boyiSh outburst.
There was one more formality. All
this had been done in Committee of the
whole, and it was necessary that for
NAL vote be taken in the House. Speak
er Carlisle took the chair, and Cox, as