The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-08-02

Dramatic Incidents Connected with Its Passage
Through the House by Majority of Thirteen.

through the mousse ny MAJORITY Vi thirteen.
According to general expectation the Mills
tariff bill passed the house on Saturday,
| and large attendance of people were pres
ent to see the closing debate.
The central figure was Mrs. Cleveland who
gave the Endorsement of her presence to the
Mills bill when Mr.. Mills made his opening
speech, and who was there to represent the
| president and his approval at the
close In the executive gallery be-
sides were Mrs. Secretary Endicott and her
daughter and the wives of q few senators and
bureau officers. The diplomatic gallery was
filed with people who are not diplomats, al
though some of them have been and others
hope to be. The speakers seat in the gallery
was occupied by the wife of the speaker and
invited guests, and all the rest of the galleries
were crammed to the last remnant of stand
ing room by crowds which will always con-
gregate at the capitol whenever there is a
"field day"
The members came early, and were in their
seats when the gavel fell They did not leave
them until it fell again, when the long roll
had been twice called and the bill was declared
passed by thirteen majority. Mr.. Mills, rud-
dy of face and white of mustache, was among
the first to take seat. The previous ques-
ton was to be moved by 11:3O and the
house convened at II. Promptly at 11:30
Mr.. Mills commenced the speech of an hour,
which was to close the debate.
1H6 PREVIOUS question: WAS Oruereu aG i
O'Clock, and at once tho calling.of the long
roll began The roll call was followed with
the greatest interest. The speaker did not
find 1t necessary to command the house to
silence. 1t was silent. Something of dra-
matte effect was added to the roll call by the
| reading of the letter of Mr.. Randall just be-
fore in which he announced his opposition
to the bill.
Mr.. RandalPs letter, dated juno 10 and ad-
dressed to Hon. w. A. Sowden, is as follows:
fla vote on Mr. Mills tariff bill is to be
taken Saturday, thu 21st inst, l fear my
strength, by reason of recent illness, will not
permit my presence in the house on that day
and if absent want you to secure me pair
with some one who favors that bill, as
would, if present, record my vote in OPPOSE
ton to 1t. Give this immediate care, as | do
not want to be misunderstood. 1wantit an
nounced and distinctly known that am OPP
posed to the passage OF the bill in question.
AS the roll proceeded the first name to at
tract attention was that of Anderson of
Iowa. He voted, as he has done throughout
the congress, with the Democrats and for the
bill. The Democrats applauded his response
as if in securing an independent vote they
had scored victory. They soon learned,
however, that he laughs best who laughs last,
for hardly had the vote of Anderson been re-
corded for the bill when Bliss of New
York. a Democrat who represents manufac-
turers, and who said that if he should vote
for the mills bill he would be defeated by
5000, voted nay in a clear voice. This was
a Democratic Roland for a Republican Oliver.
The next name to attract attention was that
of Brewer of North Carolina. He voted for
the bill because Of the slight reduction on the
tobacco tax.
Then came upon the roll call the greatest
sensation of the day-Knute Nelson of Min
nesota Both sides watched him closely, for
both sides expected his VOTE Both sides un-
| Int had hot ho
would vote with them. He spoke of favor of
something like the bill at the beginning Of the
session when no tariffspeeches had been made.
He received the eulogies of the friends
of the bill from that hour but
all through the debate in the committee
of the whole Mr.. Nelson has spoken and voted
generally with the Republicans. One of the
Republicans said that Nelson had given as
surances that he would vote against the
Mills bill. But if MIR. Nelson made such
promise he made them to the ear alone, for
when his name was called he voted aye.
There was tremendous applause on the
Democratic side long continued. With the
applause there were heard some Kisses. Mr..
Nelson himself was evidently not pleased to
attract SO much attention. He leaned for
ward upon his desk, colored somewhat and
seemed altogether i'll at ease. There were no
further notable incidents as the roll call pro-
ceeded. Sowden voted as he said he would,
against the bill. Foran, who has vigorously
opposed the bill, lodged. The last name
called was that of Speaker Carlisle, who voted
for the bill in the midst of applause. The
vote on the bill was q party vote except that
OF Sowden, Merriman, Bliss, and Greenman,
Democrats, voted with the Republicans;
Fitch and Nelson, Republicans voted with
the Democrats, and the independents Ander-
son Qowa) and Smith (Wis) voted with the
Democrats. When the speaker announced
the passage of the bill the Democrats broke
into cheers and waved bandanas wildly in
the air.