The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-04-12
WASHINGTON.
Deadlock in the House on the d.
rect Tax Blll-Messrs. Oates
and Taylor.
The Opp ositlon to the Measure
Resortlng to Dilatory and
Obstructive Tactics.
FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
HOUSE.

this morning at 11:30 in CONTINUATION of
Wednesdays session.
Mr.. Taylor, of Ohio, having demanded
the regular order, the speaker stated that
the pending question was upon the mo-
ton of Mr.. Taylor that the house resolve
itself into committee of the whole on the
direct tax bill.
Mr.. Oates, of Alabama, was immedi-
ately on hand with motion for recess
until O'Clock, which was supplemented
by Mr.: Weaver, of Iowa, with motion to
substitute O'clock and further supple
mented by Mr.. Breckenridge, of Arkan-
sas, with motion substituting O'Clock.
The fifth day of the contest was there
upon formally opened without signs of
weakening on either side.
At the conclusion of one roll call, Mr..
Oates, of Alabama, inquired whether the
friends of the bill would permit few
hours debate upon it, without conditions.
In reply, Mr.. Reed, of Maine, said that
the friends of the measure were ready to
grant any time which might be required
tor full and complete debate, desiring
simply that the previous question shall be
considered as ordered, and the vote be
taken on the passage of the bill at some
definite time.
Mr.. Oates suggested that was substan-
TALLY the same proposition which had
previously been offered.
Mr.. Read admitted that it was sub
stantially the same, and said that he was
happy to state that the friends of the bill
had been perfectly willing to do the rea
sonable thing from first to last.
Mr.. Oates said that gentlemen on the
j..
to vote down any amendment and pass
the bill, leaving its opponents no oppor-
tunity to compromise. All legislation
proceeded on the idea of compromise,
and, if he agreed that the previous ques-
ton should be ordered on the bill in ad-
vance, all the maj orlty would have to do
would be to sit still and vote down every
amendment. They plumply asked the
opposition to fix an hour when it was
willing to strike its colors and surrender.
Mr.. Reed replied that under the consti-
tuition the majority was competent to de-
eide what amendment it would adopt,
what bills it would pass and what bills it
would refuse to pass. His proposition
simply exercised that constitutional right.
Under the constitution, legislation was the
result of the action of the majority, al
not the result of the yielding of 166 mem
bers to sixty-two members on a question
which the house was perfectly competent 10
deal with. The majority was eager to al
low any amount of debate and any
number of amendments. If the amend
ments were adopted the matter would go
into conferences; if not, the bill would pass
as it stood, and would pass by virtue of
having a majority of the representatives
of the people of the United States in favor
of it, He had made his proposition, and
it seemed to him that the wayfaring man
could comprehend it.
Mr.. Oates said it was perfectly clear
that, under the constitution, the house
had a right to make it's rules of procedure.
The regular course was, that
with general debate entered upon in
committee of the whole, the bill
should be read paragraph by paragraph.
When the consideration of the bill was
completed the majority could report it to
the house and the previous question could
be ordered upon it. The general ques-
ton should be ordered IN particular
time.
Mr.. Reed suggested that the majority
was endeavoring to proceed in the regular
order and had motion pending to go in
committee of the whole, but the pro-
cedure was interrupted by the gentle
man and his friends and again an attempt
to compromise having failed, the battle
was resumed.
After roll call Mr.. Taylor proposed that
the house go in committee of the whole,
the general debate on the direct tax bill
to be limited to one hour, but no limita-
ton to be fixed upon the debate under
the five minute rule.
Mr.. Oates said he would make an answer
to that proposition in an hour or so.
Mr.. Taylor suggested that the gentle
man might have until Monday to consider
the proposition, if he wished to make
motion for recess until that day.
Mr.. Oates-"T will let you know in a
short while"'
Although a compromise was not i'm
mediateIy agreed to, the prospects are
Frightening for temporary break of the
dead lock. By unanimous consent the
house took recess until 11:45 a. m. Mon
day. Notwithstanding the apparent will
ingness of the opponents of the direct tax
bill to accept Taylor's proposition, that
the house go into committee of the whole
upon that measure, without any limlta-
ton Delng placed upou Uhe n'o Hinu0o
debate, and without any agreement
to the definite time when the
previous question shall be considered
as ordered, the parliamentary status OF
the bill remains unchanged. On Wednes-
day last Mr.. Taylor made motion to go
into com mittee of the whole without any
reference being made to the time of order
ing the previous question:, and 1t was
against this motion that the opponents of
the bill proceeded to resort to obstinate
measures. Subsequently in the
various compromises submitted by
Mr.. Taylor, there was always a stlp-
ulation that the final vote on the
bill should be taken at specified time, to
this stipulation Mr.. Oates and his follow
ers uniformly objected, while the propo-
sition now submitted, and which, prob
ably, will be accepted, does not contain
this stipulation; it will practically bring
the house back to the situation 1t occu-
pied when Mr.. Taylor submitted his tiFst
motion.
Manufacturers Failed.
PITTsB URG April flowing to the de-