The Worthington advance., 1888-08-02
THE HILLS TARIFF BILL
Dramatic Incidents Connected With its Passage
Through the H0use by Majority Of 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
close. In the executive gallery be-
sides were Mrs. Secretary Endicott and her
| daughter and the wives of few senator's and
! bureau officers. The diplomatic gallery was
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 o
''field day.
The members came early, and were in their
seats when the gavel fell. They did otleave
! 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 u seat. Tho previous qucs-
ton was to be moved by 1l:3O, and the
house convened at IL. Promptly at l1:3O
| Mr.. Mills commenced the speech of an hour,
which was to close the debate.
The previous question WAS ordered at ]
|
roll began. The roll call was followed with
the greatest interest. The speaker did not
! tind it necessary to command tho 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
Mr. Randall's letter, dated juno 10 and ad-
dressed to Hon. W. A. Sowden, is as follows:
If q vote on Mr.. Mills tariff bill is to be
taken Saturday, the 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 l want you to secure mo pair
with some ono who favors that bill. as !
| would, If present, record my vote in opposl-
ton to it. Give this immediate care. as do
not want to bo misunderstood. Iwantit an
nounccd and distinctly known that am op-
posed to the passage Of the bill in question.
As tho roll proceeded the first name to at
tract attention was that Of Anderson of
! Iowa. He voted, as he has dono throughout
| the congress, with the Democrats and for the
bill. Tho Democrats applauded his response
as If in securing an Independent vote they
however, that he laughs best who laughs last,
for hardly had tho vote Of Anderson been re-
corded for the bill when Bliss of New
York. Democrat who represents manufac-
turers, and who said that if he should vote
for tho mills bill he would be defeated by
a Democratic Roland for Il 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
J tobacco tax.
Then came upon the roll call tho greatest
sensation of the day-knute Nelson of Min
nesota Both sides watched him closely, for
both sides expected his vote. Both sides un.
derstood that they had his assurance that he
would vote with them. He spoke of favor OF
something like the bill at the beginning Of the
session when no tariff speeches had been made
of the bill from that hour but
all through the debate in the committed
of the whole Mr.. Nelson has spoken and voted
generally with the Republicans. One o! the
Republicans said that Nelson had given as.
surances that he would vote against the
promise he made them to the ear alone for
when his name was called he voted ayo
There was tremendous applause on the
Democratic side long continued. With the
applause there were heard some hisscs. 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. Tho last name
for the bill in the midst of applause. The
vote on the bill was 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
Democrats. When the speaker announced
the passage of the bill the Democrats broke
into cheers and waved bnndanas wildly in
the air.