St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-07
THE HOUSE.
Messrs. Oates and Reed Have a
Tiff Over the Direct Tax RiIl

Messrs. Oates and Reed Have a
Tilt Over the Direct Tax Bill.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-The house
this morning at As entered upon the
fourth day of its contest over the direct
tax bill, the legislative day of Wednes-
day still continuing. Mr.. Reed, of
Maine, Immediately demanded the reg
ular order, which the speaker stated to
be the vote on the motion that when the
house adjourn to-day it be to meet Sat
urday next Mr.. Oates, of Alabama, in
behalf OF the opponents of the bill, pro-
posed that the house be allowed two
hours for general debate, leaving the
question as to the future stages of the
bill to be settled when those stages
were reached. E. B. Taylor, of Ohio,
said that the friends of the bill only
asked all assurance of final vote at a
proper time. Any arrangement that in
cluded that would be accepted
by them, but any proposition
which did not include it would
not be accepted. Mr.. Oates re-
piled that such a proposition as Sug-
gested by the gentleman would commit
those who opposed the bill to its final
passage without regard to whether any
amendments were adopted or not. Mr..
Taylor said that that was not his inten
ton. Abundant opportunity would be
gwen for amendment, but to say that
The bill would only be allowed to adj
vance one step was nOnsensical and
such a proposition could not be ac-
cepted. Mr.. Oates reported that the
gentleman's proposition was one to tie
enemies of the bill. 1t was bulldozing
process. Mr.. Reed INQUIRED whether
the gentleman was not pining for the
cotton tax amendment. "When we pro-
coed in the regular way you will see,"
replied Mr.. Oats. Everybody can see
it now," was Mr.. Reeds retOrt amid
shouts for the regular order. Mr.. Reed
said that he wished the gentleman to
understand distinctly that the friends of
the bill were willing to allow any time
for debate that could be desired by a
reasonable man. All they wanted was
an arrangement 10y which, after debate
and Offering amendments, a final vote
could be taken.
Mr.. Oates-Why do you ask us to COM
NIT ourselves?
Mr.. Reed-Because your conduct is
such that it is necessary you should COM
NIT yourselves.
! Mr. OateS-You asked it before you
put us in position where you can vote
down with impunity every amendment.
SO the effort at a compromise having
failed, the usual filibustering motions
we're again submitted and the round of
roll calls began. Roll call followed roll
call until 3 p. M, when the absence of a
quorum was developed and call of the
house ordered. The overworked read
ing clerks were then given much
needed rest, while the sergant-at-arms
started on a quest for the absentees.
The first victims of his zeal were Mr..
White, of New York; Mansur. of Mis-
souri,, and Ermentrout, of Pennsylvania,
who gave reasonable and satisfactory
excuses. but were badly guyed by their
colleagues, much to the amusement of
the galleries. Seney and Foran, of
Ohio, were the next prisoners brought
10 the bar, and they were excused, al
though the statement of the former that
he had been absent getting something
to eat was received with expressions of
incredulity by members, who believed
that he had inadvertently made use of
the verb ''to eat" At $50 the house
took recess till II 80 tomorrow.