New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-19
HOW MILLS DID NOT SAVE FIVE MINUTES

THE sPLENETIC "PREMIER" WASTES Mo'h
rIME-wuY DID HE DO IT?-THE LABOR
COMMITTEE SHUT OUT.
Washington, July 10 (specaD.-Thc time was 3:oo
y m. From tho beginning Of to-day's session
premier, Mills had exhibited the greatest eagcrness
to push the Dark Lantern, bill through tho Com
mittce OF the Whole at the earliest possible moment
Several times he had impaticntly Remarked Il want
to hurry this thing along" and this thing had been
hurried alongs the Republicans offering no facuous
opposition whatever. Among the important items 10
be considered the duty leaf for cigar wrappers
commercially known as sumatra leaf. This item was
reached at :25 Il. M, and Mr. La Foilcttc' oi WIS
consn obtained the floor to offer an amendment mauc
necessary by evasons Of tho duty under the present
law He showed that tho farmers in nine Northern
States are engaged raising cigar leaf with which the
sumatra leaf raised where three crops mature In
wear and where wages are to cents dav. comes
in direct competition. BY dishonest means inc III
portcrs this tobacco enabled TO evade the law
and they are rapidly driving Northern farmers ont OIL
the business. Mr.. La Foettc's amendment TO guaru
against fraudulent imporations rejected by solid
Dcmocratic vote He then desired TO speak five
minutes TO the caucus amendment which was TO re-
store the duty OF 10 cents per pound on unscmmcd
leaf which the " Dark Lantern" Committee had cut
down to 35 per pound, but he was CURLY refused
an opportunity 10 do by the PREMIER who moved
that the Committee rise and limit debate. Once in
N'N"S N-'~
minute.
Mcssrs. Reed and Mckinley appealed to him to make
the time five minutes to allow Mr.. La Toilette to con
clude his argument.
won't do IT, take one minute or nothing ex-
claimed the peevsh Texan, in true plantation style.
He would not listen TO Mr. Reed or Major Mckinley,
who assured him that he would time by yielding
to La Follettes reasonable request On MISS de-
mand for the previous question, the Republicans, who
did not choose be budozed, declined to VOTE 'and
Mills found himself forty votes short OF quorum
He demanded the yeas and nays, and In response 10
mild appeals that he yield, he yelled Il won't yield
any longer my courtesy has BEEN abused by the other
side OF the House." The roll was called and when the
vote was announced, twenty-five minutes had been
expended to save five minutes, and no quorum had
voted.
The Republicans renewed their frttless appeals.
The "Premier was as dlscourteous and II possible,
more stubborn than ever. At last In frenzy, he
moved that the House adjourn This was carried on
division, and then Major Warner demanded a record
vote, which was ordered. By this time the frantic
Premier had been made understand that previous
order OF the House had provided for recess from
D. M till p. m, when the session was to be resumed
TO consider bills from the Labor Committee
He found himself In a trap. There was nothing
left for him TO except to have call of the House
or to submit the consequences of his own arbitrary
The latter alternative chosen, and thus seventy
five minutes of the day session were wasted, while
the Labor CUHlmlttto
session. which was to be devoted to the bills in the
interest of workngmcn, including the one which
passed the Republican Senate yesterday. to provide
for judicial action upon the eight hour claims The
Democrats seemed rather glad OF this opportunity
to postpone and thus endanger the passage OF that
measure, and the worangmon may thank them alone
for today's action. But Premier MINIS may nave
been ms IdIed in part by another motive IL Is nm
dcrs TODD that after the strong appeals OF the New
England, New ork, and PENNSYLVANIA Leaf tobacco
growers and their protest against the
proposed reduction on nsemmed leaf, colonel
Mills wrote strong letter, which was printed In
which he declared that the committee would not
recedc from position 1t Is also whispered that
Mr. La Toilette desired 10 have The letter rcad IN
down In consequence of strong representations to the
effect that the reduction would seriously endanger
Democratic prospects in Connecticut this year, ana
would have an injurious effect on the party IN
New-York and Wisconsin. OF course, the Premier"
would be glad TO smother these facts he could do So