, 1889-01-31
A SPICY DEBATE
On the Disposition of the Mills
Tariff Bill.
MILLS OF TEXAS TALKS.
Tho NH Referred to the Committee on
Ways and Mesns-.Reed OF Maine
Makes . Practical speech.

Ways and Means Reed Of Msine
Makes . Practical speech.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 90 After . short
and spicy debate the speaker decided upon
the point OF order raised by Mill Of Texas
that the senste tariff bill must 70 TO tho
committee on ways and means, and the
request for its immediate consideration
made by Reed was objected to by Mills.
McCreary Of Kentucky, from the com.
mittee on FOREIGN affairs, reported back
Ldmuuds' resolution declaring the sense
Of the government In regard TO the con-
ne,tion European governIse.nnts. .n. win
printed and recommended with the priv.
iege to the committee TO report. II back st
any time. There was much objection 10
this request, objection being directed, not
against the resolution, but to the Coz
sumption OF time in its consideration. No
agreement could be arrived at yet and the
request was not complied with.
The speaker laid before the house the
Mills tariff bill with the senate substitute
with the request of the senate for concur
renee. =,
Heed, Maine, moved 10 concur in the
state substitute. Mcmillan, Tennessee,
raised q point of order that the substitute
must 6rat be considered in committee of
the whole. Mills, Texas. pointed out that
it must be referred TO the committee On
ways and means. Reed urged the Necessity
of speedy action and asked that no delays
be interposed beyond the necessary one of
service 10 the committee OF the whoe.
Mills Of Texas declared the senate in pre-
sentinR this bill in advance OF the recep-
tion OF the house bill was assuring pre-
rogatives Of the house and was proposing
an increase 10 taxation when the treasury
was grosning with q surplus.
Mckinley Of Ohio followed Mills. He
said the question ~ TO whether there VS.
any revenue for Legislation before the COZ.
clusion Of the present congress-, depended
very much upon the action taken to-day
upon motion made by the esntlemaa
from Maine. Everybody knew that IL tho
bill with the new senate amendment vS
sent 70 the ways and means committee ID
practical legislation would be had this ses-
sion, 30 at this very point the house would
determine whether the country would hav,
any reduction in the revenue or whether
the excessive collections were to be contin
ued for twelve or fourteen months. The
senate had respectfully asked the house to
grant committee conference.
II the house would meet the senate in
free conference and occupy common
Rround a. found in both biils It could re-
ducs the revenue from 835, 900, 900 to
$40. 900 900. All that was necessary was
to examine items common TO both bills.
The administrative features of the bills
had nothing to do with politics; they had
nothing to do with free trade or pro
tection; they had nothing to do With higi
tariff or low tariff; they we're above poll
tics, but they had everything to do with
the honest administration OF customs lava
whether based ON the principle of pro-
lection or on the principle OF free trade.
Why not, "a practical men seeking TO no.
lieve the treasury Of it's congested condi-
tion. why not meet the condition which
the president had prescribed for. ! ask
the gentlemen on both sides of the house
to signalize the close of this democratic
congress with some practical results"
Mcmillan of Tennessee, supported Mills.
Reed replied and Breckenridge of Ken
made his motion for the purpose of giving
himself and colleague, Mckinley, an ep-
to make speeches to the county
and seemingly for the purpose Of putting
he democratic side in false position.
The Mills tariff bill had been sent to the
senate under the provision of the constitu.
tion which gave the senate the power to
amend the revenue bills originating in the
house. The senate had not done that, as
The gentleman from Ohio had frankly cd
mitted. had different bills based
IN different principle. The bill
came back from the senate
months after it was sent TO 1t and suddenly
The gentleman of the other side who had
Always declared there was no necessity for
a revision of the tariff were exceedingly
anxious for q speedy settlement. 1t
seemed to him this was simply PROPOSE
ton that the house should empty itself,
not of its rights alone, but it's duty to con-
slider the question OF taxation both exter-
nal and internal. IL the bill was sent TO
the ways and means committee be- would
try to see that the committee reported back
the bill in accordance with the principle of
the bill reported last session. As to the
merits OF the senate bill, he had nothing
10 say. OF course, it the gentleman from
Ohio was correct and the senate bill was
entirely different from the house bill he
was opposed to it.
Reed then asked for q unanimous consent
for the present consideration of the bill but
Mills objected. Mckinley then ssked
unanimous consent for the consideration
Of the resolution making the tariff bill y
special order for February and providing
for the vote on concurrence or non con-
currence in the senate amendment after
twelve hours Of debate. To this Mills
also objected. So the bill withthe senate
went to the committee on
ways and means.
McCreary reported Edmund's resolution
declaring the sense Of the government OF
the United States in respect to the con-
nection OF European govern ments with
inter r-oceanic canals at the Isthmus of
Darien and asked that the reso.
luton might be recommitted
and the committee granted leave to report
any time.
Outhwaite OF Ohio objected No COM
promise could be arrived at and the de-
mand for the regular order from Browne