The Portland daily press., 1890-05-01
ALL HANDS IN FOR A FREE FIGHT.
The Recent Battle of Words in the
House of Representatives.
Democratic Attempts to Impede the
Work OF Legislation.
Occasions Whom the New Rules are
Found To Be Invaluable.


WASHINGTON, April 30--In the last 10
days the House has labored under great diff
fculties in the transaction of business. The
Democrats have taken advantage of every
pretext possible to waste time, and last week
they succeeded in consuming nearly fall the
week on bill that ordinarily ought to have
gone through in about day. They could
not have done this, of course, had not the
Republicans permitted it, for the majority
have it in their power to make the time of
debate either long or short. But there are a
large number of Republicans who wish to
make few speeches to show their constitu-
ents that they are keeping busy, so last week
the bars were let down and all hands went
in for free fight in words. The wander
ings of those debates show very we'll the use
lessness OF too much debate. The subject
under consideration was the appropriation
bill providing for the expenses of the legs-
lative branch of the government; but the
public has already observed that the Repre-
sentatives talked of nearly everything except
the bill. The race question was fought over,
the misdoings of each party were paraded !;
and finally there was lively scrimmage
over the exceedingly important question
whether the son of Representative Kelley of
Kansas had got an Injunction against me-
gro church which was proposing to erect
meeting house near his land. The grounds
OF the Injunction were that negro church
was nuisance, and Representative Kelley
himself was first charged with being a party
to the affair but when he cleared himself
the Democrats straightway averred
that at least his son was
guilty All this waste of time
worried the Republica aders and pleased
the Democrats. The Den Gratis would have
kept it up until this time; but Saturday af-
ternoon the Republicans decided that there
had been fooling enough, and that the legis-
latiye bill must be finished Led by Bynum
of Indiana, the Democrats performed, and it
was II O'Clock at night before the Republi-
cans could get the previous question ordered
on the bill. They were enabled to do it then
by using the rule in regard to the counting of
quorum. That rule has been Invaluable in
stopping flibustering.
This week business has started in better
shape, and with the Republicans intent upon
accomplishing something. Saturday night
will probably see the decks we'll cleared for
the tariff bill. which is expected to come in
next week. The discussion of this tariff
bill will probably test the majority party
10 aaes tae doOit ns%Ost tor oiAho revenue bin
with. 1t will be remembered with what
difficulty the Democrats got their men into
line on the Mills bill, although that was
merely dress parade measure which stood
no chance Of becoming the law of the land.
nj tnln fo y
will undoubtedly become law in nearly the
form In which 1t passes the House. Every
member knows that he is discussing real,
live measure that is bound to effect his con-
stit9ents IN one way or another. Upon this
protracting the discussion on the tariff along
INTO into the the su%mmer % Its not at all prnbahJe
be surprising If the Mckinley bill sho1ld be
put through in two weeks after it is
brought up. The tariff question was
debated at such length in the last Congress
DID straw again and the Republicans of the
House generally have this idea. They win
be found ready to act upon the idea. too,
when the time comes, unless the sentiment
of the House shall change greatly before
next week.
The tariff bill is the great measure of the
session, over which the greatest struggle
with Democratic procrastination, will un-
doubtedly take place. They will demand
the opportunity lO tdlh iuuCuHlbCly, duQ
when they are denied will make loud and
frequent lamentations over the "denial of
the right of debate" as they call
it. They have forshadowed their
tactics already But their object
is very plain to anyone who watches the
proceedings of the House. 1t is not debate
for throwing light upon public questions for
which the Democrats are so anxious, but for
wasting time. They show this in a thousand
little ways. By interfering with dilatory
motions to prevent the smooth passage of
business; by interposing debate on useless
points, and by using every possible means to-
get up ''rumpus" in the House. Although
they were so roughly handled in the section
al debate last week. and were on the defen-
sive all the time, they actually enjoyed it be-
cause it was consuming time.
OF course If enough time is consumed it
will be possible to hold this Republican
House up before the country as do-nothin G
body such as the last House was. Such a
reputation would of course be ruinous to the
Republicans. But this House will not get
such reputation.