St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-08
FAILS TO nisAw a CROWD.
Opening of the Debate on Me-
KjnIey's Tariff Bill.

y
WASHINGTON. May 7.-Mr. Mckinley,
the chairman Of the WAYS and means
committee. walked into the house few
minutes before noon to-day, and began
to arrange a great pile of legal books on
his desk. He earelessly glanced up
toward the galleries, and a look
of surprise came over his face,
as he saw the slim crowd there,
for the opening of such great
event rs the tariff debate usually brings
out large quota of those who have
leisure enough and disposition to take
an interest in the aIl-important question
of tariff revision. When the debate on
the Mills bill began. there was great
crush for seats. Over on the Democratic
eide, Mr.. Mills, of Texas, sat quietly
talking to Roswell p. Flower, of New
York. MIR. McMillin, of Tennessee, who
is On the programe to speak to-day, sat
q few seats away from Mr.. Mills. The
chaplain's prayer and the reading of
the journal consumed only few min
utes. Then Mir. Hill, of Illinois, called
up senate bill granting a pension to the
widow of Sergeant Plunkett, and asked
for a vote Oh an amendment that had
been made by the house committee re-
ducing the amount of pension from $50
10 $25 per month. The vote developed
the fact that 10 quorum was present,
and point was made, much to the an
noyance of many members. The call
showed quorum present, and the
amendment was agreed to. The bill
granting pension to Mrs. d. S. Parnell
was then called up, but it was agreed
that it should go over. Mr.. Mckinley
moved that the house go into a com
mittee of the whole for the considera-
ton of the tariff bill. In making
this motion, he said that he
would endeavor to close general
debate Saturday evening. Mr.. Mills.
of Texas, thought the time fixed was
too short. Two years ago, the demo
Gratis conceded % days for debate, and
he demonstrated against the short time
now proposed. Mr.. McKinley;s motion
was agreed to, and the house went into
committee of the whole, MIR. Payson, of
Ill.,, in the chair. On motion of Mr..
Mills the committee granted to Mr..
Mckinley the privilege of speaking
without limit, and on motion of Mr..
Mckinley. like courtesy was granted
to Mr.. Mills. When Mr.. Mckinley
began his speech, nearly every member
was in his seat, but there was slim
attendance in the galleries. He
explained and defended the bill for
which the Republicans stand sponsor
At the conclusion of Mr.. McKinIeY's
speech he was warmly congratulated
personally by almost every Republican
member present, while the cry of
"Note, vote" was heard all over the
western side of the ball. Mr.. Mills fol
lowed in long sneech in which he de-
clared that this was the first bill that
had come before the American people
with its mask torn off, like highway
man demanding their purses. To check
importation was to check expectation.
Split hairs as you may, no man
could show that we might
sell without buying. When we re-
fused to take the products of
other nations. that refusal was an inter
diction against our exports. and as we
removed the barriers to free exchange,
we increased our trade. Protection,
boiled down. meant more work and less
result, and carried out to its conclusion,
il meant all work and no result. The
committee then rose, and the house
took recess until o'clock. At the
evening session the tariff debate was
resumed. MIR. O'Donnell. of Michigan.
spoke strongly in favor Of the sugar
section. Post. of Illinois. favored the
bill, and took occasion to speak for the
free coinage Of silver. MeSsrs Stewart,
of Georgia, and Ellis, of Kentucky, op-
posed the bill, and then the house ad-
journed.