Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-03

the press that which We shall have done
before We put the fruits Of our labor In the
hands OF our republican colleagues upon the
committee.
Some Authority Necessary.
TT will be necessary, say that thers
should be lodged somewhere he authority
to convene the minority OF the COMMITTEES.
so that such a bill as may be prepared by
the majority may be presented to them IN
the regular sessions OF the committee may
be acted upon in the orderly parliamentary
manner IN which a committee has to act
upon such measures, and that the authority
may be given to file with the Clerk Of the
House during the recess the bill that has
mus oeen prepared, that has thus been
passed upon in the committee room with
the usual reports in favor OF the bill and
against II, so that soon after the reas-
may enter upon that which was the treat
DUTY committed to IL by the American peo-
pie last November.sss So that after all Mr.
Speaker, the whole question now before the
House is whether II will take such action
as may expedite the publication ana con-
sideration OF this proposed tariff bill, or
whether the committee shall be powerless
TO prepare bill which shall be ready for
tne consideration Of the House upon Its re-
assembling, and we shall be Obliged 70 20
through the parliamentary stages Of COM
mittee consideration, Of preparation Of re-
ports, and be delayed in getting the Nh
upon the calendar of the House for the IN
Iormauon OF the country and for the action
of Congress-
Mr.. Reeds Rejoinder.
Mr.. Reed in answer said:
Inc country does desire early informa.
ton with regard to this tarif bill: but a
desires IT because II is important TO know
what position shall be taken with regard IA
It 1t is important for the country to be
able to make its plans with reference to IL.
either for defeating IT, or for modifying n,
or for submitting TO It as easily as possible.
Ihat admit to be important Nevertheless
all those necessities OF the case can be met
by the committee proceeding as they are
now proceeding. and when they get through
ana are ready, submitting the result sof their
action TO the other side and giving &c % the
country, because that is going TO be the bill
Ihey VIII not permit us TO modify IL; the
gentleman from West Virginia has been
Kind enough TO say so and to reiterate thar
this Is a political bill to be passed by him
and his fellow partisans.
When then, they have got the right baii
ready IL is not necessary, In order to In
form the country, to go through the form of
submitting IL to the republican members OF
the committee, who are really TO have no
voice IN the transaction. So that the Rentle-
man from West Virginia in everything that
he has said, has reinforced the argument
which i addressed to the House And I
notice, also. Mr.. Speaker. that he aid not
short time before the beginning OF the
next session OF Congress, before be would
name his time OF calling us together ana
that leaves us entirely at the mercy OF the
chairman OF committee OF the House,
both as to the length OF time that We shall
be allowed to make our report and as TO the
time that We are to be here.
The Fullest Information wanted.
Now. what the country wants Is the full
est Information upon this subject, not mere
ly Information as to the text OF the bill Tor
that the gentleman from West Virginia can
give to the country and give It now. a. the
rules stand at present. without the slightest
difficulty or trouble: but Il means, in add
ton TO that, the fullest light which popular
knowledge can throw upon f. CONDENSED
and presented in the form OF q report 20 b
read by the people. The idea that
we are going to commence the discussion
OF the tarfff bin at the very beginning OF the
next session, and have IL put through the
House without the country being heard ON
II, is perfectly absurd. II would not be wise.
even II the gentleman had the power TO do
SO. for the suggestion that Il 10 to 70
through the committee stages In vacation,
and then be rushed through the House at
the beginning Of the session OF Congress,
must I'LL the country with an increased
horror and a larger dissatisfaction" \
This closed the debate, and upon q voto
being taken on the order from the commit
tee on rules providing for the immediate
there were-ayes, 131; noes, l.
There is a quorum present Mr.. Speaker
said Mr.: Reed blandly, but II does Aos
seem TO be voting"
A roll call which was Immediately taisn
developed the fact that there were 1856 MEM
bers absent or refusing to vote, and Il was
Impossible to get quorum. From that
time until after o'clock the House vainiy
attempted to get quorum. A call OF ths
House was ordered, and the serreant-at-
arms directed to arrest absent members,
but only four were brought to the bar Of
the House. and they were able to give good
excuses for their absence. Calls OF the
House developed a quorum. but upon roll
call on a vote the quorum disappeared
again by the republicans refusing to ansvvg
to their names.
Mr.. Reeds Compromise.
Finally. about o'clock. Mr.. Reed came
forward with a compromise. He said:
Mr.. Speaker. It is very apparent that
there is no quorum OF the other side pres
ent, and IL is further evident that these In
teresting proceedings could be very much
further prolonged. but the size OF the trans
action hardly seems to warrant Il.
II therefore desire to propose to gentle
men on the other side the following amend
ment to their resolution. propose 70 strike
out the following words:
And may be convened by the - CT ne
chairman. Said committee shan also be
authorized 10 hie with the clerk OF the
House during this interval any bill IL shall
have prepared for the action OF the House
on the meeting of the next session OF the
present Congress, with the usual report
thereon
And substitute in lieu thereof:
The chairman OF the committee on
ways and means shall have the right to
call together the committee and to file with
the clerk of the House any tariff bill which
shall be ordered by the committee for pub
LEGATION, and the report OF the committee.
together with the views OF the minority.
shall be filed together for publication not
less than ten days after the fling and pub
LEGATION OF the bill, unless an earlier date
can be agreed upon. Either report may be
filed after ten days IL the other Is not
ready
The Rights of the Minority.
THE original proposition contemplated no
report whatever by the minority. Nothing
in the rules of the House would authori6s
or permit any such thing. since that can b
done only by leave Of the House. and the
House might not be in session.
Il still entertain against this proposition
very many Of the objections which pre-
scented this afternoon, but the original
proposition, as 1 understand IL from what
was said by the chairman OF the commit
tee is only q contingent one. Uttersnces
on the part Of various members OF the DEM
ocratic party, and think may safely say
also on the part OF various members OF the
committee, would indicate. perhaps. an I'M
probability of the matter being presented.