The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-08


to Repeal the Mckinley Bill,
WASHINGTON, D. g., Feb. 7,-senator
Chandler moved to give a political twist
to the debate in the senate to-day on
tho automatic coupler bill, He brought
up resolution in the national Demo-
cratic platform which denounced the
Republican party and the Republican
senate for not having provided leglsla-
ton for the protecting of railroad en-
ployes, and he insisted that the position
OF SO many Democratic senators against
tho bill was inconsistent with their party
iealty.
The bill is to promote the safety Of
employees and travellers upon railroads
by compelling common carriarsengaged
in interstate commerce to equip their
cars with automatic couplers and con.
tinuous brakes, and their locomotives
with driving wheel brakes. In the
course OF his explanation OF the bill Mr..
Cullom, In charge OF the bill, said that
there were forty different patterns OF
automatic coupiers, and that ii owners
OF seventy-five per cent OF tho freight
cars agreed upon particular type OF
couplers the interstate commerce COM
mission would Ak that as the one to be
used.
Mr.. Chandler said tho bill should be
passed without hesitancy and without
delay. 1t had been favored in tho plat
form of the national Democratic con-
vention, but he feared from the per-
formances OF the last few days in the
senate that the platform was in danger
OF receiving grieyous if not deadly
wounds ct the hands Of those who ought
to be It's friends. That platform had de-
nounced the Republican party and Re-
publican senate, Us II was then tbut as
it was soon not to boz for not taking ac-
tion on the house bill to protect the
lives OF railroad employees. He would
like to know what the Democratic con-
vention really meant in that matter and
he asked Mr.. Harris ii he would ex-
plain 1t.
Mr.. Harris-I am not able TO answer
definitely the direct question OF the
senator; but shall say to him that tho
time has never been, is not now, and
never will come, when am such de-
votee to the orders OF q national Conven-
ton as he seems to be. Iaughter)
Mr.. Chandler was glad to hear that
declaration OF Independence, from the
senator from Tennessee. But he was
amazed at the want OF respect with
which Democratic senator's treated the
platform OF their party lie could now
understand very we'll why the senator
from Maryland (Mr. Gorman) had not
wanted this bill to be taken up yester-
day. That senator had felt reluctance
to drive tho steel through the Demo-
cratic platform twice in the same day.
Knowing the declaration of the Demo.
cratic convention on the subject OF
silver and knowing the entreaties Of the
President-elect, only eleven Democratic
senators could be mustered yesterday
to vote for the repeal Of the Sherman
act. And now the next declaration Of
the Democratic platform which was
marked for destruction was it's declara-
tion in favor Of legislation to protect
the lives and limbs OF railroad employees.
What are VIC coming to, Mr.. Presi.
dent, Mr.. Chandler continued. be-
lieve that when the next congress meets
u like disregard will be paid to the'de-
claration Of tho Democratic national
convention that any, measure OF tariff
legislation is unconstitutional. There
ia in that platform promise that the
Mckinley bill shall DO repealed as one
OF the first frnits OF Democratic victory.
And yet am sorry TO say that have
no faith that the Democratic party will
stand by that resolution.
A party, us that party voted in
the senate on the question Of silver and
that would .marShal its hosts as they
are now being marshalled under tho
astuto leader OF the Democracy, the
senator OF Maryland, to crush out q
little bill intended for the protection OF
brakemen and switchmen cannot be
depended upon to smash the tariff sys-
tenn OF tue country. am quite sure,
that il there comes into tho next con-
gross a bill to make iron and coal free,
the senator from Maryland will got up
in his place and beg the senator in con-
troll OF the bill Gas he did yesterday TO
allow II to be postponed for week.
am mortified and humiliated at tho
spectacle which tho Democratic party
Is presenting here to-day on this hui
manitarian bill.
After further debate, and without
action on the bill, the senate adjourned.