The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-28
THE CAR COUPLER BILL.
strangely ENOJGH, IT Is PASSED
Bl 7HE HOUSE.
Captain Wise's Gallant Fight for the
Mossure-The Sundry Civil BIn
Sent TO Conference.
Irnrs NUHEAU, RArLrY BUnplSo.
WASHINGTON. Feb 27. 1893.

To the surprise OF every one the Car
Coupler bill went through the House this
afternoon under suspension OF the rules.
A two-thirds vote was required, and the
vote stood lA yeas 10 s. nays. The bill
was called up by Air. Wise, acting under
Instructions of the Committee on Com
merco, of which he is chairman. A bin
on this subject had passed the House
earlier IN the term and gone TO the SEN
ale, where Il was amended by the sub
sututi0n of an entirely new bill. The
question before the House was there
fore. on concurring in the Senate sub
sutute. Debate was limited 10 fifteen
minutes on a side.
The discussion that followed was ex-
citing. not 10 say tumultuous. The con-
fusion became so great that Speaker
crisp was compelled to call the atten-
uUn OF the members. in sharp tones and
with no uncertain meaning, 20 the fact
that This is the House Of Representa-
u1cs. ana not beer garden"
Nr. Oates opposed the bill. saying II
VAS Capitalization gone 10 seed.
Mr. Fellows declared il Imperialism run
mad.
Mr. WASHINGTON opposed it in a red
bot speech. He said that it demanded
of southern roads impossibilities.
Mr.. Wheeler had half "a minute Of time
nyen him in which TO denounce the
measure.
Sir Stoyer supported The bill. not be-
cause IL was all ne wanted in the direc-
zion Il tended, but because It was a step
il that direction and showed that the
House was willing 10 do something.
Mr. Lind supported 10 in the name and
20 the request of thousands Of switch
mon.
So did Mr.. O'Nein (Mo). SO tho fight
1upcd short. hot and spirited. Finally
came the closing scene Of the discussion,
10 was the hottest Of the engagement.
lt was between Mr. Richardson, who was
leading the forces Of the opposition. and
Nr Wise. who had the bill In charge,
lt was not inaptly termed in the press
gallery the war Of the kilograms
Mr. Richardson had read telesrams and
letters from Mr.. Sweeney chief Ot lie
Brotherhood Of SUitchmen, opposing the
DID. Mr.. Lind had denounced Mr.. Swse-
iey as a ward politician" and had
thareod that he was or had been in the
employ Of the Treasury Department Mr..
richardson read "a statement from Swee-
r-v denying all and singular these
charges.
Then Mr.. Wise took the flocr TO close
The debate. He read a telegram which
le had Just received from Sweeney In
which that gentleman urged him TO DO
all ne could 10 pass the bill rs II came
from the Senate. Mr.. Richa dsOn tried
tY interrupt. but Nj. Wise ped no at
t.ntion to him. Mr.. Wise then read a
letter from a gentleman representing GER
tain Stale railroad commissioners favor
iag the bill Nr. Richardson continued
his efforts TO interrupt. Mr. Wise paid
uo attention to him.
For a time both gentlemen were talking
20 once and neither could be heard. MI.
Wise capped the climax when he held
aloft a huge bundle of papers and Sald
they were petitions favorable 10 the bill
from ten thousand switchmen. Mr..
Richardson went over and examined the
telegram. letter and bundle Of petitions,
and. apparently satisfied Of their genuine
ness and the fruitlessness Of his attempts
10 interrupt Mr. Wise snbsided Inc
vote was then taken and the bill passed
by the vote above given amidst the cheers
Of IFS friends.
The legislative flyers rusled into the
homestretch this morning with splen-
cid burst OF speed and with all OF the
flashing colors and absolute uncertainties
of the race track. This Is the last week
Tie final heat. and as by custom each
day is one OF suspension OF the rules, II
IS free-for-aM. in which any may win
every day "a field day for favorites. Inc
euDropriation bills, Of course, have been
tile leaders right through the session. ana
an # them Will. without much doubt, be
lassed during the week, even II the re
suit is. as doubtless ii Will be, that half
million or more tackled on IN the senate
escapes the attention Of the House.
The sherman bond amendment 20 the
f. f.rafVr r1Va nf
rarfv policies. ard the c:lver advocates
md opponents In the House are bound 70
f.-at at least one day on this question.
In the Senate there are but few meas
ures that are announced as being sure
10 be called Up These re the McGar-
raLan bin. which Senator HuntOn 50 ably
adVOcat this session; the Omnibus bill
fer the admission Of four II the new
States and the New York and New Jersey
Bridge bill There are a number of other
bills, which may come up, among them
Senator ChaaCler's Immigration restric-
ton aid the Alexandria Ferry and Free
Brige bill, but there Is absolutely no
certainty OF anything this week except
the appropriations and the Inauguration
On saturday
There seems TO be a very fixed deter
mluation on the part Of the Senate. the
Democratic side II least. TO avoid, II
possible. any further executive sessions. In
This they have a thfec-fOld object, the
most important OF which Is TO de.eat the
confirmation Of Judge Benton Hanchett
Who has been appointed TO succeed Judge
jackson. and also 10 prevent reconsid-
GRAFTON Of the vole by which the appoint
rneut Of cx-Congressm6n Findlay, OF
Maryland. as Chiiian arbitrator was re-
5ected, and finally 10 prevent further con-
slderatioR for this session OF the treaty
Tor the annexation Of the Hawaiian
Islands.
In the House It would be as difficult 10
determine what bills will get through as
Il would be 70 guess which persimmon on
tree would turn red first Such thing
uight be possible as that the Anti-Opti0n
ard the Torrey Bankruptcy bills would
tgta be passed. There is one thing GER
t.in. and that Is tkat there will be
rlsn q legislation, some Of which viii so
through on its merits. and some Of which
wll 20 through because less than the re-
QI.red number Of congressman don't know
ot it.
There seems 70 be a growing tendency
toward the side-tracking Of the Car
Coupler bill. even among the members
who are favorable 10 some such legisla-
ton. for the fact is known that some Il
'he railroads could not co nply with 'he
law. as the expense Of such radical
change would be enormous, but the next
Congress viii. in all likelihood, pass bill
~ this end with more equitable provis-
ions and more perfect IN its detail.
The Sundry civil bill was sent 70 confer
ence after lively wrangle. ali the Senate
amendments being nopcOncurred In. The
sherman amendment, authorizing the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury 10 Issue per cent.
bonds 10 run five vfars the one which