New-York tribune., 1894-01-09
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE TARIFF FIGHT IS ON.
DEBATE BEGUN IN THE HOUSE
THE DEMOCRATS FINALLY MUSTER A
QUORUM AND TAKE UP THE ELL.

QUORUM AND TAKE UP THE BILL
AN AMENDMENT TO THE CLOSURE RESOLUTION
FIXING THE DATE FOR THE FINAL VOTE ON
JANUARY 2a-DIsCussIoN MAY BE cHoKED
OFF. HOWEVER. AT THE PLEASURE OF
THE CHAIRMAN IN COMMITTEE
OF THE w1IoLE-MR. WILSON'S
WEAK OPENING SPEECH
lDY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIRrSyl
Washington. JAM S--After wasting four days
In vain attempts to secure quorum the Demo-
cratic majority In the House at last succeeded
to-day. under threats Of arrest. in drumming to-
gether a sufficient number OF men to transact
the public business The roll-call disclosed the
presence of 1s} Democratic Representatives.
eleven more than quorum. but almost thirty
short Of the full party strength. With this
force well in hand. the managers OF tariff re-
form lost no time in opening the raid upon
the protected industries OF the country 1t may
not be more than coincidence, but 1t Is worthy
OF note that this onslaught upon the Republican
policy Of protection was begun on the same
day and almost at the same hour that it's fore
most champion renewed his oath OF Office, and
that Chairman Wilson rallied his forces under
the shadow Of the White House in Washington
while Governor Mckinley was entering the Capi-
tol at Columbus under the prestige Of a majority
of more than 10000 Coincidence or not it did
not seem to affect any 'reformer" in the House
to-day, nor did 1t Interrupt the self-complacent
flow Of oratory to which the Democratic ma
Jority listened for nearly two hours. II any
Democrat thought Of it at all. he no doubt
passed quickly enough from such unpleasant
reflections to the more agreeable thought Of the
VOC nd Gc,a
grounded in the faith and who sits diligently
listening to the striking Of the clock.
IN AN AMAZING HURRY.
The desperate hurry with which 80 important
a Dill Is to be rushed through the House excites
comment in every quarter, except where the cue
from the White House is taken. The original
proposition Of the Committee on Rules called for
the closing Of debate the 25th of this month.
Mr. Wilson to-day announced that he would be
willing TO extend debate to the ooth or four
lays longer. In view Of the fact that the loss
Of time since Congress met after it's holiday
recess is entirely due to Democratic absenteeism.
this proposition Of Mr. Wilson'S will no doubt
impress the country an unusual burst Of
generosity on his part and that Of his reform"
friends. Unfortunately he did not explain why
he and his tarif-smashng colleagues had ar
ranged the time and manner OF discussing the
Dill In such way as to preclude all possibility
OF amending H. Under the arrangement as
finally ratified by the House. the bill is to be
discussed in general debate for six days After
that 1t IS TO be handed for two weeks to the
tender mercies OF what is known as debate
under the hve-minute rule II is true that in
that stage 1t will be open TO amendment. but
the power Of amendment will practically be
lodged either IN the Speaker such Representa-
tive as he may designate to act as chairman of
the Committee OF the Whole.
HOW DEBATE MAY BE CHoYEp OFF.
To be more explicit: Next week the bill win
be taken up section by section each being SUBJ
Ject to amendment but It will be I'm the power Of
any one securing recognition by the chairman to
offer to amend II in any and every particular
1t may be taken for granted that the Speaker
will not designate charnlcn unless he is assured
In advance OF their ability to ignore a member
Democrat or Republican, who is under suspicion
OF meditatng amendments which may be car.
ried. Moreover, he will undoubtedly see to II
that the Ways and Means Committee at all
times keeps full control Of the measure: In other
words. that IL retains the right of way in the
matter OF amending the bill. Should IL become
desirable for instance. at any time TO choke off
discussion or should it become apparent that
discussion begins TO threaten the success Of the
measure. II would. as the order of the Commit
tee on Rules now stands. be perfectly competent
upon the motion Of some friend OF the bin 10
amend the administrative features OF It. to take
up that comparatively unimportant feature Of
the bill! and discuss II section by section until
under
operation Of the monstroUs resolution reported
by the Committee on Rules.
Az UNFAIR AND MISLEADING COMPARISON
1t has been argued by the friends of Mr.. Will
sons reform" bill. notably by Mr. Catchncs.
that no greater latitude granted in the dis
cussion Of the Mckinley bill than there IS In this
case Even If this We're true. which It is not,
/; would furnish excuse for Democrats who
now lenc q more willing hand to what less than
four years ago they denounced as an outrage and
an infamy Ii would be useless. however 10 look
for consistency in anything the Democratic party
advocates or undertakes. What is more to the
point Is the radical difference between the
Mckinley tariff and the Wilson bill. which makes
anything less than full and free discussion OF
tne proposed measure almost a crime. The
Mckinley bill was a protective measure. 1t
differed from tho law then the statute books
IN degree only, not In principle. Moreover II had
been before the country for over month. 1t
had not been constructed in subterranean cellars
or under the iight Of dark lanterns and hearings
had been given to the representatives Of the
cOlntry's industries. The Wilson bill was con-
ceived in secrecy and under the sinister iniu-
ence Of the White House It is not even now
complete though II deliberately creates danc.
!ency OF over SiOOoO,OcJ In no sense is II a
protective measure. but which marks a
deliberate departure from policy which has OBJ
tanned IN this country for more than a generation.
This. too. in the face of overwhelming defeat at
the polls last year. where the question Of pro-
lection or free trade came prominently to the
front. And yet this important turninC-po
In the industrial life 90 the United States must
be decided in less than IN 'ee weeks. The pro-
vision for night sessions decevcs no one who Ia
accustomed to look down from the galleries upon
empty seats and yawnIng Congrcssmen.
CHAIRMAN WILSON'S DISAPPOINTING SPEECH
Chairman Wilson's opening speech was a
serious disappointment 10 his friends who had
expected much of him. 1t may be that his physi-
cal condition did not permit him 10 do justice to
himself. He has not been well for some time.
and the strain OF the work rs chairman Of WAYS
and Means has probably been too much FOR
him. But his argument. considered as such,
lacked the elements Of candor which sometimes
seem to lend force to an otherwise Illogical and
turgd speech. There was naturally much curl
osity 10 know what he would have 10 saw on tho
subject of free coal To do him justice. he faced
the music He even bravcly attempted TO con-