Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-08-14
THE TARIFF BILL.

In the House OF Representatives yes
terday evening Mr.. Catchings entered
the hall with the special order in refer
ence to the tariff bill as adopted by the
democratic caucus, and presented the
rule.
The special order provided, first, that
Immediately after the adoption OF the
order it would be in order to consider
resolution discharging the House cen
ierrees on the tarifi'bil from the further
duty of considering that measure, and
that the House recede from its dis
agreement in gross to the Senate amend
ments to that bill, and agree to the
SINE; and, second, that it shall be in
order at any time thereafter to consider
bills for free coal, free iron, free sugar
and free barbed wire.
Mr.. Catchings demanded the previous
question, but Mr. Reed arose to point
of order, and the battle was on. MIR.
Reeds point of order was that the
tariff bill was in possession Of the
House, and that therefore the action
proposed in the tariff bill could not be
taken. II do not expect my argument
to have any effect" said Mr.. Reed, in
conclusion, addressing the democratic
side, shut you are like the heathens
who have listened to the Christian mis-
sionaries. You have no chance of re-
demption."
The Speaker announced that he was
ready 10 rule.
After careful statement ofthe situa
ton and the declaration that by q
special order changing or suspending
the rules OF the House temporarily the
accepted doctrines OF Jeiferson's Manual
were carried out. and, after citing a pre-
cedent in one of Speaker Carlisle's rul-
ings, the Speaker overruled the point
Of order.
The previous question was then or
dered without division.
This gave fifteen minutes on a side
for The discussion OF the special order.
Mr.. Catchings (dem }, OF Mississippi,
did not desire TO debate the rule, and
Mr.. Reed took the floor and made
very sarcastic speech.
Representative Turner, of Georgia,
replied TO Mr.. Reed, and was greeted
with applause by the democrats. He
said the gentleman from Maine had
built up parliamentary system which
now reacted against him. Mr.. Tur
ner proceeded to show that the present
action Of the House was strictly regular.
The question then being put on
agreeing to the resolution, Mr.. Reed
demanded division. The entire dem
ocratic side arose en- masse, but when
the negative was called for, the repub-
licans sat calmly in their seats hoping
to break a quorum. When the Speak
er announced the vote-1SS to 9, twelve
more than a quorum-the republicans
were somewhat disconnected.
Mr.. Reed, however, quickly demand
ed the yeas and nays. Before the
clerk began calling the roll, Mr.. Will
son (rep), Of Washington, brought
down round Of republican applause
by innocently asking the Speaker ifi
would be in order before the roll was
called TO have the Presidents letter
again read.
The Speaker raped him to order
with his gavel, and the roll call pro-
ceeded
The House order was adopted-176
to 81; not voting, II.
Among the democrats voting in the
negative were Dayey, Robertson, Of
Louisiana; Covert, Price, German and
Warner Kilgore answered present,
but did not vote. In other respects
the vote was strictly on party lines.
Upon the announcement Of the vote,
Chairman Wilson Immediately submit
ted in writing the motion provided for
in the order adopted.
Mr.. Reed made the point of order
that the bill was not before the House.
The bill had been brought in, however,
during the roll call, and the Speaker
pointed to it. Mr.. Reed sat down dis
consolately, and Mr.. Wilson took the
floor.
He said, 81 have made the motion
which have sent to the clerks desk
not on my own responsibility, or from
my own violition, but as the official
organ of the caucus of my associates on
this side of the House, and by their d.
rection." Mr.. Wilson then defined his
position on the action of the House of
Representatives in accepting the Sen
ate bill. He said: shall not attempt,
as I said in the outset, TO explain the
merits or to dwell upon the dement's of
the six hundred amendments to this
bill, which this House is about, of ne
cessity, to concur in. Perhaps | could
not do justice as yet to the merits Of
the amendments. But this do know,
that in part of it, it does afford some
relief to the taxpayers of this country,
and does clip the wings of the gigantic
monopolies that are now expressing
them and blocking legislation.
Mr.. Wilson was followed by Mr..
Reed in opposition to the bill and Mr..
McMillin defended it.
Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, sue
ceeded Mr. RcAIillin in opposition to
the bill.
AIr. Wilson yielded a few minutes to
Mr.. Pence, OF Colorado, the leader of
the populsts, who said that the popu-
lists had thought, and thought still,
that the contest over the tariff between
the two old parties was good deal Of
d mock conflict and sham battle. He
was convinced that this was true when
he saw the mock fury OF Mr.. Burrows.
Like Mr.. Burrows, however, he con-
fessed he did not know what the Pres
ident would do. Nor did anyone else
on this hoor-unless, he added, as he
looked up and saw Mr.. Tracey, of New
York, in the chair, unless it is you,
Mr.. Speaker"
Mr.. Cochran then protested against
the consummation of this pro-