Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-17
The Effort to Fill the Senate
Finance Committee.
OPPOSITION TO MR.. HARRIS MOTION
The tennessee Senator Shows
Considerable Feeling.
THE RESOLUTION GOES OVER

ate today a breeze occurred over the at
tempt OF the democratic majority to nil the
| vacancy on the finance committee, neces-
| sary to act on The free coal. iron ore. barb
ed wire and sugar bills. As soon as the
reading Of the journal was completed Mr.
| Harris (Tenn.), on behalf of the democratic
steering committee. moved that the Senator
from California (Mr. White be appointed
to I'LL the vacancy caused by the death Of
| Senator Vance Of North Carolina.
MIR. Chandler Objects.
Mr.. Chandler IN. I'D jumped TO his feet
ard interposed an objection. The objection.
If sustained would carry the motion over
until tomorrow. MIR. Harris made the point
of order that his motion was privileged, be-
| cause IL looked to the organization of the
| SeLate. long and lively debate followed
| on the point Of order. MIR. Chandler con-
| tested the question with Mr.. Harris. He
| remarked sarcastically that IL was a little
| late to begin the Organization of the Sem
| ate. The rule he maintained, was plain.
He called attention TO the fact that the
| vacancy on the finance committee had
| listed for months and that II WAS never pro-
| posed to fill IL at the very close of the ses-
| sion. Only last Tuesday when he had ask
| ed Mr.. German II the vacancy was to be
| filled he had replied I'm the negative. He
| (Chandler) was only exercising his privilege
| Under the rule in asking the motion (which
| was fundamentally speaking to be con-
| SioSieu d feSoialiciD 10 90 over until To-
| morrow.
Mr.. Aldrfch Cites "a Precedent.
| Mr.. Aldrich agreed with Mr. Chandler that
, the point Of order would not hold He point
| ed out that the same question had been
| raised when an attempt was made early in
;ae session to fi;l the vacancy on this same
committee. When Mr.. Voorhees, chairman
| of the finance committee, mad moved that
| Mr.. Mills be appUs2ted 70 the vacancy caus-
4 Cd hx- fla tfn.N of ATaD
| Mr.. Hoar had objected to TIE resolution and
| IL had gone over under the rules. The pro-
posed action he characterized a revolu-
| tonary proceeding.
| Mr.. Mills here Interposed to say that the
| motion TO place him on the committee had
been made without his consent and against
| his protest
Mr.. Harris fs Hot.
Mr.. Harris still insisted that as the mo-
tion looked 20 the organization OF the Sem
| ate ii was not subject to the ordinary rules
BE that as 1t may" he declared hotly, II
want to say that II is with profound aston
ishment that heard an objection from the
other side During the eighteen years 1
have been a member of this body. no mat
| ter what party was in power the majority
Las named 1T will the members of the sew
| eral committees of the Senate and no voice
| was ever heard in objection"
The course of Mr. Chandler, he condemned
| as the most revolutionary OF revolutionary
Il
| with such astonishment that he confessed
| he could hardly restrain himself
| MI Manderson lNeb) remarked good.
naturedly that the Senator from Tennessee
did not appear TO have restrained himself
| successfully. His amazement had only been
| excelled by his excitement
Mr.. Chandler declared that IL came with
| Ill grace from Mr.. Harris to condemn a
request made under the rules, of which he
CHarrts) was such a master He resented
| MI. Harris imputation as uncalled for and
warned him that he would have to be older
than he was now before he could success:
fully override the rules he had helped to
| frame.
Mr. Hflrs Criticism.
Then Mr.. HIN On. W got the floor and
plunged Immediately into a criticism of the
| legislation which the filling of the vacancy
was designed to expedite So far as the
| bills placing coal. iron ore and sugar on the
| free list were concerned. he had voted. he
| said. for them when they were legftimately
| before the Senate and he was not trying
| to escape from his record now He stood
ready TO vote again to place them on the
free list. He conceded that many of his
democratic associates had voted against
placing these articles on the free list when
the tariff bill was before the Senate against
their better judgment, because they had
been bound by caucus agreement. But
| IL that agreement was now rent in two
and Senators were to be governed by their
| Judgment and convictions he had certain
amendments which he desired to offer. He
| wanted the income tax provision Of the
tariff bill repealed IL the finance committee
| had been governed by liberty Of Judgment
and conscience before II would have re-
ported adversely the income tax, he said.
And now, he charged. here was an attempt
| to pack" the committee to again secure
| the adverse report on his amendment. He
called attention to the fact that heretofore
| IL had been the practice in filling vacancies
for the steering committee to consult in
caucus with their democratic colleagues,
but this had not been done In this Instance.
Why was different course TO be pursued
now?
tally interested in this question. and he sug-
gested that the resolution 20 over and the
democrats hold consultation on the SUBJ
ject There had been series Of hlunders
throughout the tariff controversy. When
Mr.. Wilson had delivered q ringing speech
for free sugar the democratic sentiment OF
the country had accepted II as ex cathelra,
had recognized I'm his voice the voice of the
administration
'Democratic conventions" said Mr.. Hin,
"all over the country are adopting resolu-
tions in favor of free sugar, and upon the
heels OF the almost unanimous vote OF the
democrats of the Gouse came the letter
of the Secretary of the Treasury saying
that to place sugar on the free list would
be suicidal" IL IL was necessary to have
the duty on sugar retained there ought to
have been consultation before an attempt
was made to place II on the free list. In
the spirit of harmony he would suggest a
conference and that this matter be allowed
to go over, so that a democratic CONFER
ence might be held. to determine what was
best to do.
IL Goes Over.
Mr. Harris then put his motion In the
form of a resolution, and asked that IL 10
over.
Mr. Quay objected TO its Introduction un-
I'll other morning business was disposed of.
With a look of disgust upon his face, Mr..
Harris was compelled to wait.
His resolution was finally read and went
over under the rules.
No More Tariff Liquidation.
Senator Murphy On. Y) offered a resolu-
ton to The effect that there should be no
further legislation on the tariff at this ses-
sion, in view of the Carlisle letter. He ask
ed unanimous consent for its immediate
consideration, but IL went over on an OBJ
lection by Senator Cockrell.
Deficiency Conference Report.
Tie conference report on the deficiency
bill was submitted BY Mr.. Cockrell and
agreed to.
At LAO pm. the Senate adjourned untr
tomorrow.