The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-08-14

|
Democrats were on the floor. Chairman
Wilson took the floor Immediately sftel
roll call. Mem bern crowded around him
listening intently TO every word. Wilson
began with recital of the difficulties
encountered. He said each step had
been taken with an ardent desire tc
support with honor the desire of the
house TO resiat what was regarded IA the
unreasonable demands of the senate.
! He reviewed the differences in the con
ference on disputed items. He took up
each proposition on sugar and spoke of
the vast profits to the sugar trust
which would result from many of the On.
He did not indulge in the sharp criti-
cism that was expected on the motives
OF the senate conierees.
While Wilson wss speaking, word was
passed around that the conference in the
speakers room had resulted in decisive
action, and Speaker Crisp, himself,
would move that the house would re-
cede and accept the senate bill.
Wilson spoke OF the fight made BY
the house conferees for a specific duty on
sugar, on the ground that under the ad
valorem system it would be impossible
to tell, on account OF the invoice meth
ode, the exact advantage which would
accrue to the sugar trust. He made the
remarkable statement that he had been
credibly informed and believed the
sugar trust, anticipating the enactment
OF the senate sugar schedule, purchased
$4,000, 000 worth of raw sugar. II this
was true, he said, the profits accruing to
the trust from this investment on &C.
count of the senate schedule would be
at least 100000
1.-THE great BATTLE" said Wilaon,
warming up, sis between the American
people ana the sugar trust. 1t is a
battle la which tho trust has taken the
people by the throat and it will never
end till they throw off the grip" There
was enthusiastic applause at this.
He proceeded to state the house con-
iereeB had been willing to ooncede al
most everything, except these vital
items-eugar, iron and coal. The senate
conferees had also seemed willing to
concede much, but were apparently
dominated by the knowledge that ii
they conceded what the representatives
demanded the bill could not pass, and
an agreement would BIO useless.
Wilson closed at IL :05 O'Clock, having
talked just one hour. Montgomery,
McMillin and Turner corroberated his
statements.
Crisp followed. He spoke with much
spirit, and round after round of applause
greeted his remarks. He spoke of the
critical condition and apparent need to-
accept the senate bill and then, ii need
be, introduce separate bills for free
sugar, iron and coal. He said it was the
senate bill or nothing. So long as there
was 8 desperate chance Of securing thc
concessions the house demanded, he
was in favor OF standing out. but he was
satisfied the time had come when fur
Their insietence by the house was useless.
He offered resolution instructing the
house conferees to reeede from the
agreement and the ways and meane
committee to bring in separate free
sugar, iron and coal bills.
A burst of applause greeted the read
ing OF the resolution, but half a dozen
irate Democratic were on their feet, de-
manding recognition, prominent among
them being Bourke Cochran of New
York. Owing to the lsteness of the
hour rule was adopted limiting further
speeches to five minutes. Then Cock
ran delivered vigorous and eloquent
speech against surrendering to the sem
ate. "Better no tariff legislation than
the senate bll," he declared.
Mr.. Cochran declared that there WAS
no necessity for the house to surrender
as yet and challenged Chairman Will
sons statement that four Democratic
votes in the senate would be lost to the
bill ii the fight proceeded. He de-
manded the names OF the four sen.
ators, but Wilson refused to give them.
The previous question was demanded
on the Crisp resolution and ordered by
a vote liz to 81. Among those who
voted against the previous question
were the Louisiana members, Cochran
of New York and others. Thirteen
minutes were then given to the op-
ponents of the resolution to state their
position.
Mr.. McMillin followed in a vigorous
style. He repudisted the statement
made by Mr.. Cochran that the senate
bill was wores than the Mckinley bill.
Mr.. Robertson of Louisiana objected
to the adoption of the Tree silver pro.
vision and generally protested against
the treatment of Louisiana. As the
hour OF IL o'clock approached, at which
time the house was to meet, the cry of
"vote, vote" went up from the iMpa-
tent members. Robertson continued
to urge that it would be bad faith to cut
off the Louisiana planters from the
bounty on thia years crop, on which
they had reckoned when they put it in.
During the Is minutes debate Chair
man Wilson arose and pleaded with the
caucus not to take action today. He
said that whatever was the mind of the
house, there was no necessity for imme-
date and hurried action.
Mr.. Mcmillan of the ways and means
committee slso made speech. He de.
clared in favor of the Crisp resolution,
saying that the senate bill was much
better than the Mckinley law.
The resolution of Speaker Crisp as
adopted is as follows:
Resolved, That 1t ia the sense of this
caucus that the order heretofore made
requiring conference with the senate
on the disagreeing votes OF the two
houses on house bill 4S4 be rsecinded;
that the conferees heretofore appointed
by the house be discharged from further
duty in that behalf and that the house
recsde from its disagreement to the
senate amendments to said bill and
agree to the same.
Resolved further, That the house shall
at once proceed to the consideration of
separate bills placing the following arti-
cles on the free list, viz: Sugar in all
its forms, iron ore, coal and bsrbed
wire.
The committee On rules is required to
report an order providing for the prompt
consideration OF such motion and bills.