The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-08-23
FIFTY.THIRD CONGRESS.
SENATOR WHITE CHOSEN ON
FINANCE COMMIT TEE.
senator Chandler Objected-A Hot De
bate Followed and the Went Over.
Hill Interposes More Objections.
Cleveland at Gray Gables.
THE SENATE.

y
today a breeze occurred over the at
tempt of the Democratic majority to
fill the vacancy on the finance com
mittee necessary to act on the free
coal iron ore, barbed wire and sugar
bills. AS soon as the reading of the
ournal was completed Mr.. Harris,
Democrat of Tennessee, on behalf Of
fthe Democratic steering committee
moved that the senator from Califor'
mia (White) be appointed TO fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Sena-
tor Vance of North Carolina.
Mr.. Chandler, Republican of New
Hampshire, jumped to his feet and
interposed an objection. Mr.. Harris
made the point OF order that his mo-
ton was privileged because it looked
| TO the organization of the senate. A
long and lively debate followed on
the point of order. Mr.. Chandler
contested the question with Mr.
Harris.
He remarked scientifically that it
was little late TO begin the organi,
cation of the senate. The rule, he
maintained, was plain. he called at
tention to the fact that the vacancy
on the finance committee had eX-
listed for months and that it was pro,
posed now to fill it at the very close OIL
| the session.
Mr.. Harris declared holly that it
was with profound astonisment he
had heard an objection from the other
side. In the IS years he had been q
member OF the body, no matter what
party was in power. the majority HIS
named at 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 con-
demned as the most revolutionary Of
revolutionary suggestions and it was
received by him with such astonish.
ment that he confessed he could
hardly restrain himself.
Mr.. Henderson, Republican of Ne.
braska, remarked good naturedly
that the senator from Tennessee did
not appear to have restrained himself
successfully. His amazement had only
been exceeded by his excitement.
Mr.. Chandler declared that it came
with i'll grace from Mr.. Harris to
condemn request made under the
rules of which he (Harris) was such a
master. He represented Mr.. Harris
imputation as uucalled for and warn.
ed him that he would have to be bold
er than he was now before he could
successfully override the rules he had
helped to frame.
Then Mr.. Hill, Democrat of New
York, got the floor and plunged im~
mediately into a criticism of the legis.
lation which the filling of the va
cancy was designed TO expedite. so
tar as the bills placing coal, iron ore,
and sugar on the free list we're con.
cerned, he had voted he said,
for them when they were
legitimately before the senate and
he was not trying to escape from his
record, He said he stood ready to
vote again to place them on the free
list. Many of his Democratic asso
ciates had opposed placing these ar
ticles on the free list when they had
been bound by caucus agreement,
but if that agreement was now rent
twain he had certain amendments to
offer. He wanted the income tax pro-
vision repealed. If the finance COM
mittee had been governed by liberty
of judgment and conscience before it
would have reported adversely on the
income tax, and now there was an at
terApt to pack the committee to secure
an adverse report on this and that,
Heretofore III filling vacancies the
steering committee first consulted in
caucus with their Democratic col
leagues. Why was different course
TO be pursued now?
He suggested that the resolution go
over until the Democrats consult on
the subj oct. There had been a series
of blunders throughout the tariff con-
troversy. When Mr.. Wilson had de-
Livered ringing speech for free sugar
the sentiment of the country had &C.
copied it as eX cathedra, had recog-
nized his voice as the voice of the ad-
ministratiOn.
Democratic conventions all over the
country are adopting resolutions in
favor OF free sugar, and upon the heels
of the aim lst unanimous vote of the
Democrats of the house came the
letter of the secretary of the treasury
saying the placing of the sugar on the
tree list would be suicidal" If it was
necessary to have the duty on sugar
retained, there ought to have been
consultation before an attempt was
made to place it on the free list. III
the spirit of harmony he would sug-
gest conference and that this
matter would be allowed to 60 over SO
that Democratic conference might
be held to determine what was the
best to do
MIR, Harris then put his motion in
| the form of resolution and asked
that 1t be allowed to go over
MIR. Quay objected to its introduc.
ton until after morning business was
| disposed If.
Mr., Harris resolution finally went
over under the rules.
MIR. Murphy, Democrat, New York,
presented resolution, which, being
objected to, also went over, declaring
that in view of secretary Carlisle's
letter it is the sense of the senate that
no future tariff legislation should be
attempted at this session.
Iheresolution of Mr.. Gray directing
the finance committee to report with.
out delay house bill H. OIL go amended
as to provide for a revenue duty on all
sugar without any defferential duty
on rehned sugar, was laid on the table
and the senate adiDtIrOa1