Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-28
BACK IT GOES.
Senate Returns the Tariff Bill
Without instructions.
House Informed Of Senate's Action
But as Yet Takes No Action.
Blackburn "calIed Down" by Hale and Haw-
ley for His Statements.

day the House resolution asking for a fur
ther conference on the tariff bill was laid
before the Senate, and then began the
series of remarkable speeches and events
which have made the intervening period
memorable. Today was expected to wit
ness the close of this phase of the contro-
versy and the resubmission of the whole
subject to the conferees of the two houses
without any conditions or instructions and
with little if any struggle or excitement.
That seems to be the prevailing idea in
the public mind of Washington is evident
frcm the fact that at noon, today, there
were not more than 200 spectators in the
galleries, while the attendance of senators
was also very sparse s-
In the absence of the Vice President the
chair was occupied by Harris of Tennes-
see. The conference report on the army
appropriation bill was taken up. In ex-
planning the report Blackburn of Kentucky,
said that the bill as it passed the House
appropriated $23,5S6,92 and as it passed
the Senate S23 ,66l 1854, and that as agreed
to bv the conferees the bill appropriated
$23, ,593, 1854.
As to the signal corps he said that the
rank of brigadier- general at the head of
tirement of Gen. Greeley, and that then the
chief of the corps would bear the rank only
of colonel.
A few minutes after o'clock the Senate
again took up the conference report of the
tariff bill with the purpose of sending it
back to the conference committee without
recommendation. This was the action
which the Senate expected to take yester-
day, but the interjection by Washburn of
motion instructing the Senate conferees to
withdraw from the one-eighth cent. differ
entail duty delayed the final disposition un-
til today, and when the Senate adjourned
the question at issue was point of order
raised by Gray against the motion of Wash
burn.
Some of the details of the bill. as ad-
justed in conference, were discussed by Mr..
Dubois (Rep.) of Idaho, and Manderson
(Rep.) of Nebraska. Blackburn finally
said, with some irritation Of manner, that
as there was an evident purpose on the Re-
publican side to delay action on the tariff
bill by this discussion, he would ask that
the conference report on the army bill go
over for the present.
"Oh." said Hawley of Connecticut, who
had spoken few words on the conference
report, II protest against that statement"
Mr.. Hale Of Maine, joined in the protest.
II spoke" said Blackburn, 'in the face
of the record which has been made here this
morning, showing an effort to prevent the
passage of appropriation bills"
1.-The tariff bill" said Hale, 'has nothing
70 do with this conference report, and am
surprised to hear the senator from Kentucky
make such statement"
Mr.. Blackburn ask that the confer
ence report 60 over indefinitely.
The senator from Kentucky, said Hale,
"should not make such an implication as
that this side of the House desires to OBJ
struct appropriation bills
"The senator from Kentucky means to
state" Mr.. Blackburn persisted, that the
record made here this morning shows that
it is the purpose of that side of the cham
Der to delay the passage of the appropria-
ton bills"
"Why say that that is the purpose" said
Hale, "when only a few senators have
spoken on the conference report? Do you
include the senator from Vermont, Proc
tor, who supported the conference report?"
NO" said Blackburn, II do not, and
do not mean to include the senator from
Maine, either. .'And the senator shall not
include me-" Hawley said somewhat
angriiy. son the contrary, am willing to
sit here every day till midnight in order to
finish the business of the Senate. l desire
to delay nothing. | made no distractions
on this conference report except as to one
single point where know that am right"
After some further discussion between
Blackburn and Dubois, Hale suggested that
instead of letting the conference report 30
over the Senate vote upon it Immediately.
This suggestion was adopted without appo-
.i,ion and the conference report on the
army appropriation bill was agreed to 80 to
Is.
The tariff bill was taken up and interest
and speculation on the situation clustered
about Stewart of Nevada, once Republican,
now Populist and always free silver man.
Stewart last night said he would leave the
city today but he appeared on
the floor. What made Stewart
so interesting figure was his ac-
ton in voting, yesterday. with the majority
of the Democrats instead of opposing them
against receding from the Senate amend
ments placing duty on coal and iron.
Gray opened proceedings by saying he
had nothing further to say on his point of
order Manderson of Nebraska did have
something to say, however, and he said it
at length. He opposed the point of order
which was in effect that motion to instruct
conferees in a specific matter in bill in
terfered with full and free conference as
by the rules.
Manderson insisted that the motion to in
struct was not out of order. If Grays mo-
ton prevailed, he said, what superior ad-
vantage the House of Representatives, with
its power to instruct, would have over the
Senate with no such power.
Plat of Connecticut agreed with Mander-
son that the conferees could be instructed
on a specific point in bill and he said he
would show that such motion had been
sdopted by the Senate and furthermore that
Gray had voted for it.
When Platt concluded, Chandler of New
Hampshire suggested that the small num-
Der of senators present was hardly adequate
to the intellectual struggle going on, and he
asked for a call of the Senate, which was
ordered.
Harris, President pro TEN, delivered his