The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-02-08
THE WILSON TARIFF BILL
1T PASSES THE LOWER HOUSE
OF CONGRESS BY A MA
JORITY OF "a.
Ascene Without Parallel in the Natl.
onal Capitol.

Thursday evening at the conclusion OF
one ofthe grandest, most imposing and
impressive scene. ever witnessed in th.
American capitol. the Wilson tariff bill
passed the house OF repr sentatives by 8
vote Of 20i to l40. The events leading up &c
il were almost unparalleled ia this countrys
annals.
Such a vast concourse OF people az assem-.
bed 10 hear the last arguments upon the
great economic issue about to be submitted
for final arbtrament to the representatives
OF the American people had never before
been seen within the precincts OF the
nations legislative capitol. Nothing like
IL was ever known in the history of the
oldest inhabitant OF the capitol.
For hours before the Debate began the
corridors leading to the galleries were
surging mass of humanity. which finally
became 40 great that men cried out in ter
ror and women tainted ~ fright. II was
estimated that over 20. 900 attempted TO gain
admittance to the galleries Of the house.
Their seating capacity /, about 8 900 ana
every syailable seat was occupied long be-
fore the gavel dropped. The people were
linei against the walls and banked against
the doors: so great did the crush become
that the members Of the house secured per-
mission TO bring their wives upon the
floor.
'uDIllN alNtT tue UOllNt NOUNtIlPl NJ IL
O'Clock the crowds in the immense gallery
on the north side of the chamber became so
great tina, there was imminent danger that
some OF the people would be pressed over
the railing into the house below. Those ia
the corridors kept crushing into the door
way and those still further back pressed
farward until the stairs and asles of the gal.
lery were literally packed with mob of
restless impatient men.
In one Of the Aisles fight was prccipi.
tated between two men over the color ques.
ton. One OF the combatauts was negro.
demanding his iul rights as an American
citizen. and the other was white mau
making the same claim. This claim involv.
ed the right to stand ON the same square
foot Of territory, and ~ II was too small foi
both men race war resulted. The bellig.
erents were hustled from the gallery as fast
as the obstructlng human wall would
permit and comparative quiet was soon
restored.
The crowdng in at the doors. however,
confined until Speak ker Crisp, who had been
nefvously noting the dangerous packing ol
people. interrupted the roll call long enough
TO say that IL was in the interest OF safety &c
human lie that tn, doorway should bt
cleared. lie asked the door keeper OF the
gallery To clear out some of those who stood
in the entrances, 50 az TO make those all
ready inside as comfortable as possible
without being endangered. IL was next To
impossible, however. TO at once execute
this order. as there was absolutely no room
for the ejectment of those who had found
entrance into the aisles. but the policemen
kept pressing back the people until they
had materially reduced the danger that was
so very apparent,
When Mr.. Reed. the first speaker, arose
TO deliver the fipal plea for protection the
oyerhanging galleries were black with
spectators. Every inch OF space upon the
floor was taken. IL was brilliant as we'll
as large assembly. Only 10 OF the 35l
members of the house we're absent many
grave ana reverend senators and other dis
tinguished personages were the fooi
and in the galleries wer' "leyela
''.s Nie~ Dresident a.s'