The record-union., 1894-04-28
Aldfich Asks a Vote On the Bill
as 1t Came From the House,
BUT HIS PROPOSITION MEETS WITH
LITTLE FAVOR
Discussion of the Question, In Which
Several Senators Take a Hand =
President Cleveland Nomfnates
Postmasters for Eureka and Bakers
field, California.
Special to the RECORD UNION.


until 11:l7 o'clock to-day that enough
quorum. Allen endeavored to call up his
Coxey resolution as unfinished business,
but Harris objected, stating that there
was no such thing as unfinished business.
The Chair so ruled.
Harris motion to take up the tariff bill
was agreed to-25 to l6.
Dolph yielded to Lindsay his right to
the floor. The Kentucky Senator then
spoke in support of the tariff bill. In
the course of Lindsay's speech a colloquy
occurred in which Sherman drew atten-
ton to the fact that the Mckinley law,
instead of raising the duty on iron, steel
and other metals, except tin-plate. had
reduced the duty, and therefore 1t was
said, whether right or wrong, that it was
necessary to institute a reduction of
wages, which led to the labor troubles at
Homestead. Lindsay agreed that the Nc
Kinley bill had reduced the duty on iron
and steel from the tariff law, and. he was
aware that the manufacturers had attrib-
uted the necessity for the reduction of
wages to the reduction OF duties. 1t was
not the real cause of the reduction of
wages which was to be found in the nat
ural desire of manufacturers to reduce
wages without respect to the rates OF
duty.
In reply to a question by Aldrich
as to whether Senator Lindsay subscribed
to the doctrine enunciated by Mills,
that coffee, tea and sugar should be taxed
Lindsay said he did not think
Mills voiced the sentiment of the entire
Democratic party. 81 do not believe"
said Aldrich, that either the Senator
from Texas or the Senator from Ken
lucky knows what the Democratic party
wants. Laughter. II you will agree 10
take vote on this bill to-day, you Will
find out what the Democratic party
wants."
81 will agree to take yea and nay vote
on the bill as it came from the House at
3 O'clock" said Aldrich.
Lindsay said he did not include the
proposed amendments of the Finance
Committee in his proposition.
At l:24 Lindsay concluded his speech,
and Immediately Senators Dolph, Culiom.
Harris and others were on their feet
clamoring for recognition. Harris was
recognized, and, standing beside his desk
with the official report OF the colloquy be-
tween Senators Aldrich and Lindsay in
his hand, read the proposition, as he said,
of the Senator from Rhode Island, first
to vote on the bill as it came from the
House, and then to vote on it as re-
ported to the Senate by the Finance Com
inittee at 3 o'clock. Lindsay had dis
claimed any authority to speak for his
party on this proposition, and Aldrich
said he would like to hear from the Sen
ator from Tennessee (Harris) who had
charge of the bill. AS Harris read the re-
port of the debate, interest and anticipa-
ton became intense, and the visitors in
the gallery and Senators and members
on the floor became wroughtup to high
pitch of excitement.
Now" said Harris, while / have not
the vanity to assert that l represent the
Democratic party, beg to assure the
Senator from Rhode Island that, so far as
l am concerned, or so far as l can control
the action of the majority of the Senate,
l will consent at o'clock to proceed to
vote on amendments of the Finance Com
mittee, and then the final passage of this
bill. This can be done only by unanl-
NOUS consent: and now | go further. and
ask for unanimous consent"
The presiding officer. Turpie-Are there
any objections?
Cullom-I object. Democratic laugh
ter.
Senators Cullom and Aldrich were try
ing to get recognition, and Aldrich was
heard above the tumult and laughter to
say he wanted to address the Senate.
The presiding officer told him some
what tartly he would recognize him after
he had recognized the Senator from Illi
nois (Cullom).
Cullom yielded to Aldrich, who said:
'Mr. President, in the course of the
speech of the Senator from Kentucky, 1
asked the Senate the question as to
whether they would be willing to proceed
to vote on the bill and the pending amend
ments of the Finance Committee at 3
o'clock. 1t had no response on that side
of the chamber
81 tried to respond to the Senator from
Rhode Island" !" said Lindsay.
II had no response to that inquiry,
which was a direct and easily understood
question:" persisted Aldrlch. 'I did
offer to this side of the chamber to take a
vote on the bill as it came from the
House, without amendment / received
no response to that proposition. l then
asked if the Senators on the other side
were ready to vote on the bill as it stood.
/ would suggest that did not ask it of
Democratic caucus, and also what the
Senator from Ohio (Brice) may under
stand better than would the Senator from
Tennessee, l would not give an option of
thirty days to answer. Laughter l
have been told since / asked that queS-
ton, on creditable authority, that last
night the members of the Finance Com
mittee representing that side OF the cham
Der agreed to more than 800 amendments
to the pending measure"
6SI SdlU, NdLl6 your duIQOrlIy.
Aldrich-I think the Senator from Mis-
souri, found out the day before yesterday
he was not well posted as to what was
going on in the democratic side of the
chamber. He may be as ignorant OF
what is now going on. and before 3
O'Clock 100 more amendments may be
made to the bill. Now, do not intend
to commit myself or anyone else to bill
l know nothing about. Ii the Senator
will state proposition to vote on the
House bill at an early hour next week, l
believe that proposition will be accepted.
''Win the acceptance of such PROPOSE
ton exclude any offering OF amendments
by the Finance Committee?" aske d SEN
ator White of California.
Certainly" replied Aldrich.
''Does the Senator think that candid
proposition?" asked White.
Il think it perfectly candid" replied
Aldrich.
1.-The whole seems curious" persisted
White. Here it is 1:3O O'Clock, and a
proposition to vote on the bill at O'Clock
is made, and he (Aldrichl is called on
that proposition-that is phase which
perhaps he will understand [great laugh
teri, and now he proposes TO fix on some
day next week TO vote on the bill, as it
came from the House without amend
ments, and he thinks that a candid pro-
position. l do not"
1T is we'll understood that in the game
to which the Senator from California re-
fers," asserted AldrIch, "a man could
easily decide to cali hand the next day,
always Laughter.l
"But a few minutes have transpired, y
replied White, land in view of the digni-
fed dilatoriness manifested on that side
of the chamber, there can be no claim of
undue expenditure Of time on this ques-
tion.r
sufficient time has transpired to hold
Democratic caucus" said Aldrich.