The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-13
IDEAS OF PO!UL|SIS
Set Forth in a New Tariff Bill
Constructed by PETER.
REFUSAL TO COUNT A QUORUM.
Has Brought About Crisis i'm House
Legisiation-CrisD's Scheme of Filming
Members Who Refuse TO Vote VIII
BE Stubbornly Fought.


WASHINGTON, April s.--Senator PETER
occupied the entire time OF the senate
yesterday afternoon, and from o'clock
until continued, without sign OF fatigue,
the criticism OF the Wilson bill and the
Mckinley bill indiscriminately and ~
sound the praises OF a substitute bill
which he proposes TO offer.
In this populistic tariff bill everything
which the farmer uses is TO be free. or
practically SO, while the support OF the
government would rest entirely Oh the
shoulders of the urban population.
Sugar Is to be made free, with n bounty
paid to producers, for the benefit OF the
beet sugar growers OF Kansas and Ne
braska: and instead Of revenue OF $780,
600, 900 from an income tax, this feature
of his bill would produce s70,000,c00.
Senator Mcmillan presented three
amendments To the tariff bill intended to
be proposed by him. One OF them pro-
poses 10 change the duty on cigars,
~cheroots and cgarets from 50 pound
and 25 per cent ad valorem duty 10 $50
pound and % per cent al valorem another
takes carbonate OF ammonia from the free
list, and makes it dutiable at the rate OF
3-4 cents pound, and the third puts
enflurage pomades on the free list.
Senator Frye, from the committee on
commerce, reported To the senate Mr..
Hoar's amendment to the sundrv civil APP
preparation bill appropriating $4,000 for
q alightship in Boston harbor.
In the morning hour the urgency de-
fcency bill was considered without re-
suit, and was taken up again at o'clock.
After considerable discussion Of the
measure the senate adjourned.
Ar Impotent Majority.
The Democratic managers of the house
yesterday decided that the time had come
when some effective method should bc
adopted TO force the Republicans TO par
ticipate in legislation.
Throughout the last congress, and dur
ing the recent congress, the Republicans
have on frequent occasions deadlocked
the bouse for days by refusing TO answer
20 their names, thus breaking a quorum.
As there was no rule 10 compel them TO
vote, and as the speaker declined to
adopt Mr. Reeds eXpedient OF counting
quorum without the authorization of
rule, the house was constantly at the
mercy OF the minority.
The action 2f Speaker Crisp in securing
the adoption Of rule by his COMMITTEES
fning mem bers $40 who refuse 70 vote,
and all members who absent themselves
without leave the same sum, has created
intense feeling among the Repu blican
representatives. Both Reed and Burrows
opposed it in committee and notified the
speaker that he would have TO secure
quorum of his own party 20 pass il. There
is much doubt expressed as 10 whether a
quorum of the Democratic party in the
house will vote for it.
II directs the sergeant-at-arms to with
hold all moneys from mem bers where
fines have been imposed. 1t is evident
from the expression of members on the
floor that there will be bitter contest
over the adoption of the proposed rule.
Speaker Crisp remarked that the rule
which had been agreed on was the only
practica BILE solution of the existing prob
lem. The first vote on its adoption was:
Yeas, AZ: nays, IL (Republicans not vot-
ing). No quorum. A call Of the house
was ordered
The Minority's Claim.
The course which Speaker Crisp has
been pursuing towards ex.Speaker Reed
has had the effect of emblttering many of
Reeds friends. They have made up their
minds that so long as the speaker pursues
his course toward the minority they will
resort to any method that may be neces-
sary, not only to obstruct, but to defeat,
legislation that is distasteful to them.
Whether such action il altogether patri-
otc is question which does not enter
into the matter.
The minority claim that its course is
fully justified They hold that the Demo-
Gratis have 2lS representatives and that
they ought to be able To have quorum
of their own party present whenever any
important legislation is pending. If the
speaker and his associates cannot control
the party aud keep a quorum in their
seas, they should, the minority asserts,
adopt some rule that will enable them
TO conduct the business in "a proper man
ner.
Won't Follow Reeds Rules
Many OF Speaker Cris2's friends are
urging him 60 count quorum. There is
no doubt in their minds as Co the legality
of such proceedings The speaker, how
ever. is unwilling TO count a quorum,
because such action would be not only in
consistent but qualification of his and
his party's course, and would yindicate
ex-Speaker Reed.
The Democratic managers in the house
and also in the senate are convinced that
some rule or method should be adopted
90 enable the majority to proceed in an
orderly way with the important business
of congress The Democratic managers
in both houses have been in conference
concerning the matter, and probably
think the rule adopted by the committee
on rules will solve the problem.