The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-16
WILSON GETS THE FLOOR.
Amendments to the Tariff Bill Now in
Order.

Resolution, But Is Squelched by the
Speaker - The First Amendment
Deals With the Tobacco Schedule.
Washington, Jan. 15.-The close Of the
general debate on the Wilson bill had the
effect of thinning out the attendance of
members on the floor of the House and Of
visitors in the galleries. On the demo-
cratic side in particular was this attenu-
tlon apparent, and only about thirty dem
ocrato members were present at to-dayis
session
The committees having been called foE
reports, without producing any important
results, Mr.. Boutelle endeavored to call
up his Hawaiian resolution. He main
tanned that the House could not so bind
itself by its rules as to preclude the exer-
else of the right to consider questions
concerning its privileges and he read the
ruling of the speaker on Jan. 3. holding
this opinion. Yet, said Mr.. Boutelle, the
very position which he has described as
a Hypothetical case had become an accom-
plished fact and his (Boutelles) predic-
tiou had been verified The President
had sent a special message to congress on
the question, yet the House had not acted
upon it.
THE HOUSE IN UPHoAR.
The introduction of the Hawaiian ques-
tion into the House had its usual effect,
and in a moment the House was in an up-
roar. The speaker endeavored to secure
order but his poundings had about as
much effect in calming the storm waters
as phial Of oil would have on a West In
dian cyclone.
Mr. McMillin demanded that the special
order adopted by the House be adhered
to.
Mr.. Boutelle expressed his indignation
that Mr.. McMillin and his democratic as
sociates should be willing to lend them
selves TO the infamous scheme of ''smoth-
ering" the Hawaiian question, and should
blind themselves TO the degrading posi-.
tion in which the President was placing
the country.
The speaker said that there was some
limit, even to the rights Of the gentleman
from Maine, toaviolate the rules of the
House. There must be somewhere
power in the majority Of the House to
support its rules and to insist that they
should be respected and TO take some ac-
tion TO restrain a gentleman who persisted
day after day in violating the rules OF the
House, and he compelled Mr.. Boutelle to
resume his seat.
WILLOWS BILL READ.
At II :25 o'clocklthe clerks began TO read
the Wilson bill, relieving each other about
every fifteen minutes. 1t required two
hours and twenty-three minutes to read
the bill, even at the rapid rate at which
the clerks proceeded.
Immediately after the reading Of the
bill, Chairman Wilson suggested that for
three days the bill should be open TO
amendment by sections instead of having
amendments offered at any point In the
bill indiscriminately
Mr.. Wilson was recognized TO offer the
first amendment to the bill. This was to
the tobacco schedule and struck out the
words commercially known as, so as to
make IL read, ION all leaf tobacco, or such
part thereof as is wrapper tobacco and
suitable for cigar wrappers, If unstemmed
81 per pound, il stemmed $1.25 per
pound" Mr. Wilson explained that his
reason for Offering the amendment was
in order TO simplify the bill, and lesser
the chance Of its provisions being evaded.
Mr.. Payne, of New YORK, one of the re-
publican membe of the ways and means
committee, offered an amendment to this
amendment, which provided, in substance,
that If any portion OF any tobacco i'm
ported in any bale, package, or bulk,
should be suitable for cigar wrappers, the
entire amount Of tobacco contained in
such bale or package shall be dutiable, If
not stemmed, at 81 per pound If stemmed
at S2.75 per pound.
POLITICAL DEBATE.
A lively political debate followed.
When 1t had ended Mr.. Payne's amend
ment was voted down, yeas 20, nays 40.
A great deal of interest was manifested
as to the action of the bolting democrats
when it came TO the question of a vote.
The following democrats carried out their
threats and voted with the republicans:
Messrs. Sperry and Detorest, Of Connecti-
Cut and (,oODgF of Florida
Mr.. Payne demanded tellers and the
amendment was again voted down--yeas
76 nays ll5.
Mr. Wilson's amendment was agreed to
bya viva voce vote, and two or three SUBJ
stitutes both for Mr.. Wilson's and Mr.
Payne's amendments, which had in the
meantime been offered, were rejected.
As soon as the first amendment had
been disposed of, Mr.. Burrows, rep, Of
Michigan, jumped to his feet and an
nounced that he wished to offer an
amendment; but the chairman stated
that Mr.. Wilson had been recognized.
On this hinged a very interesting debate
as to Mr.. Wilson's right to be recognized
a second time before any one else had of.
fered any amendments.
oRIsP's RULING.
The chair held that the committee on
ways and means had right to offer as
of its own, and that Mr.. Wilson. as chair
man of the committee, had this right.
The soundness of this ruling was dis
puted by Messrs. Burrows, Reed and
other republicans, but the ruling was en-
forced by the statement that the question
of recognition rests largely in the discre-
tion OF the chair. The present occupant
of the chair endeavors TO be entirely fair
in his recognition of gentlemen. The
gentleman from West Virginia informed
the chair thath he had certain amendments
TO offer, which would occupy but short
time this afternoon. With view of as
certaining previous rulings and prece-
dents in such a matter, the chair has ex-
amined the record of proceedings when
the Mckinley bill was under considera-
tion, and finds that Mr.. Mckinley offered
IS amendments.
Mr.. Springer-Before any member was
recognizedl
The chairman-Before any one else was
recognized. And the gentleman from
Ohio, Mr.. Mckinley being interrogated
by She then minority, as to how many
amendments he had in his desk, declined
TO state, but said that he would offer
amendments until he got action on all of
them. In addition, that gentleman, rep
resenting the then minority, offered four
teen amendments, and were recognized
for, tba pf1rpoea. xvhilp csapflar,an ,--s,fs-