Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-08-24
TARIFF BILL IS PASSED.
HOUSE ACCEPTED THE SEN
ATE AMENDMENTS.
Action of the Democratic Caucus
Speaker Crisp's Motion to Recede
Adopted-Separate Bills Passed
Putting Sugar, Iron Ore, Coal and
Rarbed Wire on the Free List.

Speaker Crisp's Motion to Recede
AdOpted-Separate Bills Passed
Putting Sugar, Iron Ore, Coal and
Barbed Wire on the Free List.
At a caucus of House Democrats In the
Capitol at Washington it was decided by an
overwhelming vote to accept the Senate tariff
bill. A statement was made by Chairman
Wilson to the effect substantially that there
was no prospect for tariff legislation unless
the Senate bill were adopted. The motion
TO accept was made by Speaker Crisp and
the resolution was adopted by vote of lib
TO %. There was no division on the vote to
pass separate bills, placing coal sugar, iron
ore and barbed wire on the free list.
Mr. Holman, Chairman ofthe caucus, took
the chair When the roll call (Which showed
that 153 members were present was COM
pleted hush of expectancy fell upon the
caucus.
Mr. Wilson (ChaIrman Of the Ways and
Means Committee) took the floor. Although
outwardly calm and cool. he was manifestly
laboring under deep emotion. His speech
for the first five minutes was general in
character and contained no specific points.
1t was devoted in the beginning to an ex-
PLANTATION Of the embarrassments under which
tho House Conferees had labOred. He said
that the representatives of the House had
gone into the conferences with a desire of
faithfully representing the wishes of their
colleagues. That they had failed to reach
a satisfactory concluston-a conclusion hon.
orable alike to the House and to the Demo
cratic party-was not their fault
Mr.. Wilson referred to the proposition
made to the House conferees by their Sena-
torial associates to accept free sugar. This
proposition, he said, was rejected, inasmuch
as the representatives of the House had
certained that compact existed III the Sen
ate to defeat tariff legislation or postpone its
consideration until next December If free
sugar were made a part Of the conference
report. He turned at this point and called
upon his associates, Messrs. Montgomery.
Breckinridge, Mcmillan and Turner, to SUBJ
stantiate this statement.
Mr.. Mcmillan Immediately arose and said
that from the beginning of the conference
they had been given to understand from day
to day that any displacement of the Senate
votes on sugar, coal and iron ore would lead
to absolute defeat, or, at least, the postpone
ment of the bill.
Mr.. Wilson stated substantially that there
was no prospect for tariff legislation unless
the Senate bill was adopted.
When Mr.. Wilson had finished Speaker
Crisp arose an1 was greeted with applause.
He began by saying that the House must
take the Senate bill. While the Senate bill
must be adopted, the House would make a
determined effort for free sugar. He elabor-
ated his statement that the Senate bill must
be accepted or there would be no tariff legis-
lation at this session; and his declaration
that the House of Representatives had used
every honorable and fair means to secure
the passage Of their bill without avail was
vigorously applauded.
Speaker Crisp closed his brief speech by
Offering a resolution that the House recede
from its position and accept the Senate bill.
The resolution also included provision
placing barbed wire. sugar, coal and iron
ore on the free list by a series of separate
bills to be presented at once In the House.
BOurke Cochran, of New York, then took
the floor In opposition to the resolution.
Mr.. Cochran contended that he, Us yet, had
no information which would lead him to be-
lieve that the House bill could not be adopted.
Turning toward Mr.. Wilson he challenged
the gentleman to give the names Of the four
Senators who stood in the way of an agree
ment. He did this twice, but Mr.. Wilson re-
manned silent.
vote on ordering the previous question
on Mr.. Crisp's resolution was then taken,
and resulted in 102 yeas to 81 nays. After
the previous question had been ordered
which was considered equivalent to the
adoption of the resolutiOn-the Louisiana
members were given ten minutes to explain
their position. Mr.. Robertson, speaking for
the delegation. said that the sugar growers
had made their contracts for the current fiscal
year, and tuat any action by Congress abol-
ishing tho bounty for the next twelve
months would work severe injury to their
interests.
On the motion to accept the Senate bill
the vote resulted: Ayes, 113; nays, 28
Among those voting in the negative were
Messrs. Robertson, Davey, Meyer and Price,
of Louisiana Tarsney, of Missouri Warner,
Straus, Tracey, Cochran, Covert and Dun
ply, of New York Kilgore, of Texas; Dock
cry, of Missouri; Cooper, of Indiana, and
McKaig, Rayner, Rusk and Talbot OF Mary
land.
On the motion to pass separate bills plac.
ing sugar, coal, iron ore and barbed wire on
the free list, there was no division. Then q
resolution, offered by Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia.
was adopted, thanking the House confereos
for their fight for the House bill. Having
completed the work of the caucus, the mcot-
ing was adjoined sine die.