The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-01
THE TARIFF DEBATE
Congressman Reel Begins
the Closing Argument for
the Republicans.
LARGE CROWD PRESENT.
Contemplated Action of the New
York Delegation Wish a
Reconsideration.


WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. /, 1894 Inter
est in the closing hours of the Tariff debate
was shown this morning in the attendance at
the House. At ten o'clock the galleries
were filed with spectators, although the
session did not begin until eleven, and it
would be thirty minutes after that
hour before Mr.. Reed of Maine
could speak. The public galleries
were thrown open at o'clock, and within
five minutes were packed to suffocation.
Meanwhile the corridors in the vicinity Of
the private galleries were filed with an ex-
pectant crowd, in which ladies chiefly pre-
dominated, and when these were opened it
was seen that their capacity was not suffi-
cient to accommodate a fraction of those
present.
NEW YORK DELEGATION.
When the Democratic members of the
New York delegation reached the Capitol
this morning and began to compare
notes, it was found that there would
probably be more than the three
which had been accorded to it in previous
estimates An effort was made to hold a
conference and learn just how they stood,
but the first attempt was a failure.
At noon it was said another call was
out for a meeting later in the day
before the vote should be reached. Congress
man Tim Campbell admitted that not more
against the bill by the Democratic members
from New York.
TRACEY'S OPINION.
Mr.. Tracey of Albany, who is strong adj
ministrationist stated that he would support
the bill under any circumstances, and drop
ping into prophecy, he added that
all the members of the delegation who
voted against the bill today would not
be likely to secure a denomination to Con-
gress next autumn He believed that his
constituents would endorse his action in sup
porting the measure, and if he were not
willing to do this he would not ask them for
a reelection.
Later in the day the delegation met aga in
and adopted a programme which will be
carried out this afternoon. After the amend
ments are disposed of, and before a vote is
taken on the bill Mr.. Cochran will move to
recommit the bill with instructions to report
such measure as will raise a sufficient
amount of revenue from imports to defray
the expenses of the Government. 1t is
understood that all the Democratic members
of the delegation, with the exception of Mr..
Warner and Mr. Tracey, will support this
motion. There is. however, some doub
regarding Mr.. Lockwood, of the Buffalo dis
trict, who seems inclined to support the bill,
Notwithstanding the opposition of the ma
jority of his Democratic eonfreres.
THE LOUISIANA DELEGATION.
While the New Workers were getting to-
gether this moring the Louisiana delega-
ton was not idle No formal conference
was held by these gentlemen, but shortly
before the hour of noon they met in the
Marble room of the House to discuss
their plan of action. 1t was decided that
the entire delegation, six in number,
would vote with the New York Democrats
to recommit the bill. This, however, was
as far as two of the number, Messrs.
Blanchard and Boatner. were willing to
go. On the final passage of the bill four of
the delegation will vote in the negative, but
at this point Messrs Blanchard and Boatner
will part company with their colleagues and
support the bill. They say they cannot go
to the extreme of trying to defeat the meas
ure, notwithstanding its effect upon the sugar
interests of their State.
The New York delegation excepting two,
or at the most three, will vote as unit on
both propositions, namely: to recommit the
bill, and, failing in this, to vote in the mega
tive against its passage.
HOUSE CONVENED.
1t was after eleven o'clock when Speaker
ately after the reading of yesterdays Jour
nal, Mr.. Lockwood (dem., N.Y. made the
point of no quorum, and the roll was called,
discussing the presence of 221 mem
bers The House then went in
to Committee of the Whole and
took up the question pending when the
House adjourned yesterday-Mr. Wilson's
motion to close debate on the barley amend
ment, and the House divided. Mr.. Wilson
and Mr.. Warner (dem., N. W then took
their places as tellers, and the motion was
agreed to, 179 in the affirmative and none in
the negative. Other amendments were of
fered and defeated, and the House recon
yened.
FINAL DEBATE.
The Speaker then announced that under
the special order three hours would be al
lowed for debate.
By this time the jam in the corridors had
become 50 great that progress in or through
them was difficult and well-nigh impossible.
The diplomatic and executive galleries filled
up under the pressure for seats by others
than those for whom they are generally re-
Crisp by members for admission of
their wives and daughters well nigh
drove him frantic. Finally, by tacit con-
sent the floor was opened to these visitors,
and they took their places in the lobby be-
hind the rail, SO that from the rear seats in
the hall back to the sides of the chamber in
the gallery there was banked a mass of hum
anity utterly unable to move and almost un-
able to breathe, comfortable respiration was
an impossibility
REED RECOGNIZED.
The Speaker recognized Mr.. Reed trep.,
Maine). This was the signal for spontane-
GUS outburst of applause, which the
Speaker made an effort to check.
Cheers and applauses rang out
over the galleries, which continued for
some time. Few speakers in the House
have ever had a grander audience hanging
upon their words There was not vacant
space to be seen in the House, and here and
there throughout the hall were seen bits OF
color indicating the presence of ladies.
Among the members of the Senate who
came over to witness the scene in the lower
House were to be seen Senator Washburn OF
Minnesota, Senators Hoar and Lodge OF
Massachusetts,, Stockbridge of Michigan and
others, while among the distinguished visit
ors in the galleries was His Eminence,
Cardinal Gibbons, easily recognized by his
flaming red skull cap and neck cloth, and on
the floor was Bishop Newman.
Mr. Reed stood for a while quiet and
self-possessed beside his desk, the cynosure OF
all eyes, and when the enthusiasm had sub
sided, began slowly and impressiyely his ad-