The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-20

began the fight IN this House, although
from wooi-growing State, SAID that II
Tree wool would give the people OF the
country cheaper clothing, the wool-growers
OF Texas would not hesitate to see their
product on the free lis"
why not give US an opportunity to vote
separately on sugar?" inquired Johnson.
I'D to this time" said Cultivate In
reply, u judge that there is no difference
| OF sentiment on this side. We are all
shoulder to shoulder"
Reed. in referring to Outhwaite's eulogy
of the House cohferrees' courage. asked
what courage amounted to that backed
down.
"How long will this courage las!?" he
asked. rs it to be permanent? The gen.
tleman from Ohio (Mr. Outhwaite) is
silent. Into the future he cannot penetrate.
Laughter His mind is not prophetic
He has taken the first and last opportu-
nifty ne Will have to commend the courage
OF the House conferrees. [Applausel
Without further debate the vote was
then taken on the adoption of the special
order. and it was agreed to without
division.
Immediately after the adoption of the
rule the Speaker recognized Chairman
wilson. Rising in his place on the right
OF the chair, his bandaged head making
him look like worn and battls-scarred
veteran, the appearance OF the chairman
OF the Ways and Means Committee was
greeted with the most upbounded enthu-
slasm on the Democratic side. enthusiasm
In which the crowded galleries Joined.
The bandage extended down over Wilson's
eyes, completely binding him, but with
stolcal forttude, in clear. ringing tones.
he delivered his speech In support IF the
position taken by the House conference
committee against the Senate amend
ments After formally announcing and
reading the report announcing disagree
ment Wilson said
Il move that the House further insist
upon its disagreement to the Senate
amendments and ask for further con-
ference from them upon that motion. l
shall submit a few explanatory remarks
to the House.
1T Is true as the gentleman from Maine
(alr. Reed) has just said. that there have
been but two meetings of the full conference
committee on the part Of the Senate and
House. A tariff bill, of recent years at
least, and perhaps almost always in the
history of this country. has been poiti-
cal measure-a measure proposed by one
party and resisted by the other. The
present tariff legislation does not differ
from that 10 character. 1t was fully recog-
nlZed and cordially expressed by the Re
publican cOnferrees of the Senate, that Ii
was the duty of the dominant party in the
two houses, through their own special
conierrees, first to try II they
could consider their own differ
ences before they brought to the
attention of the full conference
committee their proposed action. While.
therefore, there have been but these two
meetings Of the full conference committee,
there have been daily prOtracted, earnest
and Iaborious consultations on the part Of
the House conferrees representing the ma
jority party in this House. and of the SEN
ate conferrees. representing the majority
party in that House, as o the 634 amend
ments in the hope that we might reach
some agreement that could be reported to
the full conference committee when ii
should be called together. 1t is because
no such agreement has been alta ned, it is
because no such agreement is at present
In sight, that we have felt it our duty to
bring the whole matter back to the House
and receive its instruction.
II desire to be perfectly frank and as
complete as possible In any statement |
may make TO the House to-day, and yet |
recognize there are some limitations TO
completeness OF statement which probably
it would be best for me to observe at this
stage in the controversy between the two
houses. But | think [ may say, with truth
and frankness and courtesy, that If the
conferrees of the Senate onltne part of the
majority party had been as free and as un-
trammeled as we ourselves were, 7with
nothing to control our action bur our sense
of duty to the people and to our party and
to the House, tariff bill would have been
agreed upon in one days session that would
have been satisfactory to the Democratic
party, and that would have given hope
and courage and enthusiasm to the Ameri-
can people. Applause on the Democratic
side.
but, sir. we were not long in finding
out, greatly to our disappointment, that
whatever might be the personal opinions,
the personal judgment, the strong rer-
sonal wishes of the Democratic cOnferrees
of the Senate, they came to US somewhat
feltered and somewhat limited as to any
action they might agree 10 upon this bill,
either by the supposed moral obligations
of party caucus or the apprehension that
there were forces in the Senate, however
small, yet powerful enough TO resist sue
cessfully the passage of any bill which did
not make concessions to great corporations
and trust interests, that we, as represent
ing the House, did not feel free on our
part to agree to. Applause on the Dem
ocratic side
81 do not believe, Mr.. Speaker. there
would be any difficulty in coming to
compromise or an agreement upon the vast
majority of the ga amendments proposed
10 this bill by the Senate; but there are
important amendments proposed by the
Senate which give TO this bill in the main
different character from what 1t had
when it went to the Senate. II Is because
of these amendments and because of the
statement made to us in all kindness and
courtesy, and might alm ost say 10 sad
ness. that such was the condition of affairs
at the other end of this capitol. that unless
this House was willing to accept the Sem
ate bill practically and substantially as it
passed the Senate there was to be no tariff
legislation at this session of Congress. We
did not feel. representing the House OF
Represen talives. that we could, without
sacrifice of its dignity and OF its equality
as legislative chamber. respond to any
Such nrOnoSitjon &c thar TAnnlausa on