The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-02-07
THE WILSON TARIFF BILL
1T PASSES THE LOWER HOUSE
OF CONGRESS BY A MA
JORITY OF 81.
n Scene without Parallel in the Matt.
onal Capitol.

Thursday evening at the conclusion oi
one ofthe grandest, most imposing and
impressive scenes ever witnessed in the
American capitol, the Wilson tariff bill
passed the house of repr sentatives by a
vote of 20i to l40. The events leading up to
IL were almost unparalleled in this countrys
annals.
such vast concourse of people as assem-
bled 10 hear the last arguments upon the
great economic issue about TO be Submitted
for final arbitrament to the representatives
Of the American people bad never before
been seen within .the precincts OF the
nations legislative capitol. Nothing like
IL was ever known in the history OF the
Oldest inhabtant Of the capitol.
For hours before the Debate began the
corridors leading TO the galleries were
surging mass of humanity, which finally
became so great that men cried out IN ter
ror and women tainted in fright. IL was
estimated that over 20, 900 attempted TO gain
ndmitiance to the galleries Of the house.
Their seating capacity is about 3 900 and
every available seat was occupied long be-
fore the gavel dropped. The people were
lined against the walls and banked against
the doors; so great did the crush become
that the members of the house secured per
mission 10 bring their wives upon the
hoor
Shortly after the house convened at ii
o'clock the crowds in the immense gallery
on the north side fthe chamber became so
great that there was imminent danger that
some of the people would be pressed over
the railing into the house below. Those ia
the corridors kept crushing into the door
way and those still further back pressed
farward until the stairs and aisles OF the gal
lery we're literally packed with mob OF
restless, impatient men.
In one of the aisles fight was .precipi-
t.1 ha ar q
ton. one of the combatants was negro,
demanding his full rights as an American
citizen, and the other was white man
making the same claim. This claim involv-
ed the right TO stand on the same square
foot Of territory, and as II was too small for
both men race war resulted. The bellig-
erents were hustled from the gallery as fast
as the obstructing human wall would
permit and comparative quiet was soon
restored.
The crowding in at the doors however,
confined until Speaker Crisp, who had been
nervously noting the dangerous packing OF
people. interrupted the roll call long enough
to say that il was in the interest OF safety 70
human life that the doorway should be
cleared He asked the door keeper of the
gallery to clear out some of those who stood
in the entrances so as to make those al
ready inside as comfortable as possible
without being endangered. 1t was next TO
impossible, however, to at once execute
this order, as there was absolutely no room
for the ejectment of those who had found
entrance into the asles, but the policemen
kept pressing back the people until they
bad materially reduced the danger that was
SO very apparent,
When Mr. Reed the first speaker, arose
TO deliver the final plea for protection the
overhanging galleries were black with
spectators. Every inch of space upon the
foo. was taken. 1t was brilliant as well
as large assembly. Only 10 of the 35i
members of the house were absent: many
grave and reverend senators and other dis
tinguished personages were on the fiool
and in the galleries were Mrs. Cleveland,
Mrs, Vice President Stevenson and other
ladies OF eminence and distinction, theii
dresses fleckng the landscape with color.
Then followed for three hours the ora.
tory of the champions of the two economic
systems-Reed, Crisp and Wilson-while
their partisans made the arvocal with theii
shouts of approval. The appearance of the
speeker of the house upon the floor engaged
in debate was in itself a remarkable as well
as an unusual thing; Each of the speakers
seemed to be in his best form and the
speeches which they delivered will rank
among the most brilliant Of their lives
When these where finished Mr.. Wilson
who spoke last was lifted on the shoulders
Of his admiring colleagues and carried tri-
umphaptly FROM the hall amid a scene OF
unmatched enthusiasm.
When it came to voting the victory fol
the measure was overwhelming The ma
jority for the bill, Ga, exceeded the most
sanguine expections of the Democratic
members of the ways and means commit
ee. When the speaker announced the vote
= cheer followed cheer upon the Democratic
side; papers, hats. Congressional Records
and in fact everything which Democrats
could lay their hands upon were flung high
in the air and amid perfect pandemon
ium of Joy the house adjourned.