Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-03

contains Ile CluClhL hlLl fcI Dhtlili pvt
Of the spirited passage in the Senate, on
Friday, when Senator Aldrich, on be-
half Of the Republican members, chal-
lenged the Democrats to an immediate
vote or the Tariff bill and, when that
challenge was accepted, SO ingloriously
backed down. We shall eudcayor to
make room for this report in its en-
tiiety in the near future. II makes in
controyertibly plain that the Republic
can members must now and hereafter |
shoulder the main responsibility Tor the |
further protraction of suspense insep |
arabic from the pendency Of this ques-
ton. We do not mean that their back
down absolyes the Democrats from the
duty OF the majority to push the bill to
passage at the earliest possible moment
that majority owes to the people of
this country the obligation 10 exercise
the rightful power of majority and
force the bill to passage, subordinating
Senatorial Courtesy" and traditions TO
the public welfare-but we do mean
that the Republican members have de-
liberately put themselves on record as
obstructionists and by that record they
will now be judged.
The official record shows that Senator
Aldrich made two propositions-spruug
them while Senator Lindsay was speak
ing. The frst--to take an immediate
vote on the Wilson bill as it came from
the House-was parted by Mr.. Lindsay,
with the reminder that the Republican
Senate did not accept the Mckinley bill
as it came from the House, but insisted
on injecting reciprocity" into it.
Thereupon, to quote from the Record:
Mr.. Aldrich-l will make another propo-
sition. will ask the Senator from Ken
lucky if lie will agree for the other side Of
the chamber that we take vote on this
measure as it now stands with the amend
ments of the finance committee as now
reported?
Mr.. Lindsay will agree to it.
Mr.. Aldrich-Will his associates on the
other side agree to it?
Mr.. Lindsav-Of course, without con-
suting the Democratic party, cannot I'M
dertake to speak as to what the leaders of
the party will do.
Mr. AIdrich-The Senator from Tennes-
see (Mr. Harrisj who has charge of the
bill, is within my hearing and should be
very glad TO hear what he has TO say upon
that proposition.
Mr.. Iindsay--I wish to state that the
Mckinley bill came from the other house
without reciprocity provision in it, ano
it came back from the finance committed
without reciprocity provision in it, anC
it was not until the great leader from
Maine set his foot upon the proposition
that YOU undertook to make terms witt
Id f,nOT,le kE n IN
ciproeity provisions which enabled us ii
some instances to trade with the outsid
world. This saved the bill, but it did no
.~ save the Republican party from the con
domination of the American people.
And having said this, Mr.. Lindsa,
took up and concluded his Interrupts
speech. When he had finished, Nj
Harris picked up the gauntlet saying:
Now. Mr.. President, while | have nc
the vanity to assume that represent any
body but myself upon this floor, beg
assure the Senator from Rhode Islam
that so far as can control it, | accept h
proposition, and we will proceed at
O'Clock to vote upon the amendments pr
posed by the finance committee and the
upon the final passage of the bill. Tn
can only be done by unanimous consen
and | go the one step farther than ii
Senator from Rhode Island, and / no
ask the unanimous consent of the Sena
that the proposition be accepted and act,
upon.
Whereupon Mr.. Aldrich began
bubble and back down, finally urgil
that two hours had elapsed, "sufficie
time to have Democratic caucus"
which Senator White replied that the
had been no caucus and Senator CIR
10 H+l,a v,rppNritiFt, IN, rnup6ra So tr,t
of the Senator of Rhode Island "
made by the Senator from Tenness
the very moment the Senator from Ke
lucky took his seat" Senator Aldri
began another bubble, when Senat
Harris said:
Will tine Senator allow me to remi
him Of what he said himself, and if
chooses to back ont of il. hope he will
it like q man and not attempt to get
by tlimsy explanations?
Having read from the stenographe
report the challenge as given above,
Harris proceeded to say:
did not choose to interrupt the Sena
from Kentucky at that moment, who
entitled to the floor, to get into cOlloq
with the Senator from Rhode Island.
the very moment the Senator from X
lucky resumed MS seat i addressed
Chair. was recognized, and accepted
good faith the proposition made by
Senator from Rhode Island, from WI
he seeks now rather ingloriously to rel
Mr.. Aldrch-Mr. President. / made
proposition. | merely asked the q
tion--
Mr.. Gray-0h
Mr., Harris-rhe Senator does not d
the language here
Mr.. Aldrich-I do not According to
language, which the Senator from Ten
see has twice read within the hearin
the Senate, asked the other side whe
they would agree to vote on the House
with the Senate amendments.
Mr.. Gray-Now you hear they will.
MIR. Aldrich--I did not for myself o.
this side of the chamber say that we W
agree to the proposition.
Mr.. Gray-We speak for everybody
here
The upshot of the colloquy was
Senators Cullom, Teller and Ha,
finally came forward to extricate
Aldrich from the pit he had digge
scverally entering objection to the Ct
ing out of the compact which ser
Aldrich had professed to be SO an1
10 make. Whercupon the prcsi
officer said:
The Chair now announces that tn
quest of the Senator from Tenuess
make q consent rule to vote upon tn
at o'clock was objected to in the
place by the Senator from Illinois
Cullom), in the second place by the !
t tor from Colorado Mr.. Teller, and i