Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-04-05
COULD NOT PASS IT OVER THE VETO.
Silver Men Lacked SeVenty-four Votes of
the Necessary Two-thirds-An Exciting
Scene In the House-Senator Allison Fin
ishes His Speech Against the Tariff Bill.

WAsHlNGTON. April all programmes
that had been mapped out for the Bland
seigniorage bill when it was to be called
up on the motion to pass it over the presi-
dents veto We're suddenly smashed. and
the vote was had upon he motion amid
scene of such ineNtricable confusion as has
seldom been witnessed on the floor of the
house of representatives. The strong hand
of the speaker carried the bill to Il vote
without a single word of debate upon it,.
The Republicans had expected to hear the
welkin ring with the discOrdant cries of
the Democrats and had arranged to force
enough debate to give all those on the
other side who We're antagonistic to the
administration an opportunity to voice
their discomfort.
But by one of those parliamentary blum
ders which occasionally occur they missed
their opportunity, and intrenched behind
the wall Of parliamentary technicality
the speaker braved their thunders and Fe-
fused absolutely to listen to their protesta-
tions that it was all a mistake. The bill
came up after the house had unseated Hill
born from the Fifth California district and
had seated English. the contestant, in his
place
Republicans Were OF Guard.
There WAS at the time great confusion
on the floor Members on both sides We're
comforting i'll groups. The speaker with
uplfted gavel surveyed the house for q
moment. Mr.. Bland expressed a willing
ness to have the vote taken Immediately.
Mr.. Reed, Mr.. Burrows Mr.. Dingley and
Mr.. Stone We're in earnest consultation to
the left of the speakers rOstrum. As it
subsequently appeared, they agreed that
Mr.. Dingley should make the opening ar
gument for his side.
Meantime no one addressed the chair.
and the speaker stated the question to be
on the motion to pass the bill. the presi
dent's objection to the contrary nOtwith
standing.
ION this" he said, looking down upon
the confusion on the floor, the constitu-
ton requires that the vote shall be taken
by yeas and nays
He hesitated Still every one on the
floor. engrossed with the programme in
the coming debate. needed him not
"All those in favor will answer aye, he
continued; contrary contrary sign
Again he paused; but, no one addressing
him, he added. with a bang of the gavel
THE clerk will call the roll"
Mir Allen," began the clerk.
There was Il gasp of establishment on the
Republican side as they awakened to real
OcratS who were anxious to see debate sup
pressed We're overiOyed Amid a great up
roar Il dozen Republicans jumped to their
feet and clamored for recognition. They
saw the coveted opportunity of exposing
to the public gaze the dissensiOns in the
camp of the enemy slipping from them.
But they made Il hard fight. The confu-
sion was great that the clerk got no
further than the first name Too late.
too Late shouted the Democrats as Mr.
Reed tried TO make himself heard above
the uproar. At last by dint of hard pound
ing semblance of quiet was restored.
A storm of protest came fromahe Re
publican side, but the speaker declined to
interrupt the roll call, and amid intense
excitement the roll was taken up. The sill
yer men We're II short of the necessary
two-thirds to pass the bill over the veto.
On March |. when the bill passed the
the house the vote stood lG8 to l29. Yes
terday it stood IA to ia. One hundred
and twenty Democrats, IS Republicans and
+ Populists voted to carry the bill over the
veto and 81 Republicans and SO Democrats
against it.