The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-20

WASHINGTON, d. c., July 10.
1PHE first battle in the open house
over the differences between the
house and senate was fought
u today in the house Of represent.
atives in the presence of large and
deeply interested audience. For the
first time in month the galleries were
full, and nearly every seat on the floor
was occupied. Hostilities began imme-
diatOly after the journal had been
read, when Mr.. Ortwaite, of Ohio,
presented an order from the commit tee
on rules, providing for two hours de-
bate on the report eff the conferees on
the tariff bill and restricting action of
the house to voting on a motion TO in-
slst on disagreement to the senate
amendments in bulk. The order was
antagonized by Mr.. Reed (Me. and Mr..
johnson (O) the latter Of whom want
ed an opportunity to vote separately on
the sugar schedule.
Mr.. Reed said he would say nothing
on the resolution except that there ha,.
been hope on the other side, especial
ly, that this would become a really de-
liberate body, but for himself he had
doubts about it in view of what had
occurred in the past. He yielded to
Mr.. johnson, who opposed the adoption
OF the rule for the reason that, by his
Interpolation of it, the right 10 instruct
conferees to bring in report
upon partial agreement was not
reserved. He warned the house that if
the rule was adopted it would deprive
itself OF the power to consider the
sugar schedule except in association
with all other items in the bill. In
view Of the scandal that has been cre-
ated over this subject. he thought the
house should have the opportunity to
express itself upon it separately.
A QUESTION AS TO TRUSTS.
1t had been reported, Mr.. johnson
said, that If the items of the bill were
separated one from another then it
would defeated. If that were SO, he
continued, the subject went beyond the
question of schedules. 1t brought up
the question whether or not trusts had
grown 80 arrogant on protection that
they are able to dictate legislation
whether congress be Republican or
Democratic. For one he was not will
ing to concede that it was the case, and
heswanted an opportunity to vote to
demonstrate that was untrue APP
plause. Mr.. johnson asked the
speaker if his construction of the rule
was that motion to instruct the
conferees could not be made?"
The speaker responded in the affirm
ative and Mr., Johnson retorted: For
that reason, think, the rule is bad
and should be defeated"
MR.. WILSON HAS THE FLOOR.
Mr., Wilson was then recognized, and
as he rose a pathetic figure compelled
to speak from under a mask that had
hid most of mis- face from sight. he was
greeted with applause on the floor and
in the galleries. He said he was di-
rected by the conferrees on the part of
the house to report that they had been
unable to agree upon the amendments
made by the senate to the tariff bill,
and to move that the house insist upon
its disagreement and ask for further
conferrces.
Speaking to the motion. Mr.. Wilson
said that it was true, as Mr.. Reed had
stated, that formal meetings of the con-
ferees had been held on but two days.
but ever since the corferees had been
appointed there had been long and
earnest daily consultations of the Dem
ocratic members over the 634 amend
msnts to the bill. with the result that
the house confsrees felt it to be their
duty to bring the bill back to the honse
for Instruction..
The situation. said Mr.. Wilson, prob
ably justified him in making some ex-
planatory remarks, which had best be
made now, rather than wait for an
other season. And in this matter, he
said. he desired to be frank. II the
conferees representing the majority of
the senate had felt as untrammelled in
their action as had the house majority
conferees, and as free to do their duty
to themselves and their country,
tariff bill could have been agreed upon
in one day that would have been salts
factory to the Democratic party and to
the American people.
But we were not long in finding out,
said Mr.. Wilson, greatly TO our disap-
pointment, that whatever might have
beeu the purpose Of the senate con-
ferrees. they camo fettered aud limited
in their action. They seemed to be
of presence in the sen
ate that would prevent the passage of
any bill but one that the house did not
feel free to agree to.
MR.. CLEvELAND's LETTER.
As part of his remarks he had read
at the clerks desk u long letter written
to him by Presi! lent Cleveland wherein
he defines his position on the pending
till. The salient points of this docu-
ment. which were received by frequent
outbursts Of applause by the Democrats
and occasional peals of laughter by
the Republicans, are these:
He admonishes the house conferees
to stand firm for free coal and iron ore,
as they were promised the people when |
the party pledged itself to free raw ma.
terial. He declares that to accede to |
the Republican protection in the bill |
now In conference on these items would |
he party dishonor and party outrage.
The senate bill fell far short of being |
what the great rank and file OF the |
Democratic party demanded. On sugar
The president said the party could |
place tax on that article with
lrk NJ, a.