The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-02
Only a Few Democrats Vote
With the Republicans
THE MAJORITY SlxTY-FouR.
Cochran and Others obliged 10 Ac-
cept the 0dious Income Tax.
Tom Reed Makes . Great speech Against
the Biii. and Crisp and wilson Argue
for 1.-THE House Crowded to sur-
focation-senate Discusses Bonds.

WASHINGTON Cry. Feb. l-At o'clock
tonight the Wilson tariff bill passed the
house by vote of - TO i4n The events
leading up 10 is were almost UNPARALLELED
IN congressional annals. At l. O'Clock.
after preliminary skirmish OF an hour
over the barley schedule. the bill wss re-
ported 10 the house and the closing
speeches made
Such vast concourse of people as as
sembled TO hear the final arguments had
never before been seen within the pre-
oincts of the nations capitol. Nothing like
II vas ever known in the history of the
oldest inhabitant. For hours before the
debate began the corridors leading to the
galleries were a surging mass of humanity,
which finally became so great that men
cried out in terror and women tainted in
fright. In Is estimated that over 10000
attempted to gain admittance TO the gal
ieries of the house today. Their seating
capacity is about loo. and every available
seat was occupied long before the gavei
dropped. People were lined against the
walls and banked against the doors. SO
great did the crush become that members
secured permission TO bring their wives
upon the door. shortly after IL O'Clock the
crowds in the immense gallery on the
north side of the chamber became so great
tina, there was imminent danger that some
people would be pressed over the railing.
Those IN the corners kept crushing into
the doorways, and those still further back
pressed forward until the stairs and aisles
OF the gallery were literally packed with a
mob of restless, impatient men. In one of
the aisies fight was precipitated over the
color question. One of the combatants
was a negro demanding his full rights as
an American citizen, aud the other was n
white man making the same claim. This
claim included the right 10 stand on the
same square foot of territory. and as il
vas TOO small for both men race war re-
suited. The belligerents were hustled
from the gallery as fast as the
oostructing human wall would per-
nit and comparative quiet was soon
restored. The crowding at the doors, how
ever. continued until Speaker Crisp, who
had been nervously noting the packing of
people, interrupted a roll cali long enough
to say il was IN the interest of safety of
human life that the doorways be cleared.
He asked the doorkeeper of the gallery to
clear out some of those who stood IN the
entrances. so as to make those already in
side as comfortable rs possible without
being in danger. 1t was next TO impos-
sibe, however, to at once execute this
order. as there was absolutely no room for
the ejectment of those who had found en-
trance into the aisles. but policemen kept
pressing back the people until they mate
rally reduced the danger
When Reed. the first speaker, arose ut
last to deliver the final plea for protection.
the overhansing galleries were black and
dense with spectators. Every inch OF
space upon the floor was taken, only ten
of the 35s members of the house being
absent. Many senators and other dis
tinguished personages were on the floor.
and in the galleries were Mrs. Cleveland,
Mrs. Stevenson and other ladies of emf
nence and distinction. Then for three
hours the orstory of the champions of the
two economic systems followed. Reed.
Crisp and Wilson, while their partisans
made the air vocal with shouts of approval.
The appearance OF the speaker of the house
upon the floor engaged in debate was IN
itself a remarkable as we'll As unusual
thing Each OF the speakers seemed 10 be
in the best form. and the speeches today
viii rank among the most brilliant of their
lives. When these were finished Wilson,
who spoke last, was lifted on the shoulders
of his admiring colleagues and carried tri-
umphantly from the hall amid a scene of
uufna atched enthusiasm.