The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-20
LAST EDITION
IN The SENATE.
Eager Crowds Waited Open
ing Of Today's Session.
Senator Smith Urges Senate to
to Stand Firm-HiII Speaks.


WASHINGTON. July 20.--Crowds such %
had not throngeo the Senate in mont
packed the galleries today. The Hous.
and the President had yesterday thrown
down the gauntlet to the Senate on the
tariff question and pitched battle was
expected. An ominous hush was upon
the chamber when the president pro TEN,
Mr.. Harris OF Tennessee raped the
Senate to order.
At 12:17 o'clock, Senator Voorhees,,
The Tall Sycamore OF the Wabash"
chairman Of the finance committee, arose
report on the tariff bill. Without word
Of explanation he yielded the floor to
Senator Smith OF New Jersey, who arose
and read a carefully prepared speech.
Senator smiths Speech.
He had hoped, he said. when the bill
passed the Senate two weeks ago that IL
had been perfected, but the event OF the
last "a hours had confronted the Demo
cratic party of the possibility OF failure
of all tariff legislation at this session.
He criticised the President for 'violat-
ing' the principles of his party in at
tempting to interfere with the preroga-
tives of the executive branch OF the
Government, but declared that he should
never be intimidated by threats from the
President or by the utterances OF his
party associates at the other end OF the
Capitol, which had been SO uproariously
applauded.
Senator Smit declared that he should
vote for the resolution to further insist on
the Senate amendments. IL he were
member OF the conference committee he
should say to the House : "This Is our
bill, prepared with infinite labor and
pains; it is our ultimatum. We will not
recede hairsbreadth. There is the bill;
you can take 1T or leave it. 1t must be
this bill or nothing"
Mr
/ dem. N. W, jumped to his feet and
! being recognized, launched his speech.
Hin's Speech.
Senator Hill said: ga theory as well as
n condition now confronts US. II is our
creed that the materials which enter into
our manufactures should be freed from
the burden OF tariff taxation.
"We are committed to this side OF the
question, and we cannot retreat and We
cannot retract. We are honorably bound
TO redeem our professions and our prom
ises.
"Until recently i had supposed that
there was no dispute upon this question
of principle, but that every Democrat
worthy OF the name was willing to con-
cede that Il there was one thing more
than another to which the Democratic
party was committed IL was in favor of
the doctrine of absolutely free raw ma
terials.
"The true and honest construction OF
every Democratic national platform for
IL years past irrevocsbly commits Us 10
the just and reasonable principle.
"It is said by some in Justification OF, or
excuse for, their present action, that the
Presidents letter Of scceptance in 1892,
modified the extreme demands of our
platform. 1t Is true that some portions
OF his letter may tend to bear that con-
struction, but the fact remains that
he had no power or authority to
change or alter a line or sentence of pro-
vision of the national platform which had
been deliberty adopted in national con-
vention duly assembled. No President
can be above his party; no President can
dictate to his party; no President can
change his party platform.
"But no matter what idea it may be
claimed was intended to be conveyed in
Continued on Page 3D.