Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-18
THEFEDERALS
Matter Of Filling Yancs's Place On The
Finance Committee.
HILL OPPOSES HARRIS.
lie Joins Chandler IN Preventing Prompt
Action-Murphy Moves Against Further
Tariff Legislation.

WASHINGTON. August 17.-There was
a fair attendance OF senator's at the OPEN
Ing OF the days session. As soon az the
Journal was read. Mr.. Harris, acting
chairman OF the Finance Committee.
moved that the Senate I'LL the vacancy on
death OF the late Senator Vance. Of
North Carolina. by the appointment Of the
Senator from Calfornia-Mr. White.
Mr.. Chandler objected to the considera-
tion OF the motion now. 1t was really a
resolution and as such II should go over
until tomorrow. under the rule.
Il take It," said Mr.. Harris, that this
is u privileged motion. and is not subject
TO the rules. as to ordinary resolutions"
Has the Senator any authority for that
proposition" Mr.. Chandler asked.
1T is privileged" said Mr.. Harris. 'in
the fact that 1t looks to the organization
Of this body"
1T is rather late in the day." said Mr..
Chandler. sneeringly, ito talk about the
organization Of this body. The rules re-
uuire resolutions to go over one day
under one objection. The vacancy mas
existed for months. and now, as the
session is approaching its close, 1t Is pro-
posed to I'll it,
"It is not necessary" said Mr.. Aldrich.
ito make any argument In favor OF tne
position taken by the Senator from New
HAMPSHIRE / take it for granted that we
will not enter now on a revolutionary
proceeding in n matter of this KIND: ana
/ believe there will be resistance TO any
such revolutionary process. But pre-
sumo that the rules Of the Senate VIII
be carried out: and | take II for granted
that the presiding officer needs no further
suggestion
"My notion" said Mr.. Harris. looks
to the completion of the organization OF
this body and is not, in my opinion, SUD-
ject to the objection which the senator
from New Hampshire makes. IT Is WIN
profound aston.shment that i hear such
an objection from that side OF the chafn-
ber During the eighteen years that
have had the honor of holding seat on
this floor. no matter which party was III
the majority, members on the other side
have named at will. without obJection'
criticism, or question. such committee
representatives as they were entitled to,
and no voice was ever heard on this side
of the chamber to object to criticism or
10 suggest anything contrary TO their
wish: and this side of the chamber, no
matter which party was In the majority.
has named, without objection. without
suggestion, and without a word OF CONF
plant, it's representatives on the various
committees of this body.
This Is the most revolutionary OF all the
revolutionary ideas that / ever heard sus-
gested since have had the honor of hoid-
ing Il seat on this floor. Let the CHAIR
decide the question as the Chair thinks
lax |
not refrain from putting on record the
| facts as / have stated them and the ex-
| preston of my profound astonishment,
| and. if were to indulge myself, | would
put on record language that would not
| perhaps be altogether parliamentary.
/ HILL JOINS CHANDLER.
Mr. Hill reinforced Mr. Chandler. ''1f
| the caucus agreement" said Mr.. Hill,
| with a show of passion, 'is TO be rent
| in twain and If new bills are TO be
passed in sections. l desire to bring TO
| the attention of the Senate certain
amendments TO these bills. | desire to
have vote of this body upon propo-
sltions which were voted down, not be-
cause they were disapproved, but because
senator's felt that they would not vote
according to their judgment and con-
science / feel bound, II all caucus
agreements are now to be cast aside, TO
present these out <tions again for the
| consideration of the Senate. These bills
| have been referred to a committee OF this
| body against my vote 1 am willing to
have them taken up and disposed of
without having either favorable or an
| adverse report from the Finance Com
mittee | need not remind the Senate
| OF the complexion Of that committee be
| fore. ] need not remind you that there
was a majority of IL against the income
| tax. And If they had felt at liberty
| TO vote according to their judgment and
| conscience there would have been an ad-
| verse report on that portion of the bill.
| What are you seeking to do to-day?
| To pack that committee, in order that
my proposition for the repeal OF the in
| come-taK shall come before the Senate
| with an adverse report Heretofore, In
| appointments to vacancies on commit
| tees. the Democratic memb RS of this body
| have been consulted. When vacancies
were filed the other day. on the Com
| merce and other committees. we were
| called together in conference. and the So
| called steering committee submitted 10
| our Judgment certain names before they
| were brought into the open Senate.
| have heard of no such consultation now.
! The Democratic members Of this Senate
| have not been called together. But, with
| out my knowledge. without any oppor-
] turlty for consultation. ii is proposed,
| this morning. TO fiji this vacancy. at the
| suggestion of don't know who-possibiy
| of the steer ng committee. may assume
| that to be the case.
| II do not know why a different course
is sought TO be pursued in the filling of
| this important vacancy from that pursued
| in the filling of those other vacancies. AS
a representative Of great and popuious
| State-the most pOpulous State In the
| Union. | might have been permitted 10
| suggest that its interests should have
| been consulted. | do not propose now to
| speak of the complexion of the present
| steering committee. or of the Finance
| Committee I will wait and speak of that
! matter hereafter. If II shall be necessary.
now address myself to the particular
| question of this resolution. j defy, gen
| tlcmen to point TO a single provision in
| the rules which says that the filling OF
| n vacancy on committee Is a matter
of privilege. Let the resolution so over,
| and let us have consultation. as before.
A DEMOCRATIC NATTER.
"I agree with the Senator from Ten
nessee that this is our matter; not that
of the other side of the chamber. 1t is
| a matter which we should dispose OF
| ourselves. / regret to see thrown into
the Senate the idea that the other side
| should be permitted, substantially, to Sc
| lect a Democratic member of a commit
| tee. We should settle 1t on this side.
| But IL Is wiser that we should consult
| In regard to this matter. 1t can do no
harm: and 1t may do much good. Since
| the commencement OF tariff legislation
there has been blunder upon blunder. a
| few days ago the chairman of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means in the House,
| presumably speaking ex cathedra, was
| demanding of the House of Representa-
tiyes that there should be free sugar.
| The Democrats OF the country recog-
| nized that voice as the voice of the ad-
| ninistration. Democratic conventions
| met in distant States, and the very day
| that they were passing resolutions in
| favor of free sugar and committing the
Marty TO that principle, the Democratic
Secretary OF the Treasury was sending
here protest against placing sugar on
| the free list as a suicidal policy. II
strikes me that there had better be more
consultation so that We may avoid these
things. IL 1t is necessary for the Trea-
snrv that there should be this duty on
| ,aar let there be consultation on the