River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-08-16


Why not res an II you were TO adopt the &C.
tion OF the other person. congratulate the
gentleman from J,IInois (Mr. Springerl upon
his personal triumph. | wish could congratu-
late the country upon something. and will
upon the speedy departure OF incompetency."
Ex-Speaker Reed was then followed
by Mr.. Mcmillan (Tenn.l, who criti-
cised Mr.. Reed for not discussing the
question at issue, and proceeded to
point out, as he claimed, some good
features of the senate bill-free
wool, free lumber. free hemp, etc
and the reductions in the general
schedules. Mr.. Burrows trep, Mich
spoke in the same vein as did Mr..
Reed. He declared that the action of
the caucus which the house was about
to endorse was not compromise; it was
unconditional surrender.
Cochran Is Heard.
Mr.. Cochran (dem., N W made a
strong protest against the consumma-
ton of this tariff legislation. which re-
called his famous speech of protest at
the Chicago convention. Mr.. Cochran
said:
Mr.. Speaker it seems TO me that .he ques-
tion before this house has beer somewhat
overlooked. The vital point at issue here is
whether the American congress is to legislate
or whether some unknown. unmentioned force
can block the wheels OF legislation and make
the representatives of the people cover In the
dust and surrender they know not TO whom.
ION one momentous occasion the gentleman
from West Virginia. borne upon affectionate
and loyal shoulders, was the central
figure OF demonstration which ev-
idenced the depth OF feeling through
NJ
last fondly considered triumphant over all OBJ
structions To-day no more pathetic figure
In the history OF the world can be observed
than that same leader, shorn OF his support.
walking down these aisles, disdainng to pre-
varicats or misrepresent the actual condition
which confronts us. confessing that he has
been deserted by those in whose support he
had every reason TO contide, asking us to record
our betrayal OF every principal which the
house under his leadership has maintained
We are told that three, four, FIVE, six,
seven or eight individuals have managed 70
make such combination in the other branch
that any change in its terms will be vital TO
the passage of the measure, IL that be so, in
the name of the American people, in the name
of liberty and honor. let us know who they are.
we are hopelessly discredited because our
cowardice makes our surrender disgraceful.
Mr. Speaker. desire to state here that in
my humble Judgment the measure which we
are now asked to pass is more obnoxious pro-
tective measure than the Mckinley act, which
II is designed 10 supplant." lCries of dissent
on the democratic side and jeers.
Mr.. Cochran ridiculed the action of
the house eonferrees in having gone
forth to meet the senate conferrees,
and then having turned and fled at
shadow without having met the enemy
in conflict at all. Said he:
..utt, tn d
its friends. You surrender the dignity and in
dependence OF the house to secure he passage
of bill which will so firmly entrench protec-
tion in popular favor that this generation may
never see another successful effort to over
throw it.
IF we are to swallow this whole obnoxious
bill. then in the name OF FAR play, in the name
of propriety, in the name of decency in the name
OF American liberty and American freedom, let
the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. WILSON,
tell US to whom we are surrendering tell US who
they are who constitute the new force In this
government 10 which we are TO pay tribute;
tell us fully and without reserve the character
OF the action which he asks us TO take that
we may judge the depth of the infamy into
which we are invited to descend lApplause.l
Speaker Crisp Takes the Floor.
Speaker Crisp was recognized amid
much applause, Mr.. Tracy IN. " be-
ing in the chair. Mr.. Crisp said he
wished to publicly assume his full
sb' re of responsibility for the action
about to be taken, and expressed the
belief tina: it was in the best interest
of tariff reform. He referred to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Cock
ram as spending but little of his
time in attending to the business of
the house, and as INDUCING in pyro-
technics about principle while plain
practical business men were seeking
to obtain some relief for a suffering
people, "'lialf loaf is better than no
bread. Therefore we will take the
senate bill" Mr.. Crisp, continuing,
said.
I'VE will send to the senate crystalized into
the form of acts passed in this hall bills maxi
ing sugar free. making coal free. making iron
ore free and making barte1 wire free.
l want to say, so far as l am concerned,
was willing to continue the contest for a
better bill so long there was any hope
OF obtaining 1t. But when the conferrees on
the part of the house in whom we have the
utmost confidence. who are familiar with all
the facts, tell US that in their judgment we
must take this bill or he RENTED TO the pen
alties of the Mckinley law, / do not hesitate a
moment take the senate amendments.
IF there is sugar trust in this country
which is dominating legislation the republican
party created It. And though this bill doe
not destroy that trust as we wish it did it
takes away more than one-half of the protec-
tion to that trust.
IF there is coal combine the legislation OF
the republican party built il up, and, though we
do not make coal free in this bill. we reduce the
duty from - cents to 40 cents. II there is steel
and iron combine the same remark applies. Go
ing through these schedules. while they are not
all we wish. they are land want the coun-
try to understand it, the best we can now get
The moment we get this we intend to move
forward we do not intend there shall be any
backward step in tariff reform.
Cochran Hits Back.
AS the speaker closed Mr.. Cochran
IN. W excitedly arose and asked to
make a statement of personal priv
ilege. There was great confu-
sion The chair declined to recog-
to the special rules. Mr. Cochran per-
sisted in his demand for privilege
statement. and with some asperity he
said with reference TO the speakers re-
Elections upon his absence that lit was
an evidence of the growth of Georgia
chivalry, since Alexander Stevens was
replaced in the speakership by the
present occupant of the chair I"
The speaker disclaimed any inteu-
ton of rejecting on Mr., Cock-an, but
the incident caused much &C nfusion
and it was many minutes before order
could be restored.
Mr.. Wilson Makes a Correction.
After this exciting scene Mr.. Wilson
arose and corrected statement he had
made in his opening to the effect that
500, 600 600 worth of raw sugar had
been purchased by the sugar trust in
anticipation of the passage of the
sugar schedule of the senate bill. He
had been mistaken, he afterward
learned The trust had purchased
44S, 900 tons
How much is that in dollars and
cents?" called out a senator.
About SIS, 600, O0O," replied Mr.. Will
son.
Mr.. Wilson then demanded vote on
the resolution Yeas ana nays were
then ordered. The vote On the motion
TO concur in the senate amendments
and pass the bill resulted: Yeas, 1s2;
nays, l05.
Coal on the Free List.
Mr.. Wilson offered the first of the
separate free list bills, in accordance
with the resolution adopted by the
caucus. II provided for the free adj
r T.es