Crawford avalanche., 1896-03-05

Morrill's Unsuccessful Effort to Have
the Measure Taken UP.

4
the Measure Taken UP.
After some routine business in the Sen.
ate Tuesday Mr.. Morrill,, chairman of the
Finance Committee, presented resolu'
ton to take up the tariff bill. Mr.. Nor.
rll began with brief statement as to
the complications on the tariff bill. He
said 1t had been apparent for many
months that there was a deficiency in the
revenues. During every month since the
present tariff bill went into effect there
had been deficiency.
.How was it beforeT interjected Mr..
Cockrell
Mr.. Morrill, went on to state that the
deficiency up to this time had reached
$20,OOO,OOO. If we went on at the same
rate the deficiency would be $3O,OOO,OOO
for the year. 1t was certainly manifest
that Congress should do something to re-
lieve the treasury and assist in the revival
of business. Therefore, concluded the
Senator, he moved that the Senate pro-
ceed TO the consideration of the tariff
bill.
The roll call proceeded with many in
terruptions in order TO allow Senators to
pair. The announcement that Mr.. Nor
rill's motion had been defeated-yeas, y;
nays, 33-was not unexpected in view OF
the vote some days ago. The detailed
vote was as follows:
Yeas-Republicans Aldrich, Allison,
Baker, Brown, Burrows, Cameron. Clark.
Cullom, Davis, Gear, Hale, Hansbrough,
Hawley, Lodge, Mitchell (Or.), Morrill,,
Nelson, Perkins, Proctor, Quay, Sherman,
Shoup-22.
Nays-Republicans Cannon, Carter,
Dubois, Mantle and Teller (5); Demo-
Gratis, Bacon, Bate, Berry, Caffery, Call,
Chiffon, Cockrell, George, Gordon, Gray,
Harris, Hill, Lindsay, Martin. Morgan,
Palmer, Pasco, Roach Turpie, Vest, Wal
thall, White COZ; Populists, Allen, Butler,
Jones (Nev.) Kyle, PETER and Stewart (6)
total, 33.
The announcement of the vote was the
signal for a remarkable colloquy between
Mr.. Morrill, and Mr.. Teller
AS soon as the vote was announced Mr..
Morrill, again addressed the Senate. 1t
was now evident he said, that the Repub-
lican party was in the minority in the
Senate.
A chorus of dersve laughter came from
the Democratic side of the chamber at
this statement.
Mr.. Morrill,, not noticing the Interrupt
ton, proceeded to state that in his judg-
ment the tariff bill was defeated by a
vote including five silver Republicans and
six Populists. There was no substantial
change in the present and former votes.
1t settled all questions of doubt. The
Senator said the Republican members of
the Finance Committee would be ready
at any time before Congress adjourned to
come to the relief Of the treasury. "But
as to the BILL" concluded Mr.. Morrill,,
II do not think it would become me to
ask any rther time"
Mr.. Teller secured recognition as soon
as Mr.. Morrill, concluded. The Colorsdo
Senator spoke with intense earnestness
and feeling and at times vein of sar-
casm and bitterness was evident He
referred scornfully to the assertion of Mr..
Morrill, that there was not n Republican
majority in the Senate. That was a fact
that had long been understood. This
statement, said Mr.. Teller, came with a
motion out of time and out of place to
proceed with the tariff bill. The Senator
from Vermont, Mr.. Morrill,, declared that
certain Senators on the Republican side
of the chamber are no longer members of
the Republican party. The Senator from
Montana (Carter), who was in the judg-
ment of Mr.. Teller as good Republican
as the Senator from Vermont (MorrilD,
had moved to recommit the bill.
"I charge" proceeded Mr.. Teller, "and
1 will seek to prove later, that this tariff
bill was never presented with any purpose
of passing it."
'If the Senator from Vermont" contin-
ued Mr.. Teller, thinks he can embarrass
those who have been as devoted to the
Republican party as he has been, then he
is mistaken. l will follow my own judg-
ment on this question. And 1 will stay
| in the Republican party in spite of the
| Senator from Vermont. This shallow eff
fort to pass a tariff bill, added Mr.. Teller,
was degrading to the American Senate.
1t was degrading to those who took part
in it.
Mr.. Morrill, interrupted to say: 81 have
read no man out of the Republican party"
Mr.. Teller responded that the whole
| spirit of Mr.. Morril's course in this line
Of driving out of the party all those who
did not agree with with himself, was the
same intolerance shown by the metropoli-
tan press, which had already read the sill
yer Republicans out of the party.
Mr. Sherman followed with a severe
arraignment of the inaction of Congress,
saying it was a crime against the country
and against civilization. He declared
that he would continue to urge action on
the tariff bill.
Mr. Frye Rep. Me- took the floor to
declare that the tariff bill was dead as
julius Caesar. Business interests de-
manded that the statement be made en-
phatically that the bill was dead. He
hoped it would never be heard from again
and that the responsibility should rest
where ii belonged.