Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-02-28
Another Senate HOld-Up.

The Free silver Fanatics Again Defy
Public and Party Sentiment and RE-
fuse TO Allow the Tariff Hill TO he Ia
ken Up.
The United States Senate refused,
Tuesday, for the second time, to take up
the House tariff bill for consideration.
This result was confirmation Of the pur-
pose of the silver extremists, shown
by their course when the question first came
up two weeks ago, to sacrifice all other
legislation TO the demand for free silver
coinage. This time, as before, the motion
to take up the tariff bill was made by SEN
ator Morrill,, the chairman of the finance
committe. Mr. Morill prefaced his motion
by saying that there was a deficiency of
revenue, month by month, which would
amount to $50, ,000,0O0 for the year-the
second year of the existing tariff bill 1t
certainly seemed as though something
should be done to relieve the distress of the
treasury department, looking to the revival
of the business interests of the country.
There was no further speech making and
the roll call resulted in the defeat of the
motion TO take up the bill by a vote of %
In the affirmative and 33 in the negative
There were no votes in the affirmative ex-
cept from Republicans, while votes in the
negative were given by % Democrats, six
Populists and five Republicans. The five
Republicans were the same who voted
against con sideration a fortnight ago-Car-
ter and Mantle of Montana, Dubois of
Idaho and Teller of Colorado, with a rein
forcement in the person of Senator Can
non of Utah.
The announcement of the vote precipi-
tated a sharp discussion on the situation
developed by the open secession of the
silver extremists from the main body of
the Republican party Mr.. Morrill,, with
great dignity, but easily perceptible warmth
Of feeling, declared that the vote just taken,
following that of February l3, showed the
Republican party to be in a distinct minor
ity in the Senate. Accepting the result of the
two trials of strength, the Republican
managers would make no further effort to
press the House bill. at would not be-
come me-" Mr.. Morrill, said, ito ask the
Senate again to go on with this BILL
Mr. Teller, for the silver extremists, re-
piled to Mr.. Morrill, in defiant and en-
bittered tone. He interpreted the state
ment of the venerable chairman of the fl
nance committee as hint that the Repub-
lican leaders regarded his action and that
of bis followers as putting them beyond
the pale of party association. Against be-
ing read out Of the party Mr.. Teller ve-
hemently protested; yet in the same
breath he declared that he would not be
governed by party sentiment or eXpediency
If at any time he thought an advantage
could be gained for the silver interest
through a highwaymanlike "hold up of
party legislation.
Mr.. Sherman, who evidently disagreed
with the policy of the other Republican
members of the finance committee, entered
the discussion with a passionate protest
against the Senate acknowledging its in
| capacity for action, and appealed TO SEN
ators not TO infict such disgrace on the
country and on civilization as to adjourn
Congress without making provision to sup
port the treasury with sufficient revenue.
The terse conclusion of Mr.. Frye of Maine
was that the House bill is "as dead as Julius
Cesar"
The feeling in Washington is that there
is no chance that Mr.. Teller and his fol-
lowers will drop their dog-in-the -manger
policy at this session and allow a vote to
be taken on the tariff bill. The issue they
have raised can only be settled in the Re
publican national convention next June,
and till that convention assemblies they
will continue their last ditch" operations
in the hope of intimidating party sentiment
and securing some important concessions
at st. Louis.
On Wednesday Mr.. Carter made a speech
| in justification of himself and the other Re-
| publican Senators who voted against tax
ing up the House tariff bill. For that vote,
he said, he had ample justification and no
| apology. He defended his course on the
ground that the tariff bill was not a Re-
publican measure. 1t was a measure 10
meet an alleged emergency, which, accord
ing to the President, did not exist at all.
1t afforded no protection to American wool
growers, while it took good care of the
American wool manufacturers. His speech
was in effect demand that the silver men
be given all they claim from the Republi-
cans, no matter how it affects the party's
| interests.