The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-10
DINGLEY BILL TO BE DELAYED.
STEERING COMMITTEE AWARE
THAT II CAN'T PASS.

The Measure to BE Sidetracked Until
the Republicans Try to Capture
Control of the Senate i'm the Com
ing EIectiOns-Mark Hanna a
Guest at Luncheon Served I'm the
Rkbm of the Steering Committee
by Senator Aldrich.
Washington, Dec. 9.-The republican
steering committee in the Senate held its
| first meeting of the present session to-
! day. At the caucus held yesterday morn
! ing the steering committee was directed to
take the Dingley bill under consideration
and report whether it would be advisable
to try and press it at the present session
In view of the wide difference of opinion
on the subject, the Steering commit
tee" was disposed to take plenty of time
| to consider the subject, hoping in the
mean time, that some Of the bolting repub-
ican senators might return to the fold
| from which they strayed last July.
The actions of the bolters, and other
considerations, induced Senator Aldrich
who is acting chairman of the committee
in the absence of Senator Allison, to call
a meeting Of the committee to-day. The
place of meeting was the room of the
committee on rules, and the special at
fractions to entice full attendance were
Mark Hanna and a bountiful luncheon
1t was the presence of Mark Hanna at
the meeting that gave special signif-
canoe. The Senate, by a decisive vote
had few minutes previous decided to
take up the Dingley bill for immediate
consideration.
When the steering committee assembled
| it was the one topic that was discussed
with the oysters and wine served by Sen
ator Aldrich. The events of yesterday
and to-day had demonstrated to the mem>
bers of the committee and their distin-
guished guest, that under existing condi-
tions no tariff legislation can be passed
| through the Senate, unless a free silver
rider is attached. The exhibition that
Mark Hanna witnessed in the Senate be-
fore sitting down to luncheon, convinced
| him and those members of the committee
who yesterday urged prompt action, that
no aid or comfort may be expected from
| the free silver boilers.
| After going over the situation fully, the
! committee concluded that the Dingley bill
must be allowed to slumber on the Sen
/ ate calendar until after the senatorial cleo
tons are held in those states that elect
| senators before March 4. As one Of che
members remarked: I'VE can do nothing
to carry out the Mckinley administration
| policy until we secure a Senate that will
| cooperate with the republican house.
| There are ways of securing a republican
| Senate, and the steering committee will
hold the tariff bill back until we are sure
| we can pass it"
be called upon to use the influence of the
national committee in the coming senate
rial contests that are about to take place.
Something of a political sensation was
produced in the Senate to-day
! by a motion made by the pop
ulist senator from Nebraska, Mr.. Allen,
to take up the Dngiey bill for action so
as, he said, to preclude the necessity for
an extra session.
Objection was made by Mr.. Aldrich. rep,
| of Rhode Island, in the phrase: Let It
go over
Mr.. Allen moved that the bill be taken
up. Notwithstanding the objection.
Let the bill be read said Mr.. Platt,
$50 that the Senate may know what it is
| voting upon"
The bill was thereupon read in full. with
| the free silver substitute reported for it
at the last session from the finance COM
mittee
After the reading Mr. Aldrich withdrew
his objection to taking up the bill, and
| the objection was renewed by MIR. Palmer
| dem, of Illinois
Mr. Allen desired to make a brief state
ment, but objection was made, and the
| Senate proceeded to vote by yeas and
nays on the motion to take up the bill.
The vote in detail was as follows:
! Yeas-Messrs. Aldrich, Allen, Butler
Cameron, Chandler, Clark, Davis, Elkins
Frye, Gallinger, Gear, Gordon, Hale, Hans
brough, Hoar, Kyle, Lodge Mcmillan,
| Mitchell of Oregon, Morgan, Morrill,. Muir
ply, Nelson, PETER, Perkins, Pettigrew,
Platt, Pritchard. Pugh, Quay, Roach,
Sherman Smith, Stewart and Walcott-S5
Nays-Messrs. Baker, Blackburn, Blan-
chard, Cannon, Carter, Daniel, Dubois,
Faulkner, Gibson, German, Harris Hill,
Jones of Arkansas, Mantle. Martin, Mills,
Palmer Pasco, Turpie, Vests and Walth-
all-21.
The bill having been taken up, Mr.. AL
drich moved that the bill be recommitted
to the committee on finance, with instruc-
tions to report it back without amendment.
Mr.. Allen opposed the motion.
Mr.. Aldrich moved that the bill be re-
committed to the finance committee, with
instructions to report back without
amendment
Mr.. Harris declared his opposition to the
instructions, and after some discussion,
Mr. Aldrich withdrew that part Of his
motion.
Mr. Chandler, rep, of New Hampshire,
reminded Mr. Allen that the people had
decided in the recent election that they
would not have the free coinage of silver
alone, and said that II the free silver
substitute were voted down, the Senate
could go on and act on the Dingley bill
proper. He asked whethe Mr.. Allen
would give his vote for the bill without
the free silver amendment. Would he
help to remove the obstruction to the pas
sage of the bill2
Mr.. Alien denied having said that ne
would help to remove any obstruction TO
the passage Of the Dingey bill. He had
said that so far as he was concerned no
obstruction should be placed In its way.
He did not regard the question of free
silver as having been settled at the last
election 1t was a very important ques-
ton and had had 5000, 300
votes in Its favor. He did
not believe that the country could
receive relief from any kind of a tariff
act. Prosperity could not be brought 10
the country by increasing the burdens OF
taxation on articles which the people con.
81. rl,ft 4