The Portland daily press., 1897-07-26
THE DINGLEY BILL Is law.
Tariff Act Passed By Both Houses
and Signed.
CONGRESS- ADJOURNED FINALLY
AT NINE 2. M. SATURDAY.

Exciting Closing Scenes of the Extra
Session-President's Message on the
Currency Question-Houses Passes
Stone Fill After Short Debate-senate
Refers All Matters To Next Session.
Washington, July 24.-The Dingley bill
is now the law of the land. The last
step necessary was taken at the White
House when the President affixed his sig
nature at 4.O4 O'Clock today. 1t had been
arranged that the President should go to
the Capitol to sign, but owing to the I'M
certainty as to the time that the bill
would be ready that plan was aban-
doned.
The members of the cabinet who are in
Washington came to the White House
about 8 80 O'Clock and assembled
with the President. Mr.. Porter,
the Presidents secretary, was in constant
communication with the Capitol by tele-
phone, SO that he was able to advise the
President promptly of the starting of the
bill from the House for the White House.
A few minutes before o'clock, Repre-
sentative Dingley appeared accompanied
by Representative Hager, chairman of the
House committee on enrolled bills. Mr..
Hager carried the tariff bill. They were
admitted at once into the presence of Mr..
Mckinley. The latter was sitting at the
long cabinet table with Secretary Gage
and Attorney General Mckenna on one
side and Postmaster General Gary and
Secretary Wilson on the other. The
President greeted Mr.. Dingley and Mr.
Hager cordially and proceeded at once to
the work of approval.
Mr.. Porter turned to the last sheet of
the bill and laid the document before the
President. He had several pens at hand,
the owners of which had begged might be
used to sign the tariff act, but Mr.. Ding
ley unexpectedly taking a case from his
pocket, produced beautiful mother-of-
pearl handled pen dainty enough for la
dies use and requested that it be used for
the signature. The President recognized
the right of Mr.. Dingley, though he
size of the pen. Dipping it deep into the
inkwel he steadily appended his sigma
ture to the bill, asked the date and wrote
July Gath approved" and the bill was
an act. There was burst of applause
from the spectators. Every one in the
room except the President was standing
and several of the spectators were nervous
AS the President dropped the pen, At
torney General McKenna glancing at the
clock on the mantle remarked: 1T is Just
four minutes past o'clock.
Then y thought suddenly occurring to
him. he added, Governor DiDgley we
stood together in this way at the sigma
ture of che Mckinley tariff act.'
HThat was at the Capitol, however, !"
replied Mr.. Dingley.
The President rose and congratulated
Mr.. Dingley on the successful ending of
mis- long task and the members of the
cabinet did likewise. Mr.. Dingley ac-
lsnoWiedged with thanks the kind words
and after carefully putting away his pen
nulgjer. left the room and the ceremony
WAS iap an end.
An analysis Of the vote shows that the
affirmative vote was cast by 81 Republi-
cans, one Democratic (McEnery), one
silver Republican (Jones of Nevada, and
enc Popuhst (Stewart.) The negative
vote WAS cast by IS Democrats and two
Populists Harris and Turner)