Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-03-30
55th CONGRESS.
Democrats Attempt to Delay
Progress on Tariff Bill.
BY Dilatory Measures Prevent Head
way Beyond Amendments.
Johnson Of Indiana Has TO Be Gained Down
by The Speaker.

Tar the most exciting Gay the House
has witnessed since the tariff debate
began. The proceedings throughout
were Of a lively order and several times
bordered on the sensational. The Dem
ocrats blocked proceedings in the frs
instance until quorum had appeared
and thereby a strategic movement
forced meeting of the ways and
means committee while the House was
considering the bill Not line of the
bin was read. today. the committee or
ways and means retaining the flooi
throughout the day with committee
amendments. About 20 OF these were
offered and adopted. Most of then
We're not of great Importance. The
most important placed copper on the
free list
When the House met, at 10 o'clock. to
day, the opposition to the tariff bill re-
,sumed their policy of delaying and en-
-carrassing the majority. No motion be-
ing forthcoming for the majority side
Richardson moved n recess for one hour
The gentleman is aware that that mo-
tion Is not in order in the absence of a
quorum, observed the Speaker.
Dingiey then came forward and moved
the approval of the journal. The an
nouncement Of the vote, l6l to 2 showed
l5 less than a quorum. Under the rules
there was a call for the House. resulting
ODD to ], and none present but not voting
The Speaker, after announcing the result
gently reproved the members.
The House then went into committee OF
the whole and resumed the consideration
of the tariff bill. Amendments were soon
adopted Increasing the rate on common
yellow and brown earthenware. etc.
from 20 to % per cent. ad valorem.
Johnson. Rep. of Indiana. entered an
exceedingly vigorous protest against ths
frrevelant discussion with which the time
OF the House was taken up. and after
Sherman of New York. who was in the
chair. had ruled him out of order. ne con-
tinued 10 protest. Then the Chair or.
dered him TO take his seat. and Sherman
pounded with his gavel until he was red
in the face. Twenty times he admonisheu
the irate 1ndianan to take his seat. but
the latter continued his annoyance. When
Johnson took his seat. the Chair ordered
the stenographers to omit ms remarks
from Record.
Quigg, Rep. of New York. then sent to
the clerks desk another clipping from a
newspaper to be read.
Johnson again jumped to his feet and
protested. Again he was ordered to take
mis- seat He refused to do so. continuing
IN an impassioned way to denounce irrev-
elant discussion.
Sherman announced that the committe1
would rise to report the disorder to the
House. The Speaker was hurriedly sum-
moned. johnson continued to stand def
burst open and lne large form of the
Speaker came into view. His face was
flushed. AS he appeared on the scene.
Johnson quickly dropped down into his
seat.
The Speaker looked toward johnson,
who arose and in calm tones said he de-
sired TO get on with the bill. so that he
would have an opportunity to offer some
amendments towards the close. He did
not want the bill sent TO the Senate a
crude measure. for" said he. lit has
been SO characterized by the press and
the public
The Speaker replied in a conciliatory
spirit. No matter what the provision for
such n protest, he said. the gentleman
from Indiana could but agree that it was
the first duty Of a member to obey the
directions of the presiding officer. He
then made a few observations on the sit
ua ation which restored general humor.
He said he knew there was a great deal
of irrevelant discussion. He had obser-
we'd it for well nigh 70 years. and while
it seemed to be "A great waste of time a
new departure in this regard would re-
Guire the. most cordial support of all Of
the members. Time was wasted in all
these debates and If we had a month on
the bin there would be the same kind of
debate.
Il speak of a result of experience" said
the Speaker. amid laughter" | am sorry
IL is So We may not reach some parts
Of the bill but we must strive not fer an
ideal condition, but to do the best we
td1i. ttNcDeHcU lauEnteft.
The House then went back into com
mittee and proceeded with the same
character of debate.
committee amendment adding look
ing glass plates to the varieties of glass
duty at 10 per cent. ad valorem. was
adopted and Dalze!l offered an amendment
which upon inquiry by Bailey proved not
10 have been agreed to in regular meet
Bailey intinlated that the minority would
not raise any objection to such course
If they were permitted to offer two
amendments. One Of these was in regard
to the diiierential duty on sugar and the
other amendment aimed, as Bailey said.
at the steel rail trust.
Dingley refused to agree to such q pro-
position Bailey objected to the consid-
GRAFTON of the amendment and his point
Of order was sustained.
The proviso, placing. duty of So per
cent. on seamless steel or iron to be used
for bicycles was stricken out.
An amendment offered by Wheeler, was
adopted, reducing the rate on malt ex-
tract from 25 to 20 cents per gallon.
The paragraph relating to trees, nur-
sery stock, etc., was recast.
IN appeal for the free admission of books
and works of art. McCaN was the first
Republican to sap the bill in the face.
He expressed the opinion that the duties
mentioned wool.
Grosvenor expressed regret that a rep
'esentative of the wooden interests should
have criticized the duty on wool, mas
much as the duties on Syoolens We're far
,bOve" in ad valorem, the duties on any
wool.
Lowering. Rep. of Massachusetts, a
arge manufacturer. followed McCalPs
that the manufacturers of
New England did not want the duties in
he cotton and woolen schedules in the
dill, neither the compensatory nor the
straight duties. I'VE want a tariff law
hat will live and stand" said he.
Russell, Rep, of Connecticut. called at
ention to the then pending amendment
o change the phrase of the cotton yarn
schedule to that of the present law.
IN all candor and kindness, l ask if il
loes not come with poor grace with him
o ask for this provision and then de-
.lare against the bill. The committee is
rot anxious to press this amendment. We
ire ready to leave it to him"
At this point. Dingley took the floor.
t was the unanimous Testimony of the
.otton manufacturers. he stated that
hey could maintain their own in the
of the finer goods without
he duties in this bill. The Wilson tariff
hey testified furnished adequate protec-
ion to the cOarser goods which were be-
ng manufactured in the South. But the
Iew England manufacturers including
dr. Lowering. testified to the necessity
or these increases.
II take it, said he that the gentleman
las not asked for more than is necessary
lie does not mean to say that this duty
rill smother the cotton manufacturers
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