The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-09
BY MAJORITY OF TEN
Tariff Bill Finally Passes the
Senate After a Debate Of
Over Six Weeks.
Two Silver Men and a Demo-
crat Vote With Republicans
for the Measure.
Goes Back to the House With
Eight Hundred Amend
mentS Attached.

WASHINGTON, July S.-By the decis.
Eve vote of 88 to %, the tariff bill was
passed in the senate shortly before 8
o'clock. The elimination of the long
and arduous struggle had excited the
keenest interest, and the floor and the
galleries of the senate chamber were
crowded BY those anxious to witness the
closing scene. Speaker Reed, Chairman
Dingley and many of the members of
the house of Representatives were in the
rear area. while every seat in the CALLER
les, save those reserved, was occupied.
The main interest conferred in the
final vote, and aside from this there was
little Of dramatic character in the de-
bate. The early part of the day was
spent on amendments of comparatively
minor Importance, the debate branching
into financial and antitrust channels.
By o'clock the senators began mani
Testing their Impotence by calls for
''vote," and soon thereafter the last
amendment was disposed of and the
final vote began. There were many in
terruptions as pairs were arranged, and
1t was 4:55 o'clock when the vice presi-
dent arose and announced the passage
Of the bill.
Analysis of the Final Vote.
An analysis Of the final vote shows
that the affirmative vote was cast by 30
Republicans, 2 Silver Republicans
Jones of Nevada and Mantle-and
Democrat - McEnery. The negative
vote was cast by 25 Democrats, Popu-
lists-Harris of Kansas and Turner
and l Silver Republican - Cannon.
Eight Republicans were paired for the
bill and Democrats against it. The
senators present and not voting were:
Populists-Allen, Butler, Heitfeld, Kyle
and Stewart; Silver Repubicans-Teller
and Pettigrew.
Following the passage of the bill
resolution was agreed to asking the
house for conference, and Senators
Allison, Aldrich, Platt Comm, Bur-
rows, Jones New, Vest, Jones (Ark.)
and White were named as conferees ON
the part of the senate.
Debate Began May 20.
The tariff debate began on May 25,
on which day Mr.. Aldrich, in behalf Of
the finance committee, made the open
ing statement on the bill. The actual
consideration of the bill began the next
day, May rs, when schedule A, relating
to chemicals, was taken up. The debate
has been continuous since then, cover
ing six weeks and one day. 1t has been
notable in some respects, although it
has lacked many of the dramatic and
oratorical features marking past de-
bates. From the outset the advocates
of the bill refrained from set speeches,
and the discussion was narrowed down
to consideration of rates and sched-
ules, rather than general principles.
Mr.. Aldrich's illness took him from the
chamber after the first day and since
then the bill has been in the immediate
charge of Mr.. Allison.
Opposition Led by Jones and Vest.
The opposition has been directed in
the main by Mr.. Jones (Ark.) and Mr..
Vest (Mo.), while Senators White, CAT
ferry, Gray and Allen have frequently
figured in the debate. The bill as it
goes back to the house re-enacts the
antitrust sections of the Wilson act,
while the reciprocity and retaliatory
provisions are substituted for those of
the house.
One Of the most important new pro-
visions added by the senate is that plac-
ing stamp tax on bonds, debentures
and certificates of stock. Aside from
these more important changes the bill
as it goes back to the house has S74
amendments of various degrees of inn
portance, which must be reconciled be-
tween the two branches of congress.