The record-union., 1897-03-27
All Amendments Offered by Democrats
Meet With Defeat.
The Debate on the Measure Covers
Wide Range of Political Topics,
Which at Times Was Very Inter-
esting-Civil Service the Topic OF
Discussion in the Senate.

iff bill was thrown open LOT aillehu-
ment under the fiveminute rule IN the
House to-day. Seven weary hours or
work only served to dispose OF nine
pages of the 162 pages of the bill. All
the amendments offered by the Demo-
Gratis were rejected. Three slight
amendments by the committee were
adopted and also an amendment Of
fered by Mahaney (R) of New York,
to increase the duty on white lead from
215 cents to 3 cents per pound. the
rate in the Act of 1890. The rate Of
the present duty is IL cents. Mahaney
said the increase was asked for by
concern which was independent of the
lead trust. 1t was adopted by strict
party vote. The discussion covered a
wide range of political topics, and at
times was interesting.
By far the most important feature of
the day was the attempt of Dockery
of Missouri, Cooper of Texas and 9TH
ers, backed by the entire opposition, to
secure a vote on an amendment offer
ed in a multitude of forms, which pro-
vided that in case it should be shown
to the satisfaction of the President
that any article made dutiable by the
bination, the duty upon such articles
should be suspended. Dingley made
the point of order that the amendment
was not germane to the dutiable list,
and would not be in order Until the
free list was reached. For almost three
hours this point of order was fought
over, and made the subject of crimina-
tions and recriminations. The Demo-
A.
was ruled out it would never be voted
upon. as the free list, in all proba-
bility, would not be reached before the
final vote was taken. The chair sus-
tanned the point of order An appeal
was taken, but the chair was sustain
ed by a strict party vote, 15S to 104.
Lanham (Dem.) of Pennsylvania, as
soon as the enacting clause was read,
moved to strike it out.
Sherman Rep) of New York, in the
chair, ruled the motion out of order.
DOckery (Dem) of Missouri offered
the first amendment. 1t was in the ma
ture of a proviso added to the enacting
clause that whenever it was shown to
the satisfaction of the President that
there was a trust or combination to
control the price Of any article on the
dutiable list, the duty on such article
should be suspended.
Dingley made the point of order that
the amendment in effect was as TO the
free list, and as the House was now
considering the dutiable list, it was not
in order.
L have great respect for the parlia-
mentary knowledge of the gentleman
from Maine" said Dockery, "but as it is
probable the free list will never be
reached, l hope it will be held in order
now" 0aughter)
Cooper Dem) of Texas offered a sub
stitute for Dockery's amendment in
substance TO accomplish the same pur-
pose but containing the definition Of
trust and a provision for the termina-
tion of its existence by the court. IF
you are so anxious to incorporate such
a provision as this in this bill, why did
you not insert it in the present law?"
asked Tawney (Rep) of Minnesota.
Trusts had not gone quite so far
then" replied Richardson Dem) of
Tennessee amid laughter. He chal-
lenged the other side who ostensibly
opposed trusts to aid in the adoption of
the amnedment.
L never before said he, heard such
insincere objections to a just amend
ment." A long debate on the point of
order followed. Bailey made an ex-
tended argument appealing to the ma
jority to aid in putting down these COM
binations which ''preyed upon the ener-
gies of the people"
Hepburn CRepD of Iowa raised a
laugh on the Democratic side by saying
that this amendment, if adopted, would
defeat the purpose Of the bill.
Don't laugh" he shouted, waving
his hand. He went on to explain how
easy it would be for a few men who
to effect a combination to raise the
price of sugar and WOOL and thus un-
der amendment force these articles to
the free list.
Grosvenor CRep) of Ohio declared
there never was a time when the trusts
had the Government and the people by
she throat as they had had them the
last four years.
The gentleman says the Democracy
has been the protector of trusts" in
terrupted Terry CDem) of Arkansas.
"Can he name the trust in the last cam
paign which was not on the side of
Mckinley"
Il can"
Name them" shouted the Demo-
Gratis
The trusts" replied Grosvenor,
TSuE VyCOD