The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-08
The Senate Appoints a Confer.
ence Committee n
Immediately After the Final
Vote on the Tariff Bill.
w. A. HARRIS VOTED Nc
No Populist Voted Aye, and But
One Democrat.
Two Silver Republicans, Jones
...-.. and Mantle, Say Aye.

Washington, July S-By the decisive
vote of SO to % the tariff bill was pass
ed in the senate shortly before o'clock
yesterday. The elimination of the long
and arduous struggle had excited the
keenest interest and the floor and the
galleries of the senate chamber We're
crowded by those anxious to witness
the closing scene. Speaker Reed, Chair
man Dingley and many of the members
of the house of representa- tiveS were in
the rear area while every seat in the
galleries, save those reserved for for
eign representatives was occupied. The
main interest centered in the dna1 vote,
and aside from this there was little of
dramatic character in the debate. The
early part of the day was spent on
amendments of comparatively minor
Importance, the debate branching into
antitrust channels. By o'clock the
senators began manifeSting their i'm
patience by calls for vote vote" and
soon thereafter the last amendment was
disposed of and the final vote began
There were many interruptions as pairs
were arranged, and then, at 4:55 o'clock
the vice president arose and announced
the passage of the bill, yeas 80; nays
%. There was no demonstration, but a
few sea tered handclaps were given as
the crowds disappeared.
An analysis of the final vote shows
that the affirma tive was cast by 35 Re
pubIicans, two silver Republicans tones
Of Nevada, and Mantle and one Demo-
L, g.
was cast by 25 Democrats, Populists,
Harris of Kansas and Turner and one
silver Republican, Cannon. Total %.
Eight Republicans were paired for the
The senators present not voting were
Allen Butler, Heoitfeld, Kyle and
Stewart Teller and Pettigrew.
Following the passage of the bill a
resolution was adopted asking for
conference and Senators Allison, AL
drich, Plat Comm; Burrows. Jones.
CNev.); Vest, Jones, CArk.), and White
were named as conferees on the part of
the senate.
The tariff debate began May 25, on
which day Mr.. Aldrich, in behalf of the
finance committee. made the opening
statement on the bill. The actual con-
sidera ton of the bill began the next
day, May 26. The debate has been con-
tinuous since, covering six weeks and
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 i'm
portance, which must be reconciled be-
tween the two branches of congress.
During the debate yesterday Mr.. Stew
art, CNev), proposed an amendment
limiting the treasury reserve to $780,
0O0, 600 and providing that when an ex-
cess of IS, 600, 600 was reached then the
secretary of the treasury shall purchase
and retire United States bonds to the
extent of the excess of $100 000, 900. He
spoke at length against the piling up of
surplus, drawing no interest while
bonds were outstanding, drawing inter-
est.
Mr.. Morgan offered the amendment
making combinations among dealers in
cattle or swine engaged in interstate
commerce to increase or depress the
price thereof, criminal and punishable
81
Mr.. Caffery moved to strike out the
countervailing duty on sugar, but final
ly withdrew it, as technically out of or
der Mr.. Lindsay moved to place tax
on wood alcohol equal to half the pres
ent tax on grain alcohol but after a
brief debate the motion failed, 25 to "a.
Mr.. Allen moved an amendment pro-
viding that all surplus funds in the
treasury should be used for the re
demption of the interest bearing debt.
Lost, 26 to 50.
Another amendment offered by him,
directed at trusts, providing for the
of tax of Is per cent on the
products of all trusts, was also lost,
25 to SO.
Mr.. Allen offered another amendment
directing the secretary of the treasury
to send annual reports to congress as
to the extent which trusts and conlbi-
nations produce or control articles re-
ceiving the benefits of the tariff. Lost,
25 to 81.
The monotony of amendments and
roll calls was broken by Mr.. Teller who
took the floor to state his attitude on
the bill. He had intended, he said, to
q ddress the senate at some length
a gainst the bill but had concluded that
it was best to allow the measure to go
into conference and discuss 1t during
the conference. He renewed his loyal
ty TO the doctrine of protection and de-
clared that had the bill been shaped on
protective or Republican lines he would
have voted for it, although he did not
believe it could bring prosperity.
But careful examination of the
measure convinced him that the bill
should not pass.
At p. m. the senate held an execu-
tive session and then adini1rnede