New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-30
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TUMULT IN THE HOUSE.
THE MOST EXCITING TARIFF DEBATE
OF THE SESSION.
DEMOCRATS CONTINUE THEIR DrLAToRY rAcr10
AND CAUSE AN OUTBREAK BY Mr.. JOHN
soN-Two MASSACHUSETTS, REPUBLr-
CANS KICK OVER THE TRACES.

Washington. March c9-This was by far the
most exciting day the House has witnessed
since the tariff debate began. The proceedings
throughout were Of lively order and several
times bordered on the sensational. The Demo
Gratis blocked proceedings in the first instance
until quorum had appeared. and then by q
strategic movement forced a meeting OF the
Ways and Means Committee while the House
was considering the bill. The majority members
Of the committee had agreed on some amend
ments which they desired to offer without the
formality Of a meeting of the full committee
Mr.. Bailey. the Opposition leader. said the mi.
nority woull agree to this II assurances were
given that they could offer two amendments
When the majority ascertaned. however. that
one Of these amendments aimed at the steel
rail pool and the other to strike out the differ
ential on refined sugar, they declined the pro-
posal.
Mr. Johnson Of Indiana. grew so obstreperous
at ono stage Of the proceedings In his efforts to
check irrelevant debate that the Speaker had to
be summoned to the chair to restore order.
But by far the most interesting and important
feature OF the day occurred toward the close Of
the session. when Mr.. Call and Mr.. Lowering.
two Massachusetts Republicans. successfully as
saulted the bill. the former charging that the
duties were higher than were necessary. and the
latter that the manufacturers wanted a bill that
would live we don't want to be stranged by
free trade" said he: neither do want to be
smothered by protection This was the first
break over the party traces and led TO some plain
words from the Republican leaders.
Mr. Russell. OF Connecticut. one OF the members
OF the WAYS and Means Committee poured hot
shot into the camp Of the Massachusetts dissent
ers, exposing the fact in the course OF his re-
marks that Mr. lowering who is a cotton manu-
facturer. had asked for increases on the finer
grades Of cotton yarns Mr. Walker. Of Massa-
chusetts, also attacked the position of his coli
leagues. and the extraordinary discussion as Mr..
Dingley termed it, drew from the majority leader
a vigorous statement concerning the cotton and
wooen schedules.
Not a line OF the bill read to-day the
Ways and Means Committee retaining the floor
throughout the day with amendments. About
twenty Of these were offered and adopted. Most
of them were not of great importance. The most
important placed copper the free list.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL
When the House met at 10 o'clock to-day the op-
ponents OF the Tariff bill resumed their policy Of
delaying and embarrassing the majority. The
leaders both sides in their places. but therc
were not over fifty members the floor The
Democrats. after hurried consultation. decided
reSpOnslOuty
for ali proceedings and furnish quorum. A letter
had been sent TO all the majority members by the
chairman OF the Republican caucus. Mr. Crosvenor,
impressing upon them the importance OF being
present but II had evidently faisd 10 have it's de-
sired effect. In pursuance OF the plan decided upon
AIR. Richardson Dem.. Tenn objected to the ap-
proval OF the journal In the absence OF quorum.
The House standsti No motion being
forthcoming from the majority side. Mr.. Richard.
son moved recess for an hour. The gentleman
is aware that that motion is not in order In the
absence of quorum" observed the Speaker, drty.
THE Chair suggests that a motion to adjourn
would be In order"
I'm accordance with the suggestion OF the Chair
said Mr. Richardson. smiling. as he seized the
words Of the Speaker. Il move an adjournment"
But the Chair did not suggest a motion TO ad-
journ." returned the Speaker promptly. He simply
suggested motion that would be in order. Does
the gentleman from Tennessee desire TO make that
notion" he inquired bandly.
This placed the Tennessee the defensive.
and he replied that he had no desire 10 take
charge. Let the other side work out It's own
puzzle" said he.
There is no puzzle" remarked the Speaker. 'ex-
cept the Incidence OF members"
I'VE have as many present this side the
majority has," observed Mr.. Richardson.
At this point Mr.. Dingey came forward and
moved the approval OF the Journal The House
rapidly filled while the vote being taken. but
the announcement Of the vote-I61 to 2-showed SIX
teen less than quorum. Mr. Richardson suggest
ed that the oath be administered TO Messrs Jones
Dem. Va and Kleberg Dem. Tex who were
present and who had not yet been sworn In. Tho
House is sadly in need Of quorum" said he
The Speaker replied tha. the rules OF the House
required a call of the House. but the members
could be sworn in by unanimous consent. There
was no objection and the oath administered.
after which under the rules there call Of
the House. The rollcall resulted 222 TO 1. and nina
present but not voting
REPROvED BY THE SPEAKER
The Speaker after announcing the result gently
the members He called attention 10 tho
fact that an hour and twelve minutes had been
wasted and requested all members to he present
hereafter, II not inconsistent with their private
business. The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole and resumed the consideration OF the
Tariff bill
Mr. Dingley announced that the Ways and Means
Committee had several amendments TO offer. The
first Increased the rate on geatne and glue pre-
pared from fsh-bladders valued at not above 10
cents per pound from to pa cents. The second
placed a duty of 81 per ton on bauxte not refined.
In answer TO question by Mr. Wheeler Den-,
Ala) Mr.. Grosvenor replied that strong appeal
had come up from Georgia and Alabama for pro-
lection to this article There deposits
In those two States. sufficient to supply the world.
II the article from which alum. alumina and
aluminium were made. Bauxte was now import.
ed from France. This protection designed to
equaze conditions. 1t was product OF the South
that could be made exceedingly valuable. Mr..
Grosvenor had walked over to the Democratic side
while he was talking.
Mr.. Walker (Rcp.. Mass) suggested tha; II he
would resume his place on the Republican side
members could hear better
II am here to call sinners 10 repentance" saN
Mr.. Grosvenor. while the Republicans laughed
Then turn your face TO the other side. shoutsd
Mr. McMillin.
Mr.. Dockery sad this was a novel proposition In
with protection Heretofore. he sad
was accorded TO equalIze labcr condi-
lions: now for the first time II proposed %
squalize freight rates.
Mr. Dalzell denied that any new doctrine was IN