The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-30

UPON THEIR DUTIES.
Washington, March 90 Mr. Richard
prevail OF the Journal or the transaction
of business when the House was called to
order to- day because of the absence of n
quorum. a calf of the roll sustained
Mr.. Richardson.
The second roll call showed the presence
OF q quorum and ut 1l:l0 the Journal
was approved and the reading of the tariff
bill resumed. In making the announce.
ment OF the vote, Speaker Reed said:
1.-The chair hopes that membems will
find it convenient with their private en-
ga9ements 70 he present when the House
meets. We have already lost an hour
and ten minutes day because membres
have not been attentive to their duties -
The rumored dissatisfaction among
Republican members of the House with
the schedules. of the tariff bill was man
ifested to-day when Mccall and Lowering,
of massachusetts, protested against the
high rates of duty imposed in the wooden
and cotton schedules The former said
that it was the wooden schedule in the
Mckinley bill that had caused the reac.
tion against the protective'systeH, result.
ing in the loss to the Republicans of the
House. the Senate and the Presidency.
Mr.. Lowering declared that the manu-.
facturers of Massachusetts did not want
the high rates, hut asked tariff that
would.stand. They believed in protec-
ton. but did not want to he smothered in
its embrace.
The statements CT these mem hers were
warmly applauded by the Democrats.
The provisions of the bill were defended
by Grosvenor, of Ohio, Russell, of Con-
necticut, and Dingley, Of Maine The
former said the wooden schedule was n
reproduction OF that of the Mckinley
law, under the operation of which that
Industry had it's highest degree of pros.
perity.
Mr.. Russell called attention to the fact
that the committee on ways and means
had agreed to increase the duty on combed
cotton Mt the request of Mr. Lowering,
and he thought it came with bad grace
from the gentleman from Massachusetts
to criticise the high rates of luty.
Mr.. Dingley said that no one, not even
the critics themselves, belle we'd that the
cotton industry could thrive without the
duties carried in the bill
Another Republican, Mr.. johnson, of
Indiana, wanted to amend some schedules
which he said were not likely to be reach
ed because of the irrevelant definite. He
so persisted in talking despite the COM
mands of the chairman, Mr.. Sherman, of
New York, that the committee rose and
the chairman reported that the commit.
tee did so in order that..the rules of the
House might be enforced. The Speaker
SAID irrevelant debate was inevitable and
that tue basis of order was the retogni-
ton of the authority OF the presiding
officer. Mr.. johnson ..disclaimed any in.
tention Of being unruly and without spe-
cific action the House went into comm it.
tee again.
Members of the committee on ways and
means, under the provisions of the spe-
clal order, took control of the bill and no
amendments were offered during the day,
except those that had been acted upon by
them The changes were generally of
slight Importance.
At 500 the committee rose and the
House passed the Senate joint resolution
making Immediately available $780, 900
for the protection of the lower mississippi,
with an amendment carrying some Of the
more pressing items in the deficiency bill
passed week before last.
THE House at j:25 adjourned.