Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-08
55th CONGRESS.
The Tariff Bill Passed BY
Vote Of SO TO q.
Will Now Go to Conference, Senate
Confefees Already Appointed.
McMillin's Little Surprise IN House Neatly
Disposed Of BY Speaker.

Washington, July by the decisiy.
vote Of 50 to %, the tariff bill was
passed in the Senate, shortly before .
o'clock today. The elimination Of tn.
long and arduous struggle had excited
the keenest interest and the floor ant
galleries of the Senate chamber were
crowded by those anxious to witness
the closing scene. Speaker Reed
Chairman Dingley and many of tn.
members Of the House of Representa-.
tives were in the representatives gal.
lery, while every seat in the galleries
save those reserved for foreign repre-.
sentatives were occupied.
The main interest centered In .ne
final vote and aside from this there was
little of dramatic character in the de.
bate. The early part of the day wa.
spent on amendments of comparatively
minor Importance, the debate branch.
ing into financial and antitrust chan
nels.
BY o'clock the senators began man.
ifesting their impatience by calls fol
Vote, vote and soon thereafter this
last amendment was disposed Of an.
the final vote began.
There We're many interruptions a
pairs were arranged, and then at 4.5;
o'clock the Vice President arose AMI
announced the passage of the bill,
Yeas. IS; nays. IS. There was no dem
onstratiOn. but a few scattered hand
claps were given as the crowds dis.
persed.
An analysis of the finnl vote shows that
the affirmative vote was east by 81 Re
publicans. Jones of Nevada, and Mantle
and one Democrat. McEnery. Total. 3S
The negative vote was cast by . Demo.
crafts two Populists, Harris of Kansas and
Turner. and one Silver Republican. Can
non. Total. IS
Eight Republicans were paired for the
bill and eight Democrats against 1t. Tho
senator's present and not voting were:
Ponulists. five. viz: Allen, Butler, Heit-
field. Kyle and Stewart: Silver Republi-
cans, two, viz: Teller and Pettigrew.
Following the passing of the bill reso-
luton was agreed to asking the House
for a conference, and Senator Allison. Al
dtich. Plat Of Connecticut. Burrows,
Jones of Nevada, Vest. Jones of Arkansas,
and White were named as conferees on
the part of the Senate.
The tariff debate began on May Is. on
finance committee. made the opening
statement on the bill. The actual con-
sidcration of the bill began the next day.
May &, when schedule a. relating to
been continuous SINCE then, covering six
weeks and one day.
1t has been notable in some respects,
although 1t has lacked many of the dra-
matic and oratoricai features marking
past debates. From the outset the advo-
Gates of the bill refrained from set
speeches. and the discussion was mar
rowed to a consideration of rates and
schedules. rather than general principles.
Mr.. Aldrich's illness took him from the
chamber after the first day and since
then the bin has been In the immediate
charge of Mr.. Allison. The opposition has
been directed in the main by MIR. Jones
of Arkansas. and Mr.. Vest of Missouri.
while Senators White. Caffery, Gray and
Allen have frequently figured in the de-
bate.
The bill as it goes back to the House.
re-enacts the antitrust sections of the
Wilson act, while the reciprocity and re-
taliatory provisions are substitutes for
those of the House.
One of the most important new provi-
sions added by the Senate Is that placing
a stamp tax on bonds, debentures and
certificates of stocks.
Aside from these more important
changes. the bill as 1t goes back to the
House has S74 amendments of various de-
grees of Importance. which must be re-
coHciled between the two branches of
Congress.