The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-18
FOUR TARIFF BATTLES
Amos }. Cummings Describes Debates an
Tariffs In Which He Has Participated.
MILLS, M'kINLEY, WILSON, DlRGlEY,
The Battles Occur Pretty Regularity
and HIVE Generally Rec0me HIS.
tortc-Per Pictures OF the Greater
Leaders md I>rnninttc Spcctacles-
Incidents ana Phrases.
IYritten for The V;rginian by the Hon.
Amos J. Cumm!ngs)

(TYrltten for The Virginian by the Hon.
Amos J. Cumm!ngs)
Washington, April IS, 1897.
. The sen Of oratory in the House Is
stiled. The sharp raps of the gavel by
James S. Sherman In committee OF the
whole on the state Of the Union still
echo in the south wing Of the Capitol;
but the waves Of debate are no longer
white capped with eloquence, and the
roaring of the surf Of recrimination has
ceased. Even the froth along the shore
has evaporated. The tariff bill has
been sent to the Senate, and the House,
with folded arms, basks upon the broad
bosom Of Speaker Reed, piacidly await
ing Its action.
These tariff tempests ale periodical.
In ten years service have been caught
In four Of them. AS compared with it's
predecessors, the Dingley storm was
mid indeed. The Sky looked blacker
wind. hut the Storm itself was by no
means IS severe as these that preceded
1T. To be sure, the waves banked high.
and the surf was rampant, noiEy and
frothy, but beyond this and the lumber
and wooden schedules there was very
little 10 attract public attention.
THE MILLS DEBATE.
How vivid are the scenes attendant
upon the Mills bill years ago 1t was a
storm created by President elected by
Democrats, who desired an issue IN seek
ing a second term. He got the iEEue and
lost the lection. The glad.o.ors in the
House then were Roger Q. Mills, pitted
Turner OF Georgia rs antagonist OF
Thomas B. Reed. General debate last
ed twenty-three days, including eight
evening sessions. The reading Of the
bill by paragraphs for amendments con-
sumed twenty-cight days more. 1t was
n ff,11f or 10,
Republican. There was no chance what
ever for the passage Of the bill in both
houses OF Congress. A political issue
was sought. and the bill wa framed TO
meet it. 1t was framed, however, in
accordance with the wishes of the ma
Democratic caucuses were held.
In these caucuses each Congressman
made an appeal 20 his fellows for pro-
lection to the industries Of his own dis
tict. If the caucus granted what he
wanted the amendment was incorpora-
ted in the bill. and that ended It. When
the bill went to the Senate, however,
into It's waste basket. and sent back q
clean-cut Republican measure. This
went to the Ways and Means Commit
tee, and no further action was taken.
The issue sought was found, and the
Democratic party was defeated.
a SECOND TARIFF STORM.
Then came second tariff storm. The
succeeding Congress was Republican in
both branches, a Republican President
had supplanted Grover Cleveland. The
introduction Of the Mckinley bill
promptly followed. The Ways and
Means Committee, with William Nc
Kinley as chairman. gave hearings for
weeks to all who desired them. The
Oh was not framed after the manner
OF the Mills bill. There was no Repub-
lican caucus to which dlsgruntled mem
bers could appeal,
;. General discussion in the House was
limited to four days and three nights.
There was great forensic contest, in
which Mckinley, Carlisle, Reed, Mis-.
Burrows and Crisp partic:pa led. The
reading Of the bill for amendment occu-
pied nearly eight days. 1t was the flnt
Dill that was passed under a special
order from the Committee on Rules.
the vote was taken at the specified
hour. The special order was so I'M
ments authorized by the Ways and
Means Committee The Senate after
wards Incorporated many OF these
amendments In the bill. and It became
law. The bill afterwards became a
political Issue. and the Republican party
met its defeat on the issue.
THE WILSON BILL.
- ool SSaiS ciapSeu anu GTFOVer CleFe-
land was again President Of the United
states HIS election brought before the
blouse new tariff bill, known as the
Wilson bill. It did not embody the
recommendations made by the Demo-
cratic National convention.
It was woven deftly with q few hear
angs. No bill was ever surrounded with
more mystery. No caucuses were held,
and the advice of Democratic members
as to the industrial interests in their
olstricts was neither sought nor desired
no one aside from the Weys and Means
committee was allowed to offer an
amendment while the bill was before
the House. Like It's predecessor, the
mckinley bill. 1t came before the House
nnder special order from the Commit
Tee on Rules. General debate was limit
ed TO three days. including night ses-
S'ons. Its consideration by paragraphs
lasted twenty days. The closing scenes
were dramatic and memorable. Reed
and Wilson wound up the debate in
speeches remarkable for power and in
tens:ty. Seventeen members in the
House voted against the measure, some
because on Income tax was saddled
upon 1t and others because they had
had no opportunity to offer amendments
to It. The Senate remodled the b.Il min
1t was utterly misshapen.
When 1t returned to the House II was
barely recognizable The House took II
as 1t was, plumbers and all, because the
appointment Of conference commit
tee would have certainly resulted in fail
tEa 80 paaa any bill whatever.
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