The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-18

succeeding Congress was Republican IN
both branches. "A Republican President
had supplanted Grover Cleveland. Inc
introduction Of the Mckinley bill prompt
" followed. The ways and means COM
mittee. with William Mckinley az chair
man, gave hearings for weeks TO all who
desired them. The bill was not framed
after the manner Of the Mills bill There
was no Republican caucus TO which dis
gruntled members could appeal
General discussion in the House was
limited to four days and three nights.
There was a great forensic contest. IA
which Mckinley. Carlisle, Reed, NILS.
Burrows and Crisp participated. Tho
reading of the bin for amendment occu-
pied nearly eight days. Ii was the first
bin that was passed under special order
from the committee on rules. The vote
was taken at the specified hour. The spe-
cial order was so imperative that IT shut
out over 200 amendments authorized ny
tho ways and means committee. me
Senate afterward Incorporated many OF
these amendments I'm the bill, and IL be-
came a law The bin aftorward became a
political issue. and the Republican party
met its defeat on the issue.
THE WILSON BILL.
-Four years elapsed. and Grover Clevc-
land was again President Of the United
States. His election brought before the
House a new tariff bill. known as the
Wilson bill. II did not embody the re-
Communications made by the national
Democratic convention.
IL was woven deity and with few hear
ings No bill was ever surrounded with
more mystery. No caucuses were held.
and the advice Of Democratic members
as 10 the industrial interests in their dis
rn.f "a. afH rod
No one aside from the ways and means
committee was allowed TO offer an
amendment while the bill was before the
House Like its predecessor; the McKin-
lev bill, Il came before the House under
"a. special order from the committee on
rules. General debate was limited TO
three days. including night sessions. It's
consideration by paragraphs lasted TWEEN
" DAYS. The closing scenes were drama
tic and memorable. Reed and Wilson
wound up the debate I'm speeches remark
able for power and intensity. Seventeen
Democrats In the House voted against
the measure some because an income tax
was saddled upon IL and others because
they had had no opportunity 90 offer
amendments. The Senate remodeled the
bill until il was utterly misshapen.
When II was returned to the House it
was barely recognizable The House took
IL as IL was. blunders and all. because the
appointment OF a conference committee
would have certainly resulted In failure TO
pass any bin whatever.
Like the Mckinley bill the Wilson bill
became a political issue. II was not bin
for revenue only. and 10 did not provide
sufficient revenue TO run the government
1t led the Democratic party anew TO de-
feat. The people expressed their opinion
concerning II when they elected William
Mckinley. the author OF the bin passed
four years before. 10 tho presidency. With
his Inauguration and an extra session tho
Dingiey bill has gestated In the House
and has been sent 10 the Senate. 1t, Ike
the Mckinley and the Wilson bills. came
before the House under a special order
from the committee on rules.
DlNGLEY BILL.
Limited hearings were given. but no