Evening star., 1897-03-31

said. two questions were involved its ex-
pediency and its wisdom.
The constitutional limitation was that
Congress should have no right to pass a
bill of attainder or an ex post facto law.
and section 10 provided that no state
should pass an ex post facto law or law
tmpairing the obligations of contracts 1t
was plain tha; the Constitution intended TO
deny this right to the states and by impli-
cation retain It in Congress.
Mr. Richardson's Contention.
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn) contended that
the Supreme Court decision in the case in
volving the Wilson law. in which the opin-
ion of the Supreme Court was delivered
by Chief Justice Fuller. decided exactly
contrary TO the contention of Mr. Gros-
venOr
Mr. Grosvenor replied that there were so
few reductions that this would make little
difference. although In such cases should
be refunded.
Mr. Greene CNeb) said that 1t was mere
ly d common sense statement that two
laws could not be in effect at the same
time This amendment is attempt TO
repeal the Wilson law before the Dingley
law Is enacted" he said. The Supreme
Court had decided in the case quoted that
this could not be done.
IF you going to make this law take
effect tomorrow. why not say today?' de-
manded Mr.. Bland MOI 'or why not the
day the Mckinley law was repealed?''
The real purpose. he added. was to check
all imports SO long as the bill was pending
before Congress. if that should be until
next March.
Mr.. Berry KyD was protesting against
the indecent haste" with which the ways
and means committee proposed to put its
hi into effect. when Mr.. Steele Qnd.) re-
torted We doing the same thing you
did Oh whisky in the Wilson bill"
The debate on the amendment was con-
Cluded by Mr.. Bailey. who said Mr. Gros-
venOr fails to distinguish between the pow
er of Congress to pass retroactive laws and
to put two inconsistent laws in action at
the same time. The proposition of the
ways and means committee is that Congress
shall have the power to compel the people
of the United States to live at the same
time under two different and conflicting
laws. Even if by some strange decision of
IT would not be wise to exercise it. You
propose TO put the people under laws that
are yet in the unfathomable wisdom of the
United States Senate.
The Amendments Adopted.
The debate having been ended. MIR Gros-
venor proposed an amendment to the
amendment. which was that the lien ini-
posed on goods by this act imported be-
tween April 1 and the enactment of the
act should be only to the amount of the
excess OF the duties of this act over the
Wilson act.
The amendment to the amendment was
adopted. The vote was then taken by tell
erS on the original amendment, liking
April 1 the date on which the bill was
10 go into effect, and il was adopted. 150-
12O
Mr. Lanham tT,exas) said, after the an
nouncement of the resulc of the vote,
which he characterized as the ''crowning
infamy' of the bill. that he thought it an
appropriate time to move to strike out
the enacting clause.
The chair ruled that the motion was not
then in order.
The clerk resumed the reading Of the
bill. but he had not completed a single
page before motions to strike out the last
word" and the last two words Were
again forthcoming. and made the ground
OF nve-minule speeches Some of these
were fast and furious. The galleries By
this time were crowded to SuTOcdtion.
Many prominent persons were present.
Mr.. LInney On c. entertained the gal
leries with very witty speech in sup
port of the bill.
Mr. Hartman (Mont) declared that if thi.
bill became a law it would be by the CO
operation of an anti-gold standard majority
in the Senate. The silver republicans o1
the United States, he said, favored ale
quate protection. He thought some o.
the democrats had made mstage in en-
phaszing the tariff issue. 1t was not
battle of the schedules il was the bat
tie of the standards.
Mr.. Pierce CTenn.) repudated the demo
Gratis on his side who were sefishly seek
ing protection for themselves. whether /
was mica in North Carolina bauxite il
Georgia. sugar in Louisiana, or cotton
throughout the south
Mr.. VIM Alden Smith (Mich.) protested
because opportunity had not been ac
corded 10 amend in any of its schedules
Notwithstanding the assurance given a
the opening of the debate. But he wa
bill. ''e '''''''' anu ' " " "
The debate was suspended for few min
Utes. while the committee rose for the pur
pose Of allowing Mr.. King of Utah to tax
the oath OF office
Mr. Allen Airs His Views.
Mr.. Allen CNiiss.). who is denominated tn
wit of the House. made very entertaining
speech. Il have not aired my views befor
during the consideration of this bill,' he be
gen. with his inimitable drawl. "becaus
the people of the country all understood m
position and l preferred to allow member
of less prominence to exploit themselve
NaughterJ, but the country does not seer
satisfied with the character of the debat
Qaughter), and i am therefore forced fror
my modest retirement 10 take my place a
the head Of the minority" Gaughter)
He raised laugh by his reference 10 hi
mon partisan friend, Mr.. GrosvenOr," an
then. IN a more serious vein, spoke of tn
''quibbling" and lodging the republican
had indulged in relative to the trust amend
E.ents offered by the minority.
In conclusion. he stirred up a controyers
by his statement that the bill placed bint
ing tVine the free list and cotton tic
on the dutiable list But the SOUTH he saic
did not want any of the pork" all
wanted vas that the north should keep ii
hands out Of the souths pockets
Mr. DCiliver explained that there vas
Guty on binding twine as against Canad;
our only competitor in this article. Cotto
Ties had been placed on the dutiable list h
said, because 1t had been demonstrated ths
the protection of our manufactures lowere
the price of cotton ties
Nj Pierce (Mo.) confirmed Mr. Dolliver
statement.
Nr. Mites Speech.
One Of the features OF the closing hour ,
the cehate was brief speech by Mr. Whit
On. c.. the only colOred man in the Hous
IN communication OF the bill He arouse
his colleagues and the galleries to a.
plaUse by saying the southern democra
had advocated. at different times. fr.
trade free whisky, free silver. free ever,
thing except free elections and free Mi
gers. Il the name Of JppOOou of his rae
80 Per cent Of whom were laborers. he il
dorsei the bill
Mr.. Clark (SIo) said If he could nave h
way ne would pull down the custom house