The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-01
TARIFF BILL PASSES.
Gets Through the House With
a Majority of IL.

publicans.
The bill was amended as agreed upon
at the conference of Republicans on
Monday night, SO as to reduce the tariff
from ~25 to Is per cent of the American
tariff and limiting it's life to two years,
and was passed by a vote of 172 yeas
to ISL nays.
Six Republicans, Ndessrs. Crumpacker
Ind.), Fletcher (Minn.), Heatwole
(Minn.), Littlefield (Me.), Loriner Qll),
and Mccall (Mass.), voted with the op-
position against the bill and four Dem
ocrats, Messrs. Davey and Meyer Qa.),
Devries (CaL), and SibleY (Pa~) voted
with the Republicans in favor of the
bill.
In addition Mr. Warner Rep., I'D,
paired against the bill with Mr.. Bou-
| telle CRep., Me.), for it.
Two other Republicans, Mr-I4ane Qa.9
and Mr.. FarriS (Ind.), were absent and
impaired. They were understood to be
against the bill.
Four Democrats who were opposed to
| the bill, Messrs. Fleming (Ga.), Small
| On. c., Smith (Ky.) and Starlings( Ala-)
were absent and impaired.
Herculean efforts had been made to
| get out the full vote, and this led to
| some remarkable incidents. Six men
| were brought from beds of sickness:
| two of them from hospitals. Mr.. Brown
| low (Tenn) was brought ia a carriage
| accompanied by his wife and physician.
| He sat bundled up near the entrance
until his vote was given and then with
| drew. 1t was felt that the strain would
| be severe upon him, but when Mr.. Taw-
ney, the Republican whip, urged that
| the bill might be lost by this one vote,
| Mr.. BrOWnlow said:
II would rather lose my life than to
| see this bill defeated
Mr.. Tawney and three assistants were
! out in carriages until midnight Tuesday
night accounting for every vote,and Mr.
| Underwood, the Democratic whip, was
similarly exerting every means to get
! Ill nar7 &c ore
| brought from sick beds.
The first test was on a substitute Of
| fered by Mr. Mccall on behalf of the
| opposition. 1t was the original Payne
| bill for free trade with Porto Rico and
| was defeated, 100 to ia. Only five Re-
| publicans voted for the substitute. Mr..
! Fletcher (Rep., Minn), who subsequent
| ly voted to recOmmit and against the
! bill, voted against the substitute. A
motion to recommit which followed.
| shared a similar fate. being lost, $50 to
| 172.
There was great excitement through
| out the roll calls which were followed
| with eager interest by the spectators
| who packed the galleries to Suffocatfon.
| The Republicans INDUCED in a dem
| onstration of wild jubilation when the
| final result was announced.
| Mr.. Cummings IN. " threw the house
| into furore of excitement. He de-
| scribed how he believed it to be the
| duty of every man in great crisis to
| rise above party and support the gov
eminent as he had done during the
| Spanish war.
II believe now we should follow the
| lead of the president" said he emphat-
| ically, land I will vote for this bill
This statement electrified the house
| The Republicans without waiting for
him to finish his sentence rose en-
| masse and cheered. while the Demo-
| Gratis sat stunned and dazed.
Mr.. Cummings stood with arms up
raised until the Republican applause
ceased. Il will vote for this bill" he
concluded, addressing the Republican
side provided it is amended in ac
cordance with the advice of the presi-
dent for absolute free trade with Porto
Rico"
1t was now the turn of the Democrats
! to cheer, and for several minutes they
made the rafters ring
The excitement and confusion in
creased as the time for voting drew
nearer The private galleries Of the
presidents household and the diplo-
matte gallery were also well filed.
Duke D'Arcos, the Spanish minister,
was among those present.
Mr.. Payne's preamble was adopted,
| 1913 to 151 on a rising vote.
Mr.. Payne then offered the last COM
| n1ittee- amendment to change the title
of the bill so as to read AN act tenn
| porarily raising revenue for the island
! of Porto Rico and for other purposes"
Mr.. Zenor Qnd.) and Mr.. Jones (Va)
/
the bill.
| At 8 o'clock the committee rose and
| Speaker Henderson resumed the chair.
| Mr.. Mccall (Mass.) then, on behalf of
| the minority offered as substitute the
| bill for free trade with Porto Rico,
| originally introduced by Mr.. Payne.
| The roll call on it was followed with
| intense interest. Five Republicans
| voted with the Democrats and four
| Democrats with the Republicans.
/ he five RaO11h1io3nS were.
Heatwole CMinn), Littlefield CMe.).
Lorimer Gid. Mccall (Mass.), and
| Crumpacker Qnd).
| The four Democrats were:
Davey 0a.), Meyer Na.), Sibley Pa-),
The substitute was lost. 100 to 174.
The size of the majority against the
| substitute was a gratifying surprise to
the Republicans and they applauded
the announcement vigorously.
| Mr.. Richardson, the minority leader
| then moved to recomnit the>bill to the
| committee on ways and means, but it
| was Iost-162 to IT,.
| On the motion to recomnit Mr..
| Fletcher CRep., Mimi, who voted with
| tie Republicans on the substitute, voted
| with the Democrats and Mr.. Spigh
| Dem, Missy, who failed to get in his
| vote on the substitute, voted for the
| motion.
The vote on the final passage of the
| bill was 172 to ISL. The announcement
| was greeted with uproarious applause.
Mr. Hepburn Qa~), after the confusion
| had subsidized, asked unanimous consent
that the Nicaragua canal bill be con-
| sidered March 10.
/ Does that take any account of the
| treaty in the senator" asked Mr.. Bur
ton (O.).
II know nothing of the treaty" re-
| piled Mr.. Hepburn.
Then I object" exclaimed Mr.. Bur-
| ton.
At 4:4o p. m. the house adjourned.