Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-10
LONDON DOCK BILL LOST
House Decides BY Small Majority to Reject
Contentious Measure.
PACKING HOUSES EFFECT DEATH BLOW
with unbe Intereats withdraw
and Influence Plurality Of
Nine to Vote gains Much
Debated Proposition.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-After debating
the London dock charges bill for almost
four hours the house today threw Il out by
rejecting the enacting clause. The debate
was spirited on both sides and all day
members we're flooded with kilograms re-
s~pecting the bill.
The withdrawal OF the support OF the
lumber and meat packing interests. which
originally Joined with the millers in press
ing the measure, brought about its defeat.
The final vote was 1873 to 129 in favor
Of the motion to strike out the enacting
clause. Speeches were made in favor Of
the bill by Mr.. Tawney Mimi and Mr..
Richardson (Ala.), and against It by
Messrs. Adamson CGa), Wagner. Adams
and Dalzell (Pa), Burleson and Burgess
(Tex.) and Mann Gll.).
Will Adjourn for Christmas.
Some minor business was transacted at
the opening Of the session. The senate bill
to regulate the duties and FIX the compen-
sation of customs inspectors at the port Of
New York was passed. Also a bill to pro-
vide additional districts in the Indian Ter
ritory where legal instruments. can be
filed.
Mr.. Payne IN. ", chairman Of the
committee on ways and means, reported
back from that committee the resolution
for distribution Of the presidents message
and gave notice that he would call 1t up to-
morrow. He also called up the resolution
ordering for a holiday adjournment from
December 20 to January 5, which was
adopted without division.
Mr.. Sherman IN. " reported the
Indian appropriation bill. Mr.. Tawney
Mimi then demanded the regular
order, the London landing charge bill. OF
which he had charge. He gave notice
that he would move to substitute the SEN
ate bill for the pending house bill, the two
being practically identical.
Mr.. Tawney then began his argument in
support Of the bill. He read a petition
from the big packing houses favoring the
bill and Mr.. Mann Ull.) said he had tele-
grams from all those houses withdrawing
their support.
Want Divers Things.
THE gentlemen may have such tele-
grams" replied Mr., Tawney, ''just as he
may hold kilograms from the export lum-
Der association, which last week withdrew
its support. l have in my possession tele-
grams from the officers Of that association
first Withdrawing, then denying their with
drawal and later again Withdrawing and
~ bNAAA - ApNNtA
their motives for their action. 1 propose
to disclose those motives before l con-
clude."
Proceeding, Mr.. Tawney explained the
purpose Of the bill, which, he said, APP
piled only to the port of London and was
simply designed to relieve the American
shipper OF the charge made by the trans
porting companies for delivering goods
over the side OF the vessel. This charge,
he said, was included in the contract of
IAbipnpent The bill would prevent such a
Contract.
Mr.. Adamson tGa.e opposed, first on tho
ground that It sought to prevent the libs
erty of contract, and second, because. he
saidy It was supported principally by a
single interest, the millers.
Mr.. Wagner (Pa.) also opposed. He
contended that the interests OF American
shippers as a whole had been served by
the London clause The purpose and eff
feet Of that clause, he maintained, had
been to give the American shippers priv
ileges they could not otherwise have OBJ
tanned.
Mr.. Tawney finally moved to substitutes
the senate amendment for the house bill.
Thereupon Mr.. Sherman IN. W moved
to strike out the e~nacting clause and the
issue was precipitated at once. Mr..
Tawney demanded the ayes and noes. The
vote resulted, 1873 ayes to 129 noes. This
action struck out the e~nacting clause and
killed the bill. At 4:20 the house ad-
journed.