The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-21
utes to Mr.. Underwood, OF Alabama,
also of the committee on rules.

also OF the committee on rules
The Alabama member protested
against the adoption Of the rule. not,
he said. BECAUSE Ii provided for the
consideration Of a bill to reduce taxa
ton. but because 1t prevented Individual
members from airing their own j9dg-
ment or carrying out the wishes Of their
constituents as to what portion OF TIE
excessive taxes SHOULD be repeated.
Mr.. Underwood said he did not think
a general tariff revision should De
made. because such a revision, whether
good or bad. would unsettle present
conditions and might lead ID disorder.
He thought that the prope method 81
reducing duties at this time should 10
through reciprocity agreement made
in pursuance OF congressional enact
ment. and he sent to the clerks desk
and had e an amendment represent
Ing his ideas in this particular.
MIR. Ball. of Texas. denounced the ruI-
as but another step in the parliament
tary evolution by which ~i1dividualsm n
the house was being crushed and a few
men were enthroned as autocrats 10
dominate Its will. The reason for the
presentation of the rule. he decla- ed
was because Ii was necessary to gag
two republicans on the floor and all the
democrats Of the house. He ref FRED To
the report in the newspapers thar the
III u tNeh Hdu become converted
to the view that the Iron hand" was
necessary to prevent a wholesale revIs-
ion of the tariff.
At '''s point Mr.. Babcock. OF Wiscou-
sin j. Of the republican rs o
the WAYS and means committee. &c
whom Mr.. Ball had referred read a
statement of his reasons for favoriag
the adoption of the rule. 1t was to .he
effect that after consultation he and his
~.,1 H.
1eopardize the passage of the rep al
bill by complicat.ng matters. but re
gave notice that at the first opportuni-
" he would press for the consideration
of his bill to amend tn steel schedule.
Mr.. Hay. of Virginia. declared that
the pending rule would humiiiate every
member on the floor because it prevent
ed the offering of a single amsndmen-
to this bill. 1t was such a display II
cowardice as had never before bee7
witnessed in the house Democratic
a~pplause). When the bill went 10 the
senate it would be debated and amend
ed but this rule the house you'd
be deprived of it's rightful fun
ton. 1t wou,d but emphasize
he growing opinion of the equity that
the house of representatives simply
was a machine to register the DEGREES
of a few men. When the popular
DIdLcn OI every LEGISLATIVE assembly III
Europe was being given more power,
he said. this house was being bound
and gagged. The debate to be accorded
under the rule. he declared, would be a
farce because it could accomplish
nothing.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois. argued ear
nestly in favor of the adoption of the
rule. Even if other revenue reduction
was advisable it should not stand in
he VV9U IF the rpnp91 ff re- yes gathered
in the treasury from the people. there
to constitute a prize upon exploitation.
Mr.. Richardson closed the debate for
the minority. In dong so he offered
TO yield half his time 10 any one on the
republican side who cared to oppose the
adoption of the rule. He paused when
he had made the offer. but no republi-
can arose. Smiling faces looked over
at him from across the aisle. NO
gentleman on that side is opposed 20
his rule" said he sarcastically. With
your majority of forty it will he verv
easy then to adopt 1t. but is it no
strange that. with such a majority.
such a rule should BE- necessary" He
infested that there were members on the
other side who were res.ive under the
demand Of their constituents for a re-
vision Of some Of The tariff schedules
and that they would have hard work
explaining their action. The gentleman
from Wisconsin (BabcOck) he declared.
could not go back to his constituents
with the lame excuse he had offered on
the floor. This is his last oppor unity"
said he. "and the gentleman knows it.
There will he TO other oppUl tunity to
give his people relief, and II he tries
to explain his course let one of his con
sfituents ask him why he voted fo:
this rule.
In conclusion Mr.. Richardson stated
that those on his side favored the re-
peal of the taxes; in fact, that if they
had their way thew would have been re-
pealed long ago.
Mr.. Dalzell closed n debate on the
rule. In view of the solicltude of the
gentleman of Virginia (Hay) and the
gentleman from Texas, (BalD regarding
the situation in the house he said he
would recur to some history. He re-
called how the democrats in the Fifty
third congress had swallowed GAG
amendments TO the Wilson tariff hill
wi hout even having them read in the
house. The dignity of the house and
the legisla ton of the country, he de-
clared amid republican applause, were
safe in the and ot the republican
party.
The ~nrevious question was then oder
ed. but Mr.. Richardson thereupon Of
fered a motion to recommit the rule
with instructions to report it Jack
amended so as to open the bill for
amendment under the five minute rule.
Mr.. DalZell immediately made the
point that the motion was d%ilatory.
Speaker Henderson IL Mr.. Richard
son had a sharp exchange over the
point of order. which the speaker sus-
tanned The sneaker 5dld a similar lul-