The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
MCKINLEY Law
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

the Mckinley biz provided for the pay
ment OF bOunties for its production, thus
changing an income 70 an outlay.
The proponents o. protection for agri-
cultural products pointed out that the
impOrtatiOns OF such products amounted
% a quarter OF a billion dollars a year.
The opponents answered that this was an
infinitiSimai sum as compared with the
expectations. and that protection for the
farmer. when his whole success depend
ed upon his exports rather than imports,
was silly and useless.
one OF the most amusing incidents OF
the debate on the Mckinley bill IN the
House vas a passage in a speech OF Ben
ton McMinin. afterward governor OF Ten
nsssee. He imagined a conversation be-
tween Mckinley and Representative
Burrows. IN which Burrows wanted 70
know what had been done for Michigan.
Mckinley replied that nothing had been
done vet but that he would "fx~ that
State by putting duty on cabbageS- Mr.
Burrows was made 70 respond that this
would be inconsistent, since sauer kraut
vas put on the free list. 10 which Nc
kinley replied that this was necessary
20 please the Dutch Then some one was
supposed 10 propose a duty on straw.
William l. Wilson rejOins that This. in-
deed. Is the last straw-free sugar. free
whisky. and now a free straw.
The Mckinley measure was reported
70 the House about the middle OF April
Some twenty legislative days intervened
before Il vas taken Up for consideration.
When e came 70 amending the bill Mr.
Mckinley held his forces together with
cCnsummate ability he lost out, how
ever. on his wooden schedule, and saved
his tin-plats duty by the narrow margin
Of one vote. A rule was brought IN which
enectually shut Of a vote on any Dem
Ocratic amendment, and the House
promptly passed the bllL
When the measure went 70 the Senate
the Finance Committee 20 whom il was
referred granted lengthy hearings. A
month elapsed before the bin was re-
ported 20 the Senate. and another month
before Il was taken Up for consideration
Then came month Of debate in the Sen
ate. followed by two weeks OF considera-
ti0n OF amendments IL was finally passed
on September 81. with 4s6 amendments
added 20 II. and OF these the joint con-
mit1ee OF conference was forced 10 ac-
cepr ZIZ. and 10 compromise on 175 of the
remainder.
One Of The most sensation episodes IN
the history OF the House occurred dufing
the debate on the Mckinley law. W. u.
Bynum and William l. Wilson had been
charged by certain person or persons.
not members OF the House. with some
crooked work in connection with the tar
III BILL and a member sought 10 read
these charges to the House The Demo
Gratis protested. but the charges were
read Bynum in replying. asserted thar
the member who had reed the charges
was "the sewer through which ;his sew
sge was carried through the House. he
was called 70 order by the chair. where
upon he changed his epithet 10 conduit
pipe. Later he applied the term Tar
20 the member who had repeated the
charges and for using this word was
censured by a resolution OF the House.
Mr.. Byuum said. as he returned 70 his
seat. after the formal censure vas passed.
thst he regarded IL as badge of honor.
AIany members wanted 70 csl hin 70 a~-
count for thar statement. but the mat
ter was allowed 70 drop. This was the
last time but one that the mace of
the House has been employed as the en-
blem Of authority in maintaining order
on the hoor
The strenuoSity q Uncle joe Cannon
in those earlier DAYS OF his Congressional
hfe was Illustrated during the debate on
the Mckinley bin A member named
Baker. large of body and strong Of mind.
Sat beside Mr Cannon ln the House in
that session While speaking 20 the
question on one occasion Uncle Joe
became 50 earnest and emphatic that he
feu 20 pounding the shoulder or his neigh
Dor with his fist. no doubt thinking ne
was pounding on his desk Baker stood
u a while. but finally he took Up a large
book. and, placing il on his shoulSe-.
asked Uncle Joe &c hit on that The
House roared- and gOod feeling was re-
stored