Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-11
AMERICAN TARIFF LAWS
By FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN.
THE WILSON BILL.

Republicans. but they succeeded in pull
ing the records on their critics, and there
in showing where they had done the self
same thing and defended it. for which
they were now criticising the Democrats.
On December 10 the bill was reported to
the house. 1t covered 40 pages, printed
in the usual bill style and type. 1t did
reduce the duties on most things, and
provided for free raw materials. Even
this was regarded as a sort of halfway
measure by the out-and-Out low tariff
people. After the usual Christmas recess
the house got down to the consideration
of the bill in dead earnest. A rule was
brought in limiting the debate and pro-
viding the machinery for the ccnsidera-
ton OF the bill. The Republicans fought
this tooth and nail, and resorted to the
expedient OF breaking a quorum by re-
fusing to vote. 1t will be remembered
that in the congress which passed the
Mckinley bill. Speaker Reed and his
supporters condemned such tactics with
all the earnestness at their command,
and Mr.. Reed counted the Democrats as
present whether they voted or not. Now
he was the minority leader. and his old
opponent was in the chair. Crisp refused
to invoke the Reed method of getting a
quorum, but adopted the course Of ar
resting members i'm order TO get enough
together to do business. BY telegraphing
every absentee of his own party to come
post haste, Crisp was able to pass his
rule after three days of fruitless ballot
ing. Even on this final vote not a Re
publican is recorded for or against the
rule. After a week of general debate,
during which night sessions were held,
the bill was taken up and amended.
It is a curious fact that the most re-
markable feature of the measure was
offered as an amendment by Representa-
tive McMillin, of Tennessee. just three
days before the house finally voted on
the whole bill. 1t was the income tax
provision. Very few of the Republicans
voted for the income tax amendment or
against it, but secretly rejOiced at its
passage. on the assumption that thus
overloaded. the measure could never pass
through the needles eye of legislative
enactment.
February l. 1894. was a red letter day
in the house end of the capitol Elk
Speaker Reed was leading the opposi-
ton, and Speaker Crisp took the floor
in support of the measure, which was to
be passed that day after three hours of
debate. These two gladiators each had
an inning of am hour and a half, and
/ they knew that at the end of their fray
I the vote would be taken. Reed led off
\ i'm speech that was a remarkable COM
bination Of logic, humor, biting wit and
satire. At one point he attacked Bourke
Cochran, who had dilated on the low
/ wages of labor, by reading another
| speech from the New Yorker in which he
i had taken exactly the opposite position.
Cochran had said something about the
survival OF the superior and Reed re-
piled that if the strong bull of Bashan
and salt water smelt were cast into
/ the Atlantic ocean he would take his
chances with the smelt.
When Reed finished speaking. Speaker
Crisp caller Representative Hatch to the
chair and took the floor to answer Reed.
He was applauded perhaps even more
| than Mr.. Reed had been. The galleries
were packed. the floor and the cloak
rooms were filled to overfiowing. William
| L. Wilson made the final speech in be-
half Of the bill and the colleagues OF
the West Nirginian took him on their
| shoulders and bore him i'm triumph
around the hall Of the house 1t was
one OF the most remarkable proceedings
ever witnessed there. Modest and retir-
ing in mis- demeanor. Wilson was as
bashful as a school girl and showed great
embarrassment while thus being carried
around.
One OF the most remarkable speeches
delivered in the course Of the house de-
bate was delivered by William Jennings
Bryan, on the nineteenth Of January.
If anyone thinks he was a beardless
youth gaining his first triumph at the
IS 4 Chfraun faF ha
Congressional Record of the date men,
StiOned. Washington knew him. The
house was acquainted with his powers.
and he was accorded unusual honOrs
He was given unlimited time in which
TO deliver his speech, and so great was
the demand 10 hear him that visitors
were admitted 10 the floor of the house
itself. a privilege seldom granted to any