New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-09
FREE LIST BILL PASSED
Goes Through the House by a
Vote of 236 to 1903.
STEAM ROLLER METHODS

Republican Leaders Protest as
Amendments Arbitrarily Are
Declared Not Germane.
Washington, May s.--Aftsn ton hours of
bitter debate, incident to the refusal Of the
Democrats TO permit the measure to be
amended i'm any manner. the House late
10 night by vote Of 235 10 100 passed the
Farmers Free List bill, placing upon the
free list more than A hundred articles.
The solid majority and iwenty-four Repuo-
lican insurgents voted for tho bill OH us
final passage
Previous to this vote the minority leader,
Mr.. Mann. made an unsuccessful effort tn
recommit the bill with the provso that II
should apply only 70 those countries which
admitted free from this country imports OF
-four. cottonseed oil live cattle, fresh and
canned meats and other articles. The Re-
publicans stood together on the motion 10
recommit
During the day Mr.. Mann and other Re-
puhlcsns made repeated efforts TO obtain
amendments demanding concessions from
benefits under the Democratic plan 70 let
down the bars without return. Dozens OF
these amendments proposed TO perfect the
free list bill so that IT would partake
somewhat OF the nature Of n reciprocal
agreement we're ruled ont on points OF
order. the House being denied the oppor-
unity to even vote upon them.
The few that were put TO a vote we're
swept aside by the Democratic phslanX,
whose standard bearer in the beginning
served notice that rho Democratic bill must
he passed Just as IT came from tho WAYS
and Means Committee.
Put Democrats on Record.
Aided by Representatives Payne, Cannon.
olmsted. Hin and other Republicans. Mr..
Mann. in order to put the Democrats in
! the position OF voting against various
amendments to broaden the scope of the
free list BILL conducted a fihuster against
tho measure. In the cnd Mr.. Mann had
the satisfaction time after time of putting
the Democrats on record a being against
real free lst propa gande. but his efforts
ended there owing 10 The arbitrary rulings
OF the chair. which held that all amend
ments, no matter how framed, were not
germsne."
According TO the Democrats. the free
list bill will cut tho governments revenues
! only 100000 Representative Payne. fol
lowing Mr.. HILL also a Republican. mem
hers Of the WAYS and Means Committee,
tonight estimated that the real loss in
revenue Will amount 10 100000.
| The fight In the House to-day developed
| into an endursnrs test. Angered at Re
| publican attempts 10 amend the pet Demo
cratic measure, Representative Under
wood declined 70 postpone vote until to
morrow. ~ 10 o'clock tonight. after nearly
8 hundred amendments had been proposed.
only 70 20 out on points Of order or meet
defeat on party vote, the Republicans
gave I'D the contest as hopeless and con
tented themselves with a demand merely
for record rollcsll vote.
Chairs Arbitrary Ruling
Not one-third Of the Republican amend
ments were allowed 70 come 10 a vote In
the committee Of the whole. lie chairman,
Representative Alexander. Of Missouri,
| complacently ruled all amendments out Of
order when Majority Leader Underwood
took the time to make such q point against
chair sud the elastic Interpretation Of this
| rules practically no amendment was con
sidered germane The chair held that en-
amendment adding other articles 70 the
| free list was not germane to the items Of
the bill, and that amendments proposing
TO strike from the bill any article named
| thus placing II on the dutiable list, was
likewise not germane 70 the subject matter
If the hill
In vain did House parliamentsrians such
az 3, Speaker Cannon, Minority Leader
Mann Representative Asher Kinds and
Representative Payne, protest against such
unprecedented rulings. Losing his temper.
Mr.. Cannon exclaimed:
! In other words, no amendment is IN or
der here because II would change the bill
brought IN by your Ways and Means Com
| rittee. This committee has become gres ter
than the House Itself which is deprived
! of chance 10 even vote on these propoet
| tons. Upon What meat doth thi. orr
Cesar feed that he hath grown so er.at,'
You Democrats shirls responsibility behind
! points of order. but do nor ina CINE that he
cause YOU hide your heads ostrichIilss in
the sand. that Won have hidden tho bod,-
Of your purposes"
Representative Hill. = Connecticut Pn-
| publican proposed an amendment "a the
| hill providing that il should no, 20 into
| effect until tho President shall have had
time n investigate and publish nrocIar,a
ton tettine forth those countries which
still maintain import duties against The
! United States IN articles In tho hill Tha
point Of order was raised against the JTuI
amendment.
| Surely YOU viii admit that " r,o,.ad
that this hill should not take effect unt,l
the expiration of sixty DAYS J, vov,a
be in order7' inquired Mr. U,I
Representative Henry of Tevse ar-ee,
with NJ Hill But mis- II A. dirAren,
proposition. no said This proclamation
might never he published, and the h,lr
might never take effect"
In other words, your policy If 70 impugn
tho administration" rAtorted Mr.. uiu
| Like dozens 81 others his amendment vas
ruled out of order.
Numerous appeals FROM the decision Of
the chair were taken by M Mann
! and others. but in ever instance the
solid Democracv. with great gusto and OK
ultetion, upheld the ruling The few amend
! men's that were allowed 10 come IN 2 vote
on their merits were as promptly voted
down by the majority In each case Mr.
Underwood haf but 10 express tho nope
that the amendment would be defeated an
The Democrats fell into line
! Tho Republicans who voted for the BIZ
= ere Representatives Anderson. Davis.
Lindbnrgh. Miller. Vostead and StAeneraon,
NJ Minnesota. Anthonv. Jackson. Madison
and Murdoch. ~ Kansas. Hanna and Helse-