People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1894 — THE HOUSE YIELDS. [ARTICLE]

THE HOUSE YIELDS.

Acting on the Caucus Decision It Passes the Senate Bill. It Thei- Fosses Separate Bills Placing Coal, Iron, Sugar and Barbed Wire on the Free List—The Proceedings. END OF THE LONG FIGHT. "Washington, Aug. 14. —A few min- •" kites before noon the house democratic caucus passed a resolution, proposed by Speaker Crisp, advising the recession from the disagreement to the senate's amendments to the Wilson bill, the passing of the amended bill, the introduction of separate bills making coal, iron, sugar and barbed wire free of all duties. In the House. Washington, Aug. 14. —When the house met five minutes after the democratic caucus adjourned there were more members on the floor than at any time since the tariff bill was passed. At 2:15 p. m. Mr. Catchings was recognized and presented the report of the rules committee providing for the immediate consideration and passage of the senate tariff bill, to be followed by the separate bills for sugar, coal, iron ore and barbed wire.

Mr. Reed made a parliamentary objection to the procedure, claiming that the tariff bill was not before the house, »nd indicated the republican intention to fight the bill and report in every proper way. Speaker Crisp held that the resolution was in order and before the house. The previous question was ordered without division. The Rule Adopted. At F-:20 the motion on the adoption of the rule was put. Mr. Reed called for a division after Speaker Crisp had •decided it was carried. The rule was •adopted amid great shouts from the democrats by a vote of yeas, 158, nays, 8. The negative votes were cast by Messrs. Cockran and Warner (N. Y.) and Mr. Robertson (La.) —all democrats. The republicans did not vote. The special order setting apart limited time for the consideration and vote on the senate amendments to the tariff bill, was adopted by a vote of yeas 176, to nays 97. Among the democrats who voted against the rule were Messrs. Capehart (W. Ya.) Johnson (0.), Warner (N. Y.) and Robertson and Meyer (La.). The house proceeded immediately to the consideration of the question of concurring in the senate amendments, on which two hours’ debate' was allowed, and Mr. Wilson (dem., W. Ya.) proceeded to address the house.

Mr. Wilson's Speech. Mr. Wilson said he did not pretend to feel gratified at the outcome of the prolonged controversy. Whatever the measure of shortcomings of this bill in its present form—whatever be its demerits in mere schedules—this be did know—that it is better than the McKinley law. He knew, he said, that in a part of it it does afford some relief tcrthe taxpayers of this country and does clip the wings of the gigantic monopolies that are now oppressing them and blocking legislation. lie continued: Take e-.-et those portions of the bill over ■which this contest between the two houses has been waged; take iron ore aad coal, upon which we have confronted, and. to a certain extent, unsuccessfully confronted, the great railroad ■yndicates of the country; yet we have reduced them both nearly 50 per cent, below the McKiniev law. Take the sugar scHedule, over which the greatest of all the contests between the two houses has been waged. Vicious as it may be, burdensome to the people as it may be, favorable to the trust as It may be, it is less vicious, less favorable to the trust, less -burdensome to the people, than is the XcKinley law, under which this trust • has grown so great as to T>ver- > shadow with its power the American people. If for no other reason, then, those who believe that when they cannot take the full *tep which they desire, when they cannot do that which the people commissioned them to do, they must take the best they can and step as far as they can, may find some Justification for an unhesitating choice between the two bills."

Mill Produce Sufficient Revenue. ■ln reply to Mr. Hudson (pop., Kan ), Mr. Wiison said he had no hesitancy whatever in saying that when the schedules of the hill, with the senate amendments, get into normal operation it will produce sufficient and more than sufficient revenue for the support -of the government. He would add to the answer that perhaps in the beginning the bill will not produce as much revenue as will result from it later on under its ordinary working, because he was informed, whether it be true or not he did not know, that the sugar trust, in anticipation of the passage of the bill, has imported about §100,000,000 worth, or, it has been said, even in excess of that quantity, of raw sugar. Mr. Reed Is Humorous. ~Mr. Reed (rep., Me.), the leader of the opposition, took the floor. He said his feelings were divided by two emotions. One, an emotion of regret for the democratic party, and for its jposition, and the other is a feeling of equal regret for the in its position. So far as the gentleman from West Virginia ■was concerned, and his compatriots, there was not the slightest necessity of commenting on the difference between this scene of sorrow and the triumphal procession which carried him out of this house. He is not so joyous now, having been carried out in another branch, and more effectually. Mr. •lieed continued; ‘ The gentleman from West Virginia and his compatriots appear before us now. not as the triumphal reformers marching to glory to the sound of their own swtet voices. They are little babies in the wood.vand it will be found pretty soon that they woij left there by their uncle in the white horfSe And I can hear the coming of the pinions, of the little birds bearing the ballots that are to bury them out of sight. "But their fate is of small consequence. Their disappearance Is the least of this event. I told this house, speaking on the tariff question, that one of the great misfortunes of this attempted action would be the fact that what--*ver basis was reached it would not be a permanent ba*ls on which this country could do business; that that was only an effort on their part, to do something, an effort which they »*■* going to continue; and the ratlOEU from West Virginia (Mr. Wllaon) •**»•-«» Ms departure from history by talking atoeat this being a step in the onward ■«* Ss. aotsvsa content with this senate

bill, not even content with what attacks It makes upon Industries, these men at the moment when they feel their personal discredit by submitting to the hill, announce to us that It Is only the herald of future attacks upon the business industries of this country. Great God! Has not this country suffered enough during the last twelve months that these men should come and assure It that their ravages are to continue? I tell you that when the people of this country get an opportunity to express their opinion of you, you will listen to it more intently and with sadder hearts than you have to-day, even. "We shall not write its epitaph. That has been done by a nearer and dearer personage. That has been done by the man whose name must be affixed to this bill before it can be a discredit to the statute book. His name must be added to it. He tells you this bill is an instance of perfidy, injustice and dishonor. Out of your own household has come your condemnation. Nay, out of your own mouths has your condemnation come. For we shall read that bold and uncompromising declaration of the chairman of the committee on ways and means that we were to sit here until the end of our term to put down the sugar trust. "What do we have instead? Why, we have a proposition to fire one of those popgun tariff bills for which the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Springer) was deposed from the ways and means committee. His successor, after filling the atmosphere with his outspread wings, finds his nest in some other bird’s premises. "Why not res’gn if you were to adopt the action of the other person? I congratulate the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Springer) upon his personal triumph. 1 wish I could congratulate the country upon something, and I will upon the speedy departure of Incompetency.” Ex-Speaker Reed was then followed by Mr. McMillan (Tenn.), who criticised Mr. Reed for not discussing the question at issue, and proceeded to point out, as he claimed, some good features of the senate bill —free wool, free lumber, free hemp, etc.— and the reductions in the general schedules. Mr. Burrows (rep., Mioh.) spoke in the same vein as did Mr. Reed. He declared that the action of the caucus which the house was about to endorse was notcompromise; it was unconditional surrender.

Cockran Is Heard. Mr. Cockran (dem., N. Y.) made a strong protest against the consummation of this tariff legislation, which recalled his famous speech of protest at the Chicago convention. Mr. Cockran said: "Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that the question before this house has been somewhat overlooked. The vital point at issue here is whether the American congress is to legislate or whether some unknown, unmentioned force can block the wheels of legislation and make the representatives of the people cower in the dust und surrender they know not to whom. "On one momentous occasion the gentleman from West Virginia, borne upon affectionate and loyal shoulders, was the central figure of a demonstration which evidenced the depth of feeling throughout the American people, long pent up, at last fondly considered triumphant over all obstructions. To-day no more pathetic figure In the history of the world can be observed than that same leader, shorn of his support, walking down these aisles, disdaining to prevaricate or misrepresent the actual condition which confronts us, confessing that he has been deserted by those in whose support he had every reason to confide, asking us to record our betrayal of • every principal which the house under his leadership has maintained. "We are told that three, four, five, six, seven or eight individuals have managed to make such a combination in the other branch that any change in its terms will be vital to the passage of the measure. If that be so, in the name of the American people, in the name of liberty and honor, let us know who they are. ‘We are hopelessly discredited because our cowardice makes our surrender disgraceful. "Mr. Speaker, I desire to state here that in my humble judgment the measure which wo are now asked to pass is a more obnoxious protective measure than the McKinley act, which it is designed to supplant.” [Cries of dissent on the democratic side and jeers.] .Mr. Cockran ridiculed the action of the house conferrees in having gone forth to meet the senate conferrees, arid then having turned and fled at a shadow without having met the enemy in conflict at all. Said he: • Thus you stab tariff reform in the house of its friends. You surrender the dignity and independence of the house to secure the passage of a bill which will so firmly entrench protection in popular favor that this generation may never see another successful effort to overthrow it.

"If we are to swallow this whole obnoxious bill, then in the name of fair play, in the name of propriety, in the name of decency, In the name of American liberty and Americun freedom, let the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Wilson) tell us to whom we are surrendering, tell us who they are who constitute the new force In this government to which we are to pay tribute; tell us fully and without reserve the character of the action which he asks us to take, that we may Judge the depth of the infamy into which we are invited to descend." [Applause,] Speaker Crisp Takes the Floor. Speaker Crisp was recognized amid much applause, Mr. Tracy (N. Y.) being in the chair. Mr. Crisp said he wished to publicly assume his full share of responsibility for the action about to be taken, and expressed the belief that it was in the best interest of tariff reform. He referred to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Cockran) as spending but little of his time in attending to the business of the house, and as indulging in pyrotechnics about principle while plain practical business men were seeking to obtain some relief for a suffering people. “ ‘Half a loaf is better than no bread.’ Therefore we will take the senate bill.” Mr. Crisp, continuing, said: "We will send to the senate erystalized Into the form of acts passed in this hall bills making sugar free, making coal free, making iron ore free and making barbed wire free. I want to say, so far as I am concerned, I was willing to continue the contest for a better bill so long as there was any hope of obtaining it. But when the conferrees on the part of the house, in whom we have the utmost confidence, who are familiar with all the facts, tell us that in their judgment we must take this bill or be remitted to the penalties of the McKinley law, Ido not hesitate a moment. I take the senate amendments. “If there is a sugar trust in this country which is dominating legislation the republican party created It. And though this bill does not destroy that trust, as we wish it did, it takes away more than one-half of the protection to that trust. "If there is a coal combine the legislation of the republican party built it up, and, though we do not make coal free in this bill, we reduce the duty from 75 cents to 40 cents. If there is a steel and Iron combine the same remark applies. Go- ■ ing through these schedules, while they are not I all we wish, they are (and we want the couni try to understund it) the best we can now get. The moment we get this we intend to move forward; we do not intend there shall be any backward step in tariff reform.” Cockran Hits Back. As the speaker closed Mr. Cockran (N. Y.) excitedly arose and asked to make a statement of personal privilege. There was great confusion. The chair declined to recognize the privilege as contrary to the special rules. Mr. Cockran persisted in his demand for a privilege statement, and with some asperity he said with reference to the speaker’s re*

flections upon his absence that ‘‘it was an evidence of the growth of Georgia chivalry, since Alexander Stevens was replaced in the speakership by the present occupant of the chair.” The speaker disclaimed any intention of reflecting on Mr. Cockran, but the incident caused much confusion and it was many minutes before order could be restored. Mr. Wilson Makes a Correction. After this exciting scene Mr. Wilson arose and corrected a statement he had made in his opening to the effect that 8100,000,000 worth of raw sugar had been purchased by the sugar trust in anticipation of the passage of the sugar schedule of the senate bill. He had been mistaken, he afterward learned. The trust had purchased 448,000 tons. ‘‘How much is that in dollars and cents?” called out a senator. ‘‘About 825,000,000,” replied Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson then demanded a vote on the resolution. Yeas and nays were then ordered. The vote on the motion to concur in the senate amendments and pass the bill resulted: Yeas, 182; nays, 105.

Coal on the Free List. Mr. Wilson offered the first of the separate free list bills, in, accordance with the resolution adopted by the caucus. It provided for the free admission upon its passage of bituminous coal, shale, slack and coke. The vote by tellers showed 78 for and 47 against. Mr. Reed raised the point of no quo rum, and Mr. Wilson demanded a yea and nay vote. The free coal bill was passed—yeas, 160; nays, 104; answering present, 1. Twenty-one democrats voted against the bill as follows: Alderson (W. Ya.), Bankhead (Ala).Boatner (La.). Burnes (Mo.), Crain (Tex.), Davey (La.).Deason (Ala.), Edmunds (Va.), Kribbs (Pa.), McKelg (Md.), Oates (Ala.), Reilly (Pa.), Robbins (La.), Swanson (Va.), Tucker (Va.), Wise (Va.), Weadook (Mich.), Wheeler (Ala.), Wolverton (Pa.) and Epps (Va.). For Free Iron. Mr. Wilson then said he was directed by the democratic caucus to present the bill placing iron ore on the free list. The bill was passed. The democrats voting against free iron ore were: Alderson (W. Va.). Bankhead (Ala.), Beltzhoover (Pa.), Boatner (La.), Davey (La.), Denson (Ala.), Edmonds (Va.), Meyer (La.), Oates (Ala.), Price (La.), Reilly (Pa.),Robbins (Ala.), Robertson tLa.), Swanson (Va.), Weadock (Mich), Wheeler (Ala.) and Wise (Va.). Barbed Wire Made Free. The vote to place barbed wire on the free list was: Yeas, 187; nays, 84. The following democrats voted against free barbed wire: Graham (N. Y.), Reilly (I’a.), Sperry (Conn.), Stevens (Mass.). Republicans voting for it were: Wilson (Wash.), Pickier (S. D.), Marsh (Ill.), Lucas (S. D.), Doolittle (Wash.). Mr. Haughen, of Wisconsin, was the only republican voting for free coal.

Sugar Discussion. After the free sugar bill had been reported Mr. Robertson (dem.. La.) offered an amendment reducing the bounties on sugar one-eighth yearly, from July 1, 1895, to July 1, 1901. Mr. Price (dem.. La.) said he would ask for consideration, even for pity, at this late day for 200,000 agriculturists threatened with destruction. If duties could not he retained he asked at least to leave the bounty this year. Mr. Boatner (dem., La.) said the bounty was a legal obligation for this year. Mr. Wilson concluded the discussion, charging that the republican party was responsible for the creation of the sugar trust and the power it had manifested in this contest. He expressed syfhpathy with the Louisiana men, saying he always had believed in a revenue tax on sugar, that the agriculturists were welcome to the incidental protection therefrom, and he stood ready to cooperate with his colleagues in giving a revenue tax. Free Sugar Adopted. The ayes and nays were then ordered. The republicans, as stated, joined with the democrats in voting for the free sugar hill. It passed, 276 to 11. This was the largest affirmative aye and nay vote ever cast in the house of representatives. Those who voted in the negative were: Messrs. Boatner, Davey, Meyer, Ogden, Price and Robertson (dems., La.); Everett and Stevens (dems., Mass.); Harmer and Rayburn (reps., Pa.), and Sperry, dem.. Conn.). Adjournment. After the announcement of this vote Mr. McMillin (Tenn.) was recognized to move an adjournment of the house until Wednesday, aud there was not a dissenting voice to his suggestion.