Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1894 — FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

In the Senate, Tuesday, Senator Allison opened the discussion of the tariff bill for the minority, and charged Mr. Voorhees .and the Democratic majority of the finance committee with unfairness, _ There was not an industry in the country, said Mr. Allison, which would not be injured by this bill, while many of them would be strangled. Such a course had never entered Into the minds of the statesmen of the early days of the republic, and even in 1832-33, when the country was divided into two camps, one insisting on absolute free trade and the other for moderate protection, no such radical measures had been adopted. They never dreamed of puttieg on the free list or reducing by one-half the duty charged upon articles which could be produced In the United States. The amendment offered by Mr. Clay and adopted, provided for the reduction of the import duty 10 per cent, every two years, thus taking ten years to bring the tariff down to a basis of 20 per cent, ad valorem. But, instead of taking ten years to reduce the duty, as in the case of the tariff of 1833, this revolutionary measure proposes to accomplish the reduction in one year abruptly and without notice. Senator Call asked Senator Allison to yield for a motion to go into executive session, which, after a lively debate in which a number of Senators took occasion to make sharp and caustic remarks, prevailed. An executive session of one hour was held, after which tho Senate adjourned.

Tho dead lock In tho House over the O’Neill-Joy election contest was broken, Tuesday, the democrats succeeding in producing their own quorum. The resolution declaring O’Neill elected was carried—l 67 to 12. Ten Democrats and two Populists voted against the resolution to unseat ‘Mr. Joy, as follow's: Boen (Populist), Bryan, Cooper of Indiana, Dearmond. Hall of Missouri, Harris, Harter, McKeighan (Populist), Sibley, Morgan, Ryan and Marshall. The House then proceeded to a consideration of tho Englishllilborn contest from California. The Democratic quorum failed on several votes, the Republicans refusing to participate. A truce was declared, and at 5:10 the House adjourned. In the Senate, Wednesday, a report from the Secretary of Agriculture relative to the visible supply of wheat was read. A protest from the Baptist churches of Atlanta, Ga., against the proposed constitution, was presented by Senator Gordon. A lively debate was precipitated by the presentation of a memorial from the Ph'ladelphla Board of Trade praying for adequate duties on sugar. Mr. Allison resumed his speech on the tariff bill and pointed out tho inconsistency of retaining specific duties on some articles and ad valorem duties on others. Mr. Mills followed In a defense of tho ad valorem system. He said; “We cannot pass our bill without concessions. We arc between the devil and the deep sea, and when It is a question of going to the devil by keeping the McKinley law or of going to sea, and there must be some favorable wind te blow me back to land, I am going to sea.” The Senate, at 4;45 o’clock, went into executive session, and when the doors were

reopened adjourned. YVhen the House met, Wednesday, Republicans renewed their filibustering tactics to prevent the unseating of Mr. llilborn, of California. Mr. Springer, as a parliamentary move, to prevent complications, moved to adjourn, which was voted down by Democrats according to s previous understanding. Mr, Springer made a point of order that the demand for the previous question was an intervening motion. The Speaker sustained the point and refused to entertain an apppeal. The resolution to scat Mr. English was then adopted—l6s to 15. Mr. Bland called up the seigniorage bill, and moved that it pass over tho veto. He stated that on Saturday, at 2 o’clock, he would demand the previous question. Then followed a remarkable scene. The Speaker, with uplifted gavel, surveyed the House for a moment. Mr. Bland then expressed a willingness to have the vote taken immediately. Meantime no one addressed the chair, and the Speaker stated the question to be on the motion to pass the bill, the President’s objection to the contrary, notwithstanding. The Speaker said: “The Constitution requires that the vote shall betaken by yaaa and nays” He hesitated. Still everyone on the iloor, engrossed with the program in tho coming debato, heeded him not. “All those in favor will answer yea,” he continued; “contrary no.” Again he paused, but, no one addressing him. he added with a bang of the gavel, “the Clerk will call the roll.” -"‘Mr. Allen,” began the clerk. Tlitre was a gasp of astonishment on the Republican side as the minority awakened to realize that the roll call had begun. The Democrats who were anxious to see the debate suppressed were overjoyed. Amid a great uproar a dozen Republicans jumped to their feet and clamored for recognition. Mr. Reed tried to make himself heard above the uproar. A dozen Republicans vigorously protested, but the Speaker ignored them all, and explained that the proceedings were under the constitutional rules. The explanation was not satisfactory. Mr. Reed sharply addressed the Speaker, and was ordered to his seat. Tho clerk was ordered to resume the roll call. The uproar was terrific. Mr. Reed attempted to break in but the Speaker declared emphatically that ho would not hear him. The Republicans wero beside themselves with anger and refused to vote on the first roll call. Finally, after a consultation, they agreed to vote, and did vote on the second roll call. This turned the tide, and upon the announcement of tho vote it was found that the motion to pass 4he bill over the veto had been defeated, the silver men lacking 74 of the necessary two-thirds. The House then, at 5 o’clock, adjourned. In tho Senate, Thursday, Mr. George introduced a , resolution looking to the preparation of a bill reducing all official incomes 20 per cent, which was referred to the proper committee. The bill to appropriate $1,000,000 for the destruction of the Russian thistle was discussed. Senator Mills opposed the appropriation. Mr, Kyle proposed an amendment providing that the appropriation be divided pro rata among the States. The tariff hill came up aa unfinished business, and the thistle bill went over without action. Mr. Peffer was recognized, bat a motion to go into executive session prevailed and he was not permitted to speak. After an executive session of two hours tho Senate adjourned. The bill requiring railroads to establish stations at Government (own sites in Oklaj hoina came up In tho House. Thursday, and the Senate amendment was rejected, i The Senate bill to give effect to the award

of the Paris tribunal prescribing regulations for the protection of fur seals In Bering sea- was passed. Bills were passed authorizing the construction of bridges across the St. Louis river between Wisconsin and Minnesota at Duluth and Grasse Point. The House then went Into committee of the whole, and after some good-natured banter by Mr. Reed on the subject of the “billion dollar Congress” the urgent deficiency bill was taken np. The bill, which carries something over 51,000,030, was passed, with one important amendment providing for the continuation of the work of the. Censas Bureau until March 4,1895, and providing for the publication in a condensed volume of 250 pages of an abstract of all the data proucred by the census. A determined' fight against the tariff bill was inaugurated in the Senate, Friday. Senator Hill movod to adjourn, after a quorum had been secured, which was defeated—2s to 26. Democrats breathed easier Senators Hill, Murphy and Irby voted with the Republicans in favor of adjournment, and Allen, Kyle and Peffer, Populists, voted with the Democrats. Tha voto was regarded as a test of the sentiment of the Senate on the tariff bill. Senator Peffer resumed his speech on the tariff bill. He attacked the position of Mr. Voorhees, and expressed dissatisfaction -with the general features of the bill under consideration. In reference to the income tax lie said:

The Populists believe In a graduated income tax, and regard it as the most equitable system of taxation. While politicians juggle with the tariff; statesmen ought to make it a matter of business. We do not believe in abandoning wholly the present system. I take it that professed tariff reformers do not see how greatly their practice contrasts with their theory; they mean well, but lack courage only. Protection, as taught by our fathers, is the proper doctrine—protection to domestic industries. Only such Industries as can be made national, employing large numbers of people, should be protected, and that only long enough to establish them. After that, save the market for them, and no more. Bounties, in many cases, are better than cheaper duties. Senator Gallinger interrupted with a suggestion that Mr. Peffer be allowed to suspend his remarks until the next meeting of the Senate. Mr. Peffer agreed tc this. Republicans began dilatory tactics. A motion to go into executive session disclosed the absence of a quorum on ademand for the yeas and nays. A roll call resulted in showing the presence of aqnoruin. At 4:25 the Senate adjourned. In the House, Friday, routine bnsine.fi was considered. Mr. O’Neill rose to a question of personal privilege, and made a personal explanation concerning an alleged agreement between himself and Mr. Joy. The House went into committee of the whole and consideration of the postoffice appropriation bill was resumed. Mr. Henderson sent to the clerk’s desk and had read an appeal to Congresi against the further extension of secondclass mail privileges. Over 250,000,009 pounds of second-class matter was carried by the mails last year, it said, 5,492 new publications were started last year, and the efficiency of the mail service wa t crippled by the limitless quantities of sec-ond-class mail matter carried. Mr. Loud opposed the amendment on the ground that It would swamp the Department. It would cost the United States, he declared, 510,090,020 annually. Mr. Loud offered and advocated an amendment to Increase the appropriation for railroad transportation from 525,500,000 to 520,903,000 on the ground that the former sum would prove inadequate. It was defeated. Mr. Dunphy offered as an amendment to the amendment a proviso to prevent the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from doing any of this work. After some further debate in support of the point of order raised against the Dunphy amendment by Mr. Berry, the committee rose, and the House, at 5 o’clock, took a recess until 8 o’clock, the evening session to be devoted to pension bills.