The daily gazette., 1880-05-04
Washington Letter.

A MIRACULOUS DISPLAY OF INDUS
TRY IN CONGRESs-PROSPEC OF
ADJOURNMENT IN SIX WEEKS
CAUSES THAT MAY PROLONG THE
SESSION.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 3, 1880.
During the past week Congress
has been doing rapid work on appro-
priation bills, and this has revived
the expectation of an early adjourn
ment. The faet that the Naval bill
was passed by the Senate just as it
went over from the House, and the
Fortiiication bill was agreed to last
week, and the Postoffice bill was re-
reported Saturday, has given the
prophets an opportunity to predict
that the necessary business will be
disposed of and that Congress will
get away by the lst day of June, or,
at the very farthest, by the 18th of
June. There are other matters be-
sides the appropriation bills that
stand in the way of an adjournment.
Many of the members believe that
they will be held to strict accounta-
bility unless they do something to
change the tariff laws. On the 5th
of April Mr.. Townshend, of Illinois,
moved to suspend the rules and pass
the bill to admit salt, printing type,
and materials that enter into the
manufacture Of paper, free Of duty.
The motion was rejected because a
two-thirds vote was required. But
the vote stood 1l3 to 80, a majority
of thirty-three in favor Of the bill.
This majority of thirty-three cannot
force the Ways and Means Com
mittee to report a bill, but they can
prevent the adoption Of resolution
to fix the day of adjournment until
they shall have had an opportunity
to vote upon bill or bills revising
the tariff to some extent at least
Prominent advocates of tariff re-
vision talk in that way, and declare
that they will make the tariff an is
sue against the adj ournment ques-
ton.
Much important work has been arran-
| ged for the present week. Tuesday ev-
| eniDg there will be a session to consider
the STEAMBOAT bill, on Wednesday Mr..
King will call up the resolutions in re-
lation to the inter-oceanic ship canal;
an Thursday, after the morning hour,
the question of protecting the California
mines from debriss from the mines will
be called up. Wednesday and Friday
| evenings have been assigned to the Com
| mittee on the District of California, and
an effect will be made to assign Thurs
day night TO the bill to organize court
of pensions.
Representative Tucker, of Virginia,
chairman of the sub committee Of seven
of the Ways and Means Committee Of
the House, to whom were referred the
various propositions to reduce the tariff,
has been engaged for several days in
thorough investigation of the subject,
with view of preparing 8 bill which
they will agree to report to the House.
with the consent of the subcommittee
Mr.. Tucker will, on Thursday, present
to the full committee the schedule which
he has prepared. Among the articles
which it is proposed by the bill to place
upon the free-lIst are wood-pulp, chrome,
iron ore, rags, salt, trace chains, halter
chains, various manufactures. of iron
which enter into the composition Of agrl-
cultural implements, books, magazines,
periodicals, ETC., and among those upon
which it is proposed to reduce the tariff
are payer, printing materials, bichromate
ofpotash, woolen and worsted goods,
hats, and straw goods.