Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-20
General CapitoE Neers,

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 19.-The
committee on ways and means gave q
hearing this morning on the sugar ques-
ton to J. E. Searles, Jr., of New York,
for sugar importers, who made lengthy
review of the question. He claimed the
term duties on standard Of colors having
been defined by the courts to be well
understood commercial phrase, it became
q contract between the government and
importers. Secretary Sherman defended
the position of the department and in
sisted upon its right, under the law, to
test the commercial value of imported
sugars in assessing duties and to employ
such tests as in the Judgment of the de-
partment would best protect the revenue
from frauds. He should enforce his ruI-
ings until further enactments of Congress
altered or amended the present law. He
was in favor of speedy legislation, how
ever, to settle all points in dispute and
hoped Congress at the present session
would pass some law to accomplish that
result.
The important business before Con-
gross is now in such shape that it can be
finally disposed of before the 4th of
sion Of an extra session. There are no
questions of serious difference between
the two houses on any of the appropria-
ton bills. The only item that will cause
any delay in conference is an amendment
by the Senate to the legislative bill au-
thorMing the employment of a number Of
additional clerks in the pension bureau.
The sentiment of the House is against
Jv,nr aff ha ala G.
the bureau, while the Senate holds that
the increase is necessary to facilitate the
pension work. The Senate will insist
upon the amendment in conference and
the House will resist. On all the other
appropriations the two houses are IN
accord upon all items of any Importance
The Senate amendments to the funding
bill will be concured in by the House.
The declaration of number of the lead
ing Republican members of the House
men like Frye and Hawley-at the caucus
last night, In favor of the passage of an
appOrtiOnment bill indicates that no time
will be wasted on that measure Even
should the apportionment bill fail it
would not necessitate an extra session
The bill to prevent the spread of the
cattle disease in this country, pending in
Vic OtHdte to-udy utet, Win OppOSlClOn
from numerous Senators who earnestly
advocated law for this purpose, but con-
demned the present bill as crude and full
of imperfections. The debate indicated
that the pending bill could not pass, the
prevailing opinion being that it would be
better to wait until the next Congress for
such law than to put through a meas
ure 80 imperfect Senator Johnston,
chairman of the select committee which
reported the bill, states that he in
tendsNo get the committee together be-
fore noon Monday for the purpose of
amending the bill so as to cover the de-
fects complained of. 1t is not probable.
however, that he can SO change the bill to
make it acceptable. If the pending bill
is rejected or recommitted it will put an
end to the whole subject for this Con-
gress.
Senator Saunders, of Nebraska, to-day
offered an amendment to the river and
harbor bill, to appropriate n, 13S, 900 for
improvement of the Missouri river, in
accordance with the surveys heretofore
made. Mr.. Saunders windeliver speech
in favor of his proposition next Monday.
He says he does not expect to obtain the