Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-27
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

THE WEEK IN CONGRESS.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-One more week
will close the term of the 47th congress.
1t will be busy and probably turbulent
week in the house of representatives. All
of the appropriation bills are in better posi-
ton than this stage of the short session
usually finds them. They could be readily
disposed of within three days, if that were
necessary, but tariff and in ternal revenue
questions are uppermost in the minds OF
everybody, and the contest between the
tariff reformers and protectionists will be
sharp and exciting. It must be so, be-
cause the manuvering that has been going
on for weeks must be brought to an end and
each party must show its real position
with reference to a reduction of tariff tax
alton. The Robinson rule WILL no doubt be
adopted bysss majority vote, as the low tar
if representatives with two or three excep-
tions, have permitted themselves to be de-
ceived or whipped into line under the lead
ership OF the high tariff men. few high
tariff representatives have declared that
they will not vote to change the rules for
the ostensible reason that they are unwil-
| ling to run the risk of an adoption of low
tariff rates on iron, steel, wool and lumber
by conference committee. This is purely
a subtelfuge, and it is expected that they
will be found voting with Robinson when
the critical nc oment arrives. Their inter-
ests manifestly lie in that direction, and
they have shown themselves too shrewd
not to understand that the Robinson
rule will operate to secure
an increase of duties in the
senate tariff bill or to leave the tariff in
creased, as it is poor rule that won't work
both ways. TIE Robinson rule is an un-
commonly bad one. It will allow the house
to reject the senate bill, but will not per-
NIT vote upon agreeing to it. If it had
been drawn so as to permit the house to
vote whether it would concur or not con-
curl Democrats would accept it at once,
but the syndicate of protectionists have
abandoned the well worn maxim that the
majority shall govern, and in the Robin
son rule they say majority shall decide
the tariff issue, provided they will decide
as we wish them. 1t is expected that the
high tariff Democrats will aid their polit-
cal opponents by refraining from casting
their votes on the question of adopting the
new rule The Democrats have no fixed
policy, except that of resistance to the out
rageous rule, which has been concocted by
the Republicans, to send the tariff bill to
committee of conference. The rule, if
adopted, will cut of even the considera-
ton of motion to concur in the amend
ments of the senate, and will tie the hands
of those ready to take the bill as it is. The
Republicans being practically united, the
new rule. or rather the special rule for the
occasion, will be adopted, provided there is
quorum of Republicans in their
seats. While the Democrats will not fill
buster to prevent vote on the gag, they
will insist that the Republicans shall have
a legal quorum of their own to do the e'dirty
work contemplated. If the bill goes to a
conference committee it will be made up
of five senators and five representatives.
The senators who would probably be |
chosen are Sherman, Morrill,, Aldrich, Beck
and Bayard, and the representatives Kel-
ley, Mckinley, Haskell, Randall and Car
lisle In such an outfit as this the pro-
tectionists would have seven votes to
three, and Randall and Bayard would |
see to it that the iron and steel |
were not hurt. Despite all
the scheming and underhand work, the
chances for the new tariff becoming law
are not one in a dozen. Even Judge |
Kelly has bat little faith, for he has al
ready prepared a separate revenue bill, |
which he will offer if the prospects of the
tariff bill going through are not
enhanced by Wednes
day night. This will be the same bill |
which the house of representatives de-
feated on Monday last, with a reduction
of the duty on steel rails and su gar added |
The duty on steel rails is to be fixed at |
S17.92 ton. The rate in the senate bill |
is $3.50 per ton and in the house bill $15
a ton. The sugar duty is fixed as the
house agreed to it in the house tariff bill.
Kelly estimates the reduction of taxation.
under the bill he proposes as follow: in
C6rQdI r0VeHaS, $fl,JOU,OOOj stcol rdllS,
$1,951, ,194; sugar and molasses, $11, ,246,-
S57; total $55,098,04 1.
PL LEURO-PNEUMoNIA.
The spes ker presented to the house to-
day the resolution of the Wisconsion leg
islature asking congress to take steps to
prevent the spread of pleuro pneumonia,
which, it says, prevails in the Eastern
states from New York to Virginia, and is
iniuring the export cattle trade to the
amount of Millions of dollars.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The Republicans seem as far as ever
from an agreement on the tariff. The
openly threaten to filibus-
ter against any proposition which would
permit the senate bill to be voted on with
out first going to the conference. Those
on the inside admit that they
do not see any hope for agreement or ac-
ton.
Western Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-In the court of