The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-02-23
NEWS CONDENSED.
DoINas OF CONGRESS.

THE Senate worked seven hours upon It's
Tariff bill on Feb. lS Sugar was the main sub
ject OF discussion. The New England men. who
wanted reductions In the lower grades; the
Southern men, who wanted reductions in the
. higher grades, II any reduction were to be made;
the men from the Middle States, who were OPP
posed TO any reduction, but preferred reductions
In the higher to reductions in the lower grades,
made over again the speeches they had made
in committee of the whole. AT times
come of il all was a compromise, offered by MIR.
Bayard, with which everybody seemed TO be salts
fed The tobacco item was then taken mp, and
also excited tspirited debate, which was like
wise ended by a compromise between the Con-
necticut and Havana tobacco interests The
House was engaged all day upon the metal
schedule of the Ways and Means Committee bill
Among the important changes made was an
amendment to prescribe duty of
ally enumerated, the duty in no case to ex-
coed 90 cents per pound. The duty on nickel,
nickel oxide, alloy of any kind in which nickel
is the element OF chief value, was reduced from
25 cents to 10 cents per pound duty on quick
silver of % per cent. ad valorem was inserted
Bronze powder was reduced from 25 per cent TO
30 per cent, gold leaf from 81 per package OF
800 leaves TO $780, and shotguns and all other
firearms not provided for in the act were re-
duced from ot 50 per cent; to Con, 80 per
placed on pistols of all kinds. The duty on
penknives, pocketknives and razors of all kinds
was reduced to 40 per cent The tariff on metal
lie pens was fixed at IL cents a gross instead of
a. per cent. There was a little personal
spat between Messrs. Townshend, of Illinois,
and Haskell, of Kansas The former charged
that the measure under consideration was the
work of hired lobbyists The latter resented
the charss, and some hot words followed, which
for a time relieved the dull monotony that usu-
ally attends tariff legislation in Congress.
The amendment made in committee of
the whole, raising the duty on bituminous coal
from so to rs cents u ton, came up in the Senate
ON Feb. IA and gave rise TO long debate. 1t was
concurred in by vote of % To Is. There was also
alively discussion concerning the duty on books,
which was fixed at 10 per cent. al valorem. Mr.
Blair introduced in the Senate bill to prevent
the use of convict labor upon works of the
United States. The House wrestled the whole
day with the tariff problem. An attempt TO re-
duce the duty on all iron wares not enumerated
in the bill was defeated, every amendment look
ing to that end being promptly voted down.
proposition offered by Mr. Cox, of New York, for
the admission OF foreign built ships on the pay
ment of duty of 80 per cent. was lost, three
affirmative Mr.. Holman moved to place lum-
Der on the free list, which gave rise TO "A long
and animated debate. This, together with sew
eraf other amendments looking TO the reduction
Of the duties on hubs, wagon blocks, etc, were
promptly squelched. night session held
to consider the Legislative Appropriation bill. at
which Mr.. Butterworth made an earnest effort TO
secure an hour for the consideration of the bond
ed whisky BILL was beaten. Mr.. Joyce declared
ttha the measure should not have minute
during the session.
NEARLY all the day of Feb Is was con-
sumed in the Senate by discussion of the tariff,
and the Senate bill was pushed through the sec
ond reading. Mr.. Cockrell presented petitions
from the officers OF several educational institu-
tions in Missouri for the appointment of
practical astronomer as superintendent
of the Naval Observatory Mr.. Morrill,
handed in q remonstrance against any reduction
of the tariff on books below Is per cent, signed
by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Il. b. Aldrch and
John q. Whittier. In executive session Mr. Ed
minds offered resolution floor
only such private secretaries engaged in
the performance of duty. In the House Mr.. Will
lams submitted conference report on the Jap
anese indemnity fund, TO return the s7s5,0O0
received to pay $4,000 TO the officers of the
Wyoming and Takiang, and cancel the bonds
composing the indemnity fund. This was agreed
TO. The sugar schedule of the Tariff bill was
under discussion, and all amendments were
voted down by large majorities, and the COM
mittee bill was substantially unchanged.
The japanese Indemnity bill, which had
previously passed the House, was taken up and
passed by the Senate on Feb 16, after which the
Senators tackled the Tariff bill, but did little
work. The House laid aside the Tariff bill and
took up and passed the Legislative Appropria-
ton bill. The working hours of the Government
clerks were fixed at seven and one half in winter,
and eight in summer The clerks fought vainly
for softer job" The whisky men made an
effort TO secure the consideration of the Bonded
Period bill, but were promptly defeated Bills
were introduced to appropriate 100000 and
100000 for the relief of the sufferers by the flood
THE Senate made little orno progress with
the Tariff bill on Feb. II, although good
deal of talking was done. Mr.. Sherman pre-
sentcd proposition looking TO increase OF
the duties on certain kinds of steel A very
lively debate followed, in the course of which
Mr. Beck intimated that the Ohio Senator's sub
stitute was inspired by the steel manufacturers,
who three weeks ago satisfied with the
tariff that had been substantially agreed on, but
now were clamoring that poverty stared them in
the face. Sherman denied the accusation and said
that the Senator from Kentucky could not bully
him. Mr.. Beck retorted that he would see TO it
that the Ohio Senator should not bully the Sem
ate. There was an exciting discussion in
the House Of Representatives of the
Tariff issue. Mr.. Dunnel uRep) arose and de-
clared that it had been determined by the Re-
publicans 20 abandon the bill, and reflected Sc
vercly on his rarity colleagues for deluding the
people Mr.. Kasson in reply laid the blame
Of DELAYING the bin ON the Democratic
side, which statement was received
with derisive ordinations from that side.
Mr.. Haskell Immediately moved that the com
mittee rise; and, the motion being agreed 10,
moved that all debate on the pending and sue
ceeding schedules of the bill be closed in one
hour. Mr.. Carlisle raised the point that the mo-
ton was not in order. The discussion on Car
isles point OF order was carried on amid good
deal of confusion and excitement. The Re-
pubicans, led by Mr.. Kasson, con-
tinued to charge upon the Democratic side
of the House the responsibility for delay in the
PASSAGE of n tariff measure Mr.. Morrison, on
behalf OF the Democrats, protested against put
out due consideration. If YOU will give
as a bill making 20 per cent reduction
exclaimed Mr.. Morrison, I'VE will pass
H. before night" The discussion
was interrupted by the Speaker who announced
the hour for special order-"the eulogics on the
late Representative Shackelford"-had arrived.
Mr.. Blackburn and other Democrats, with an
air Of Defiance urged immediate decision OF. & he
point of order, but the Speaker did not yield
TO their demand, and the prayer of wellington
Mt Waterloo for night or Blucherl was touching
ly quoted by Mr. Tucker