The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-06-07
FROM WAS HINcToN.
Status of the Business Before the
TWO Houses of Congress.
Prospects of Mr.. Morrison's Tariff
Bill In the House.
The Bill Providing for Free Ships Not
Likely to he Pressed.
Cases of the Sisters and Monterey
Compared.
The Chief of Navigation Denies that
there is Discrimination Against
Americans.

=
there is Discrimination Against
Americans.
Especial to the Press.l
WASHINGTON, June 6-There is but little
prospect that much more general legislation
will be accomplished by either House of Con
gress during the present session. Business
both in the Senate and House is in a very
crowded condition and the struggle for pre-
cedence between the advocates of various
measures grows stronger as the session
draws to a close. This is especially true OF
the House, where everything is in such a
muddle, that no one knows what is to be
done. Realizing the need of some kind OF
an agreement upon an order of business to
be followed. Speaker Carlisle on Friday last
called meeting of the chairmen of the lead
ing committees and other Democrats for the
purpose of adopting some plan of action By
them it was decided that committee con-
sisting of Speaker Carlisle, and the chairmen
of the six leading committees shall prepare a
programme to be followed. This committee
will meet Tuesday. In the Senate two
caucuses were held last week for the purpose
of adopting plan of action, but they accom-
plished nothing more than a general outline
for business, and they will probably hold an
other caucus in the near future to come to
some definite understanding as to what shall
be taken up for consideration and what shall
be left. As said before, however, there is
little likelihood that much of any more
general legislation will be accomplished. In
the Senate the bankruptcy bill, which every
one expected to pass without difficulty has
met with set back and will not be
taken up again this session. The open
session resolution also is now almost
certain to go over to next winter The
Chinese indemnity bill, and the Chinese re-
striction bill have passed the Senate. but in
all probability will get no further until next
winter. By piece of shrewd practice Sen
ator Van Wyck insured consideration by
the House for the railroad land taxation bill
by substituting it for a bill of similar import
which has already passed the House. 1t
therefore win go back as on amendment to
the House bill and, with a committee of con-
ference will obtain early consideration. The
Senate will undoubtedly devote the larger
regular appropriation bills, unless the House
by long discussion upon the tariff, should
compel them to sit here longer than is neces-
sary to pass these bills. The oleomargarine
and mackerel bills will, however, probably
receive consideration by the Senate In the
House unless the tariff bill is taken up, there
will be practically nothing done except to
pass the appropriation bills, and possibly
one or two bills which have come to them
from the Senate. Among the bills which
will undoubtedly pass if they can obtain
consideration are the bill for the issue Of 81
and So notes for circulation and the bill ex-
tending the privileges of the eight hour law
to letter carriers, but it is exceedingly doubt
full if they obtain consideration.
The Tariff Bill.
Mr. Morrison has announced that he will
endsavor to call up the tariff bill just as
soon as the legislative, executive and judi
cial, and naval appropriation bills are passed
by the House, which will probably be in
about week or ten days, although the civil
service rider" attached by Mr.. Randall to
the former bill may prolong debate for a
longer time. Whether Mr.. Morrison will be
successful in his endeavor, ii still matter
of conjecture. He claims that he can secure
a amajority of from to 10 in favor of its con-
sideration, while its opponents claim practi-
cally solid Republican vote against it, with
from 30 to 40 Democratic votes which would
make vote of about It's against consider
alton to $50 in favor. If taken up it will
probably prolong the session to the first of
August at least, although plan has been
talked of, by which consideration of the bill
is to be postponed, after few days debate,
until next winter. This will be to give the
free trade Democrats show of having full
filled their promise in regard to reforming
the tariff, by having bill pending in Con-
gress during the fall campaign, and with the
idea that this will be more favorable to
them than to have it debated at length and
then, as it would in all probability, meet de-
feat at the end. Should the bill not be taken
up or should this latter plan be adopted an
adjournment is probable by the sixth of July.
The Free Ship Bill.
1t is also still somewhat uncertain what
will become of the free ship bill. The bill
was very unceremoniously set aside by the
oleomargarine bill and no effort has since
been made to take it up again. 1t is quite
probable that the prophesy made by the
PRESS two weeks ago, that the bill would
not be pressed to vote will be fulfilled. 1t
it quite evident that it will be defeated if
taken up and pressed to a vote, and there is
so much other business before the House
that ought to receive attention that it will
surprise but few if the bill is not heard of
again. 1t occupies the same position in this
regard that the tariff bill would if the plan
mentioned above should be carried out. It's
friends will have made an appearance of
keeping their promises and by having the
bill pending during the campaign, can point
to it as an evidence of good faith on their
part, which they could not do were the bill
to be voted upon, ,and defeated. That this will
be the plan adopted cannot be stated with
certainty, but it is exceedingly probable.
Fishermen to be Questioned.
Acting Secretary Fairchild has issued the
following circular to customs officers in re-
gard to statistics of the fisheries:
1t is represented to this department by
Hon. Spencer F. Baird, commissioner of fish
and fisheries, that, in view of the questions
arising in the shaping and negotiating of a
new fishery treaty WlIn 0reaG brlUdlu dIecC-
ing colonial waters in North America, and
for other reasons, it is desirable to have at
hand, available for reference, full and accu-
rate information regarding our fisheries. A
large per centage of the product of the fish
cries of the United States is taken by vessels
licensed for the fisheries or coasting trade,
and the owner and master in each case are
thoroughly informed relative to the move
ment Of the vessel and the quantity of fish,
shellfish and other products obtained. 1t is,
therefore, directed that whenever the owner,
master, or agent of any vessel Of over five
tons burden, engaged in the capture or
transportation of any kind of fish, shell fish,
crust, ETC., or other products of the sea, riv-
ers or lakes, shall present himself at the
custom house for the purpose of obtaining,
or renewing, his marine papers, the collector
or his deputy will question him regarding
the information required by the regulations
of the department, and forward the informa-
tion to the fish commission.
The Case of The Sisters.
Mr. D. Lyman, chief of the navigation
division of the Treasury Department, has
made the following statement in regard to
the published card of William S. Trefethen,
of Portland, Me-, who cited the cases of the
American schooner Monterey and the Cana
5;o,, coboonar Sisters to show that our ooV-