The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-01
They Are Carefully Considering the Substitute
for the Mills Bill, and Getting the Amend
mentS in Shape to Be Voted On.
The Inaugural Ball viii Not Be Giddy
and Naughty, but Very DecOrOus,
And There Will Be No Deadheads-0rde from
the Postmaster-General Classifying the
Employees Under Civil.Seryice Rules.
Republicans Hard at Work on the Substitute
for the Bill Passed by the House.

Republicans Hard at Work on the Substitute
for the Bill Passed by the House.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-Five well-known
Republican statesmen emerged from the
room of the Senate committee on finance at
l o'clock, and filed into the restaurant.
They had been in conference all forenoon,
and from the expressions their faces bore
the work they were doing was of very
important character. None of them, how
ever, would talk upon the subject. They
were Messrs. Morrill,, Sherman, Allison,
Aldrich and Hiscock, all members OF the
cOyuIni tee on finance. One of them VEN
tured the information that they would be IN
session ali afternoon, and would foregO the
festivities of tomorrow in order that they
might as nearly as possible complete the
work they were enga ged upon. When lunch
was over they returned to the committee
room, again placed their double guards at
the door, and for more than two hours con-
tinued in secret session. 1t is ascertained
that the committee is passing for the last
time upon the substitute for the Mills tariff
bill, with view to getting the the measure
in such condition that all of the amend
ments may be voted upon at one time III
the event the Democrats delay final action.
The bill will be taken up in the Senate
again On Wednesday, and the work
of its consideration will progress
as heretofore. 1t is believed that
the Democrats, Notwithstanding their
pledge to take o vote on the bill on the 21st
of January, will fight the amendments to
an extent which will preclude vote upon
more than very few of them when that
time arrives. The Republicans propose to
have the bill in condition so that when the
21st of January is reached final vote on
all of the amendmentscan be taken and the
bill put upon its passage without further
debate OF ceremony. 1t is not believed that
there will be many important amendments
adopted. A cut of so cents on the lumber
duty may be the only amendment of im-
portance. When the bill comes to final
vote, or a final vote is taken on all the
amendments at one time, the Republicans
say they will stand solidly together. 1t is
to meet such emergencies as vote upon all
of the amendments at one time that the Re-
publican members OF the committed ca
finance have been in caucus for several
days, and will continue at that work for
some days to come. Senator Henderson of
Nebraska, was before the committee this
afternoon and made an argument in favor
of important concessions in the bill. He
asked for bounty of / cent a pound on
beet sugar and for the admission of beet
sugar machinery free of duty for one year,
for experimental purposes, in order to en-
courage the growth of the industry in sec
tons of the West and South where beet
sugar was being developed with more or
less success. The Senator also made an
other argument in favor OF n reduction Of
the duty on white pine lumber, and to-
night said that he believed that the duty
would be reduced from s. thousand feet
to 81, OF S1.50 at most.