Omaha daily bee., 1890-06-02
RUSHING THE TARIFF BILL.
The Finance Committee Expects to Finish
It's Consideration This Week.
SILVER LEGISLATION IMPROBABLE,
The Federal and Anti-Gerrymnndcr
Measures Seldom Mentioned Now
Washington Merchants Want
Local Protection.
WAsHINGToN BUREAU THE OMAHA BEE,
5l3 FOURTEENTH STREET,

An effort Is gong to be made without any
show or buster to finally complete the con-
Bideratiou of the Mckinley tariff bill by the
republican members of the senate committee
on finance by the end Of this week.
If this should be accomplished the full com
mittee may be able to report to the senate
some time next week and the debate may be
commenced by the Goth inst. There is little
desire so far as can be seen at present to dis
cuss the bill at length If the measure gets
into the hands of a conference committee by
the second or third week in July it will be as
far advanced as is generally expected, al
though the members Of the senate committee
nre now anxious to surprise the country with
their ability TO do rapid work. The senate
being very much smaller body, ought to dis
pose Of q bill in great deal less time than
the house, but 1t labors under the disadvan-
tage of having no rules with which it can
!, limit or terminate debate.
, SILVER LEGISLATION IMPROBABLE.
Although possible 1t is not at all probable
that there will be any silver legislation at
this session of congress. The markets for
bullion show during the past week that this
impression is not only prevalent in the most
reliable congressional circles here, but in
Wall street. There has been an unloading of
bullion within the past few days which has
depressed prices and it is likely that there
will be still further decline. The sus-
picons of a month since that there existed
combination in the senate to secure "cOrner''
on silver bullion and bull the market has
been partially confirmed by the sales, which
have increased as the circumstances and con-
dition of business in both houses made the
probabilities of the final passage of a silver
bill more remote.
Neither house has yet passed q silver bill
Each house has before it distinct measure
AT the least two very different kinds of bills
ssnt % be passed they Sy0mi36d shGgd be
is doubtful whether an agreement could be
reached which would meet the approval of
both branches of congress. The house has
not debated the question even n little. The
senate has given it partial consideration, but
before it can be completed the tariff bill will
come up for a long and tiresome discussion to
the exclusion of everything else except ap-
preparations. The tariff, appropriation, pen
sion and a few other measures will probably
consume the time till the adjournment of this
session.
1t is believed that the session will close
within a very few days after the tariff bill is
finally passed unless the president should re-
fuse to consent to an adjournment before a
silver bill is adopted.
Interest in the silver bill Just at this time
has materially waned from the heat it as
sumed couple of months since, and as the
campaign approaches and the hot weather in
. creases, the possibility of silver coinage
legislation becomes more and more obscure
E SELDOM MENTIONED.
The anti-gerrymander and federal election
bills, about which SO much was said
before the malaria of summer be-
indifference in congress, are seldom mentioned
at the capital Questions of propriety have
been raised which appear to have placed both
of these subjects upon the retired list Some
republican members from Ohio raised the
first question of proprety against the anti
gerrymander bill by asking whether the
adoption of such measure would not be but
the beginning OF a new gcrrymanuer of con-
ErcSSional districts every time one party had
control of the entire legislative branch of the
government, seeming to forget that it occurs
but once or twice in score of years that one
party has both branches of congress and the
presidency Some New England republicans
In the house pulled back on the strings which
promised TO get an early and affirmative
action upon the federal election bill. They
contended that its enforcement might result
in sectional as well rs race strifes, leading to
bloodshed and serious business sacrifices.
There has been effective work against action
ufon either of these bills at this
session with promises to friends of
both that next session after the
elections are over and no specific object
can be charged as an excuse for the proposed
laws there shall be favorable action.
CAMPHoR GOING UP.
So much camphor is being used for the ex-
termination or repression of moths and Scien-
titic purposes that Washington druggist
makes the interesting statement that the
article will double in value during the next
year 1t is being used in large quantities in
the manufacture of smoSeless powder, which
has just been adopted for continental and
oriental armies.
LOCAL PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
The principle of tariff for protection is
about to be requested of congress by the
merchants of Washington. This is not
tariff upon imports that they want. They
want IA prohibitory license or prohibitive
tariff imposed upon travelling auctioneerS and
"closing outn saleSmen. The national capital
has for many years had n drummer tax,
but this has of late become n successful field
for nonresident auctioneers and merchants
with "bankruptn or "aSsignecsn stocks TO
morrow night the merchant residents will
meet and frame bill to protect the local
field, The bankrupt sale fellows are the ones
aimed at especially.
WAITING on FARMERS AND LABOR.
1t is not likely that there will be any legis-
latiOn intended to specifically relieve either
the farming or labor distress, for the reason
that there has been no systematic effort in
that direction, Neither the farmers nor the
laborcrs of the country have made any direct
or specific demands for legislation. Both have
asked for relief, but neither has specified what
~r.aeeded or expected, congressman have in
troduced lot of bills, but none of them seem
To have been prepared with any knowledge of
the law or necessities 1t has been a walk in
w. L
thb farmers through their alliance would sug-
gost some measures and labor make sugges-
tions through its national organization both
could get legislation, for every man in con
grcss would fall into line What is needed is
n bill from the national organization of farmers
and n bill from the national organization of
labor Where suggestions are left to local
organizations there is nothing but confusion
DEMOCRATIC CUssEnNEss.
The aggravating position assumed by the
democrats in both houseS-that of opposing
every general measure proposed by the re
publicans have the effect of defeating
great deal of legislation which would be of
benefit to the country. A spirit of pure, un-
adulteratcd Cusscdncss seems TO peryade the
entire democratic party rs represented in
congress. If a republican should propose
pure democratic mcasure-one presented by
Mr.. Mills or MIR Carlisle only two years ago
it would meet with the solid opposition of
the democrats, simply because il was pro-
posed by republican. The faculty OF think
ing, vested in individual as well rs collective
democrats, seems 10 have died with Messrs,
Randall and Cox. The general legislation
/. which will come from this congress will be
the result of so much hammcring and "nrbi,
trary rulen from the republicans. II win not
show any Of the handiwork or common sense