The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-02
SHIPPING BILL IN CONFERENCE TODAY
II the Senate Does Not Take Too
Long to Discuss 1t.
Senator Manderson Succeeds Mr..
ingalls, as President Pro Tenn.
The Soldiers Home Controversy Set
tIed-cen. Fessenden Chosen.
Especial to the Press. I

WASHINGTON, February 2S.- The Speaker
today appointed as conferees on the shipping
bill on the part of the House Mr.. Farquhar
OF New York, chairman of the committee on
merchant marine. Mr.. Dingley of Maine and
Mr.. Springer of illinois, 1t being the usage
to make the last of the three conferees an
opponent of the measure. 1t was expected
that the Senate would agree today to con-
ference and appoint their conferees, but
when Mr. Frye tried to get 1t done this after
noon Mr.. Vest of Missouri, said he wanted
time to read the bill and forced putting off
Of the conference. Mr.. Vests intentions
may have been wholly innocent, but his &C
tion is very suspicious and is giving the
friends of the bill great deal of uneasiness.
The Republican Senators by neglecting to
adopt a closure rule have allowed the Dem
0crats to become masters of the Senate. 1t
has been recognized all along that whenever
the Democratic minority chooses to exercise
its power 1T can stop any bill. For this
reason Mr.. Vests action is watched with
alarm. 1t Is thought that tomorrow III the
Senate shall sit Sunday or Monday MIR. Vest
may allow the bill to 20 to conference and
then kill it on the final vote on the adoption
OF the conference report. But the Republi-
cans of the Senate have one possible re-
source. luey may attdcu pOStai suuSiuy
bill to the pOstoffice appropriation bill as a
rider. Then the Democrats would be forced
to let 1t pass or cause an extra session by
stopping an appropriation bill; but such
postal subsidy bill would do no good to
Maine It"as hoped that by getting the
Cannon substitute into conference some
mt asure might result with features ad-
vanrageous to the shipping interests of
Maine and other coast states. But II the
Democrats prevent any subsidy bill except
such as may be attached to the postoffice bill.
and therefore such as would benefit only to
steamers for carrying mails, it is difficult
to see how any good can result to the general
shipping interests.
The attitude of the Democratic sovereigns
of the Senate will be watched with consider
able interest for few days now.
The direct tax bill is through both House
and Senate and is In the Presidents hands.
1t is thought that he will surely approve it.
The bill for the relief Of the Portland Com
pany is also in the hands of the President.
The court bill was finally passed today, the
House agreeing to the conference report,
which was the Evarts bill passed by the Sem
ate. Mr.. Evarts received many congratula-
tiOns today at the passage OF this bill which
effects an important reorganization OF the Ju-
dicial system of the nation. the bill adopted
today is the bill explained at length in the
PRESS several days ago.
The House tonight has agreed to confer
ence with the Senate on the copyright bill
which is accepted as assuring the passage of
that measure, with the Frye amendment in
cluding lithographing.
Last session there was disagreement be-
tween the House and Senate as to the Maine
member of the board OF Managers Of the
Soldiers Home. The House always nomi-
mated these managers and the House nomi-
mated Col. Augustus B. Farnham OF Bangor:
The Senate refused to concur and insisted
that Gen. T. W. Hyde of Bath, who had al
ready had term Of six years, should have
another term. The matter has finally been
settled by selecting as compromise ap-
poi1tee Gen. Francis Fessenden of Portland.
The conference committee of the House and
Senate agreed him taday and he will un-
doubtedIy be elected by Congress. The po-
sition is purely honorary, there being no pay,
but the duties are Important.
A number of Portland people are; W. W:
Brown and Mrs. Brown, General Selden Con-
nor and Mrs. Connor, E. 2. Chase, Isaac l..
Came, Mrs. ii. j. Bailey.