The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-28
Though Not on the Ways and Means Commit
tee. lie VIII Introduce Free-Trade Bill
and Force Vote on Ii in the House,
Springer and Other Democrats Getting
Ready TO Report Specific Measures.
Fancies Of the People Of Ecuador, Peru aud
BOliyia-Like to ClOthe Themselves in
Geudy Colors and Are Fond of Toys
MILLS HAS A SCHEME.
He VIII Try to Put CrisP's Friends in Hel,
on the Tariff Question

He VIII Try to Put Crisp's Friends in q Hole
the Tariff Question.
Special 10 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. q. 27.-Congressman
Mills's recovery from his severe attack Of
grip Is so slow that his family has deter
mined 10 oremove him TO Virginia, where be
VIII remain until he has entirely recoy-
cred. he has determined it is understood,
TO accept the charmanship of the commit
tee on commerce. or foreign and interstate
commerce. as IL is now called. liz wns ex-
pected, from the tone of hls refusal 20
accept Mr.. Crisp's tender of the second
place on ways and means. thar he would
refuse this chairtnanship. The kno owledge,
however. that he has determined 20 ac-
cept II his health will permit has.
therefore. occasioned no little surprise.
1t appears that Mr.. Mills IN accepting
the offer. does so Tor the distinct purpose
of introducing tariff bill and putting his
party on record a. for or against ''farifi re-
form." The appointment of Mr.. Springer
as chairman of the WAYS aud means COM
mittee meant. of course that there would
be no general tariff bill this session. But
Mr.. Mills has devised al exceedingly sim
pie method Of forcing his party "a ote. IL
is his Intention. on introducing hIs bill.
which will be modification of the Muls
bill. 10 move it's reference 90 the commit
tee on foreign and Interstate commerce;
that is to say. to his own COMMITTEES. with
leave to report any time. Under the rnles
of the House all bills 20 "rnlse revenue.y
and, consequently. 70 reduce revenue also,
are referred 60 the ways and means COM
mittee, but as the House is of course su-
perlor TO its own rules. ~ can 10y vote
change the. reference. IL viii be remem-
bered that IN the Eifueth Congress the
Cowles tobacco bill, which being a rev
enue measure. should have gone to the
ways and means was by a vote of the
House. referre d 10 the appropriations
%ss Chairman Mr. h'es Mills Mr. knoxs ESnd1 81
course. that his motion 20 refer
his bill to has own committee. instead OF
ways and means, will be defeated. and
that it will eventually be pigeon -holed IN
the ways and means room. But the
vote on bis motion will make every man IN
his party declare himself for or against
tariff reform" A vote TO refer TO HE own
committee will mean vote for tariff
reform" so called. A vote against such
reference will mean the burial of the sub
ject In kr Springer's desk.
Chairman Springer, OF the ways and
gieans committee. has gone TO Fort Mon
roe. but will return TO the city during the
work upon the preparation of the tariff bills
which are to be reported by the ways and
means committee. lt is probable that the
first bill TO be presented will he one
placing wool on the free list but this
has not been definitely settled Repre-
sentative Andrew. of Massachusetts, has n
number of tariff bills to introduce. and
other members are well supplied with
measures looking 20 tariff reform. SO that il
Is impossible 20 say which will receive fret
attention. Bills placing specific articleS
on the free lst will follow each other in
quick succession from the committee.
The House committee on rules has made
little progress with the important
work of preparing new code of rules fer
the guidance of the House. Speaker Crisp
has been entirely too i'll to give any atten-
ton TO the matter. and Mr. McMillin is
out of the city. The House will therefore
continue at work under the rules of the
Congress over which Mr.. Caplisle presided
for at least two and probably three weeka
after the holiday recess is over. IL is not
expected that this Nill work TO any
disadvantage. as no important business Is
expected TO come before the House until
some or the committees have considered
the bills referred TO them and some
reports have been placed upon
the calendar. In the meantime.
however Representative Catchings. the
remaining Democrat on the committee. Is
engaged In collecting data for the consid-
Grafton of the committee In relation to tho
advisabiiity OF placing the Appropriation
bills once more within tho sole jurisdiction
of the committee on appropriations.