Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-27
SOME AFFAIRS OF STATE.

SOME AFFAIRS OF STATE.
Two More Froe List Bills Prepared for Pre-
sentation to Congratulated and His
Quorum Countins-The Pinkerton sys-
tenn to BE Investigated, After All.
WASHINGTON, April 26 Special. The
Democratic maj jority of the Ways and Means
Committee to-day moved a little further
along in their programme OF attacking the
present tariff system by means of separate
tariff bills. Two more "free list" bills were
practically agreed upon by the Democratic
majority, and were brought before the full
committee on Ways and Means, at to-day's s
nesting, but owing to the desire on the part
of the Republican minority OF the commit
tee, to further scan the measures before
their, report to the House, no final action
was taken by the committee. The two bills
to be reported relate to lumber and sill
yer lead ores, and it is proposed to make
each free of duty. The majority have not
absolutely determined to report a free lum-
Der BILL but there is reason to believe that
such a conclusion will be reached ut tho
next meeting. Mr.. Montgomery, Of Ken
lucky. is Chairman Of the sub-com-
mittee in charge OF the lumber
bill. As framed, the bill follows
making the same classes OF lumber free of
duty that were put on the free list by the
Mills bill. The majority have decided def
nitely to report bill to admit Mexican
silver lead ores free of duty, and the only
reason the report was notordered to be made
to the House to-day was that Mr.. Reed said
he believed there were some objections to
be urged to the measure and the minority
would take the matter to go over until the
next meeting. The bill adopted by the
1fU m
that introduced by Mr.. Dockery, of Missouri.
1t changes the existing law so as to provide
shat ores containing silver and lead in
which the value of the silver contents shall
be greater than the value Of the lead con-
tents according to sample. and assay at the
port of entry shall be considered silver ores,
When these bills are reported to the House
it will make another list of three tariff
measures to engage the attention of tho
House at this session, the tin plate bill being
WHEN the roll of the Committee on
Ways and Means was first called to-day, it
disclosed the presence of but seven members,
whereupon Acting Chairman McMillin said
there was no quorum present. Mr.. Reed
asked how many members there were on the
committee. Mr.. McMillin responded that
there were Is. Mr. Reed remarked that eight
was quorum, but when Mr.. Nc Millin told him
there were but seven members present, Mr..
Reed replied that he had counted the clerk.
Representative Bryan here broke in with.
the remark that that illustra ted the danger
of the gentleman's (Mr. Reed's) method of
ter at Mr.. Reeds expense at this remark,
which led Mr.. Reed to remark that he was not
then counting officially: that he never made
mistake when counting officially.
AFTER having considered the question of
constitutionality for a long time. the House
Judiciary Committee to-day decided to report
resolution directing an Investigation to be
made into the PiDkerton system. The COM
mittee came to the conclusion that as the
charges alleged the use of Plnkerton men
by Interstate commerce carriers and also
that their employment had resulted in VIC,
lence to persons and property, that it would
recommend an investigation to ascertain If
the charges were true. The committee will
report substitute for tho Watson resolu-
tion, and simply provide for an invostiga-
tiOn.
THREE members of the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs-Messrs Geary, O'Don-
nell and Harmer-have united with Mr..
Raynor in reporting to the House set of
resolutions in place of what they regard as
the perfunctory expression of sympathy
with the prosecuted Russian Hebrews al
ready reported by the majority of the COM
mittee These resolutions assert that the
time has now come when the United States
is entitled to take an interest in the con-
tinued persecution of the Hebrews in
Russia and direct that the American Min
lister at st. Petersburg, cornmunicate with
the Russian Government and report whether
there is any prospect of the repeal of the
May laws; OF the laws limiting the places of
of Hebrews and the character of
their occupations, and prohibiting foreign
Russia. The Attorney General is also to
report, upon the facts ascertained by the
whether or not these Russian
statutes and ordinances d0not constitute a
of existing treaties between tile
United States and Russia.
Mr. MASON, Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, said to-day that the recent deci-
sion Of the United States Supreme Court, in
the case OF George r. Eaton is liable to be
by persons not familiar with
the facts. This particular case, he ex-
planned, arose under the original oleomar-
garine act, which did not prescribe penalty
In the case of wholesale dealers who Jailed
Revenue. The lay. however, was sub
sequently amended october l. 1880, so as to
cover this omission in the original act. 1t
should be understood, there fore, that it is no
provision of law that requires the dealer to |
report to the Commissioner and to suffer q |
penalty 1or 1alllng to DO so.
FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GEN |
ERAL WHITFIELD, of the committee appointed |
by General Wanamal1er to investigate the |
postal needs Of the city of Chicago with ref
erence to the Worlds Fair. has returned to |
" Washington. The committee has not yet |
its report, but it has been de- |
,ided to ask Congress for IN appropriation |
sufficient to meet the increased service |
which will be incident to the Fail, according |
70 the plan to be adopted and submitted by |
,he commission. 1t is understood that as |
The present postof1lce building is VIII oily in, |
ideq uate to meet these increased de mands, |
The committee will. through Mr.. Wanna |
maker, ask Congress to authorize the Con- |
;truction of II one-story temporary addi tion |
)n the Adams and Dearborn street sides of |
,he present building, which W i'll take in all |
If the now unoccupied space between the
building and the sidewalk. This, III addi-
ion to the present capacity of the building,
{ is thought, will furnish q sufficiently large |
1oor space to accommodate the increased |
business. 1t is proposed to make the tenn
)orary structure as slightly as possible.
COMMISSIONER SIMONDS will include |
With the Patent Office exhibit at the Worlds |