Morning journal and courier., 1893-08-30

WORK OF CONGRESS.

Prompt Concurrence with the
House on tho Repeal of the Sher-
man Law-1ze Also Advocates the
Repeal of the Tax on State Banks.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-Mr. Voorhees,,
chairman of the finance committee, re-
ported back the house bill repeating part
of the Sherman act. with an addition in the
nature of substitute. He asked that the
bill be placed on the calendar, and he gave
notice that he should ask the senate to
take 1t up and consider 1t Immediately af
ter the morning business from this time
on until final action be taken. The sub
stitute, he said, was exactly the bill here
tofore reported from the finance commit
tee. he explained further that the bill as
reported from the finance committee was
identical with that passed by the house, 30
far IS concerned the repeal of the purchas-
ing clauses of the Sherman act; and that,
from that point OIL, there was a certain
matter in the substitute which was not In
the house bill, and which in his judgment
improved 1t and made 1t more acceptable.
Mr.. Teller objected to calling the bill up
to day, thus causing 1t to go over.
Mr.. Harris, member of the finance com
mittee, said that the substitute just report
ed was majority report in which the
minority of the committee did not concur
The bill was placed on the calendar.
A resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Stewart was then laid before the senate.
1t directs the secretary of the treasury to
| inform the senate whether there is danger
of deficiency in the revenues of the gov
eminent during the current year, and If
| so, what Is the probable amount of such
deficiency and whether legislation is neces-
sary to supply such deficiency. The reso-
luton gave rise to long discussion.
Senators Sherman, Voorhees,, Mills, Nc
Pherson and Harris opposed the resolu-
| ton as calling for problematical state
ments, as calculated to create needless
alarm, or as rejecting on the secretary of
l the treasury.
| finance committe WAS made by Mr.. Voor-
hees. That motion was opposed by Mr..
Hill and by Mr.. Stewart. Mr.. Hill de-
clared that the resolution contained no
manifestation of lack of con fidence in the
/ secretary of the treasury. There was no
| suggestion that the resolution would dis
| turb the interests of the country or that
there was anything to be covered up. he
was opposed to the system which he thought
was now to be insugursted of referring to
committees all resolutions calling on heads
of departments for information. There
seemed to be some dispute as to whether
congress was to legislate on the tariff ques-
ton at this extraordinary session. But II
there was to be tariff legislation It was
necessary to know what were the antici
psted revenues of the government. He
believed that whatever suggestion the sec
rotary of the treasury might make in rela.
ton to the revenues would probably be
adopted by congress.
| Mr. Stewart said there was a rumor that
there was deficiency in the revenue now
and that the treasury had difficulty in pay
ing current expenses, and he did not sup
pose the senate desired that to be done
Mr. Mcpherson asked Mr.. Stewart whether
he did not know that the democratic party
was in power In the senate and the respsn
sibility was upon 1t.
No, Mr. Stewart replied, do not know
that. know that the gold party claims tt
be in power. l think there are more sd
ministrstion men on the republican side OF
the chamber than there are on the demo
cratic side. CLaughter.)
We hear more eulogy of the administra
ton from the republican eide than from
the democratic side. If this resolution hat
been introduced by an administration re
publican there would have been no OBJ
lection to it.
Finally the resolution was referred t.
the finance COMMITTEE, yeas 40, nays 16.
The senators voting nay were Messrs
Allen, Call, Dubois, Hansbrough, Hill
Irby, Jones of Nevada, Kyle, Lindsay
PETER, Power, Shoup, Stewart, Teller
White of California and Walcott.
Mr.. Platt said he was not in the room o
the judiciary committee yesterday whel
Mr.. Hill was instructed to report bill Il
repeal the federal election law. He dit
, not concur In that report.
Mr.. Dolph introduced bin (which wa
referred to the committee on foreign rela
tions) appropriating $500, 900 to enable tn
secretary of the treasury to enforce tn
Chinese exclusion act.
Mr.. Gordon then addressed the senate Il
. favor of unconditional repeal of the pun
! chasing clauses of the Sherman act. Tn
democratic party he said had made to tn
people four distinct promises. They were
To reform the tariff; to repeal the Shel
/ man law; to place gold and silver on q
, equal footing; and to remove the tax o
state banks. There was no escape for th
party. 1t had either to redeem, or to T,
: pudiate, its pledges. The pledge as
r tariff reform would, doubtless, be futile
In due time; not 30 as tohsmper or cripp