The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-05
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS
Senator Voorhees, Will Force the
Senate to Act.
THE TARIFF BILL IN PREPARATION

His Views Upon tho Subject Before the
Ways and Means Committee-The Bel
KNAPP. Richardson Election Contest.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 4-The senate shows
no disposition to shirk the.respopsibility
placed upon it by the house 20 pass the
bill to repeal the purchasing clause Of the
Sherman silver law. Mr.. voorhees, has
given frequent notice that he will press
the repeal bill at all times until it is. dis
posed Of. It is expected that Mr.. Hale's
proposition that the senate meet at II
o'clock will be accepted, and thus, gently
and gradually, but firmly, the pressure
will be brought to bear upon the silver
men who hold out in the fight against re-
| peal. IL they are disposed to talk from
this out they will be allowed to do so, but
| whenever there is an intermission Senator
voorhees, will probably be found per-
suasirely suggesting vote on some
amendment. and all the time seeking TO
bring the question to final vote, tho
favorable issue of which he does not APP
pear to doubt.
Formal announcement Of speeches to be
made have been given by Senators Gull
lom, Stewart and Mills, the first holding
the floor today. Mr.. Stewart will speak
tomorrow and Mr.. Mills on Wednesday. IL
is probable also that Senator Mitchell, Of
Oregon, will address the senate on the sill
Yer question before tho week expires.
The house, instead OF adopting the code
Of rules recommended by the committee
on rules, In one session, as 1t was expected
would be done, spent the whole Of lest
week, after Monday, in debate upon the
committees report, without coming to any
conclusion thereon. Much of the opposi-
ton to the rules was purely fictitious, and
was aroused with the belief that while
thus engaged the house would at least be
saved from doing any damage or anything
which it or the country might regret.
AS there was nothing immediately de-
handing attention it was felt that the
members could make haste slowly, and
the full and free, if not discursive, discus.
sion of the propositions of the committee
and the amendments offered by others
was not antagonized. But week having
| been thus spent the leaders of the house
are now, it is believed, satisfied that all
has been granted in the way of debate
that is necessary or desirable, and will
make an effort to secure final action on
the report on Wednesday, the day to which
the house has adjourned. Should they be
successful in this, the intention is to give
Thursday to the introduction of bills, and
adjourn from that date until Monday of
next week. In case of failure to carry out
this program there are no plans for the
week, but the progress Of events will de-
pend upon the developments from day to
day, which no man can foresee.
The committee on ways and means to-
day began the series Of hearings It has
consented to conduct preparatory to its
work OF preparing tariff bill. The first
person heard was Representative III. d.
Harter. of Ohio, and his purpose in. tax
ing advantage Of the opportunity offered
nv fha n,if taa IL tralx,
with his we'll known and frequently ex-
pressed views upon the subject. ~ am go
Ing to talk to the committee, he said,
about two articles, agricultural imple-
| ments, and flour. which think ought to
be placed on the FREQ list or at least, in
cluded within the reciprocity treaties that
we make. There is no more reason,n con-
tinued Mr. Harter, why there should be
duty OH those things than there should
be one on wheat" And then recollectinR
himself, But we have one on wheat"
Leaving the reporter to fill in the blank
made by the withdrawal of the cereal from
his sentence.
The committee OH elections will take up
the Belknap- Richardson case from Mich
igan at it's meeting Friday. This case pro-
sents unusual features, and will require,
or it is supposed receive, unusual treat
ment. Mr. Richardson received certiti-
cate OF election from the canvassing board,
but later the supreme court of the state
directed that a certificate issue to Mr.
Belknap Both claimants thus had a prima
facie right to the seat and the usual for
malities preliminary to contest before
the committee were omitted. Mr.. Rich
ardson's name was placed on the roll, and
Mr.. Belknap trusted to the efficacy of his
certificate, backed by the decision OF the
supreme court. When the committee
meets Friday it is expected that Mr.. Bel.
KNAPP will be given permission to institute
= contest and prosecute it as IL it had been
initiated in accordance with the law gov
erning such matters.