The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-11-10
EXTRA SESSION WORK
FORETASTE OF THE COMING TARIFF
FIGHT IN CONGRESS.

What Was Accomplished In the House.
Important Measures For the Next Ses-
sion-Reed ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
just Before Adjournment.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. Especial J.
The house had foretaste of the difficulties
that may attend the passage of new tariff
law just before it adjourned. Congressman
Reeds opportunity to show by example the
possibility of blocking business when one
man feels so disposed came the other day,
and he Immediately took advantage of it.
The trouble arose over resolution author
izing the committee on ways and means to
sit during adjournment to prepare tariff
bill.
Mr.. Reed, in his well known nasal voice,
objected and prevented a vote, as there was
not a quorum of Democrats present The
sergeant-at-arm did his best to bring in
absent members, but they would not be in
Inundated despite his threats, and he did
not succeed in getting the necessary quo
rum.
The agreement arrived at after five hour
deadlock was that after the new tariff bill
shall have been reported to the house the
Republican members of the ways and
means committee shall be allowed 10 days
in which to prepare their report, that of the
majority to be withheld meanwhile and the
two filed simultaneously 1t was an easy
way out of a trouble that threatened to in
terfere with the programme for final adj
journment.
Absentees Criticized.
It shows, however, the danger of mem
bers leaving the house without Demo
cratic quorum, a custom that is getting to
bequite common and which will probably
be less practiced hereafter. Had Mr.. Reed
and his few Republican followers felt so
disposed they could have held the house in
deadlock all night
The New York delegation seem to be the
most frequent violaters of the rule against
absenteeism, possibly because the metro
polls is more attractive city to them than
the capital. At all events, they flee from
the city at the first opportunity, and they
are often away from the house when their
votes are needed.
The Democratic members who attend to
their business have not yet got over their
Indignation at the ofense of their col
leagues, and possibly something may be
heard regarding the matter on the floor at
the regular session. In the case referred to
nine members disappeared after the call OF
the house was ordered. Had these nine
members been in their seats when the Sec
ond vote was taken a Democratic quorum
would have been developed.
Yet the house did a good deal more work
than the senate during this extra session.
There were nearly 800 bills and resolutions
introduced, some $50 of which found their
way back to the house after action on the
part of the committees. A great ma ority
of these bills, however, are yet to be passed
upon by the senate, which devoted most of
its time over the Sherman repeal bill.
Work In the House.
This extra session has, however accom-
plished some work besides passing the re-
peal bill, and the general business of con-
gress is far more advanced than it has been
for several years. The session can there
fore be looked upon as success, although
there will always be a divided opinion as
to the effects of the repeal of the Sherman
law.
Among the more important measures
acted upon by the house, which will be in
order in the senate at the opening of the
regular session, are the following: For the
relief of purchasers of timber and stone
lands; for the protection of persons furnish
ing labor and material for public works
amending the timber culture laws; for the
better control and to promote the safety OF
national banks; disqualifying justices,
judges and United States commission.
ers from sitting as such in cases in
which they are interested; providing rev.
enue cutters for the great lakes, San
Francisco harbor and the New England
coast; increasing the number of army of
ficers to be detailed to colleges; amending
the law relative to the fees of United States
district attorneys, marshals, commission
ers and clerks of courts; the public printing
bill; repeating the section of the statutes re-
quiring proof of loyalty in pension cases.
adding the secretary of agriculture to the
list of eligibles for the presidency in case OF
the death of the president; allowing the set.
Element of the property of the Mormon
church held by receiver, and fixing the
qualifications to vote and hold office in the
Cherokee outlet.
Chairman Wilson, who has had charge OF
the preparation of the rough draft of the
tariff bill, has made such advances that
little more is to be done to complete the
draft of the measure for which the Demo
cratic party proposes to stand sponsor.
Chairman Sayres of the appropriations
committee has also done considerable good
work, devoting his energies to the prepare
tion of intricate estimates as to the ex.
penses of running the government
In the senate only about a dozen bis
werepassed. Among them, perhaps one OF
the most important to the east, was one to
aid the Worlds Fair Prize Winners expo
sition, soon to be held in New York city.
Plans of Silver Advocates.
Although the repeal of the Sherman law
was what the silver men had long expect
ed, they are by no means disheartened and
have already begun what they term an
educational campaign" At their recent
| conference about 80 prominent men of that
faction were present. Speaking of theis
plans for the future Senator Dubois says:
Eve are all hopeful of the future and are
satisfied that the sentiment of the country
is for free coinage. The question is how
best to put the issue before the people in
the various congressional districts. An eff
fort will he made at the next election tO