The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-04
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS-
Senator Voorhees, Will Force the
Senate to Act. .
TEE TARIFF BILL IN PREPARATION

Representative Hartsr, of Ohio, Expresses
Ways and Means Committee-The Bel
knap. Richardson Election Contest.
WASHINGTON, Sept 4.-The senate shows
no disposition to shirk tho.responsibility
placed upon it by the house to 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 1t is dis
posed of. II is expected that Mr.. Hales
proposition that the senate meet at IL
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. II they are disposed to talk from
this out they will be allowed to do so, but
whenever there Is an iutermission Senator
Voorhees, will probably be found per-
suasively suggesting a vote on some
amendment, and all the time seeking to
bring the question to final vote, the
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 the week expires.
The house, instead of adopting the code
of rules recommended by the committee
on rules, in one session, as It was expected
would be done, spent the whole OF last
week, after Monday, in debate upon the
COMMITTEES report, without coming to any
conclusion thereon. Much of tho opposi-
tion 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-
manding attention 1t was felt that the
members could make haste slowly, and
the full and free il 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, 1t 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 bs
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 1t has
consented to conduct preparatory to Its
work Of preparing tariff bill. The first
person heard was Representative NJ. d.
Harter, Of Ohio, and his purpose in TAX
ing advantage Of the opportunity offered
| by the committee Is entirely consistent
with his well known and frequently ex-
| pressed views upon the subject II am 60
| ing to talk to the committee" he said,
"about two articles, agricultural imple-
ments and -four. which think ought to
be placed on the free list or at least, in
| cluded within the reciprocity treaties that
we make There Is no more reason" con-
tinued Mr.. Hnrter, "why there should be
duty on those things than there should
| be one on wheat" And then recollecting
| himself, But we have one on wheat :"
Leaving the reporter to ill in the blank
made by the withdrawal Of the cereal from
| his sentence.
The committee on elections will take up
the Belknap- Richardson case from Mich
| igan at its meeting Friday. This case pre-
sents unusual features, and will require,
or it is supposed receive, unusual sreat-
ment. Mr.. Richardson received a certifl-
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
knap will be given permission to institute
contest and prosecute 1t as If it had been
initiated in accordance with the law gov
erning such matters.