Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-01-12

ABSENTEElSM DELAYS PROMPT
ACTION ON THE TARIFF BILL.

Final Vote will Probably NOi he
Reached Before the 22d Inst
ImvestigaIiOn of the Hawaiian
Mntter-A SILVER Hill introduced
by Bland.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Jan. ), 1893.
Chairman Wilson is not receiving
the support he deserves from the DEM
ocratic members of the House. He
| had worked himself into a state Dor
dering on physical exhaustion in order
that the tariff bill might be called up
as soon as the House met on Wednes-
day, and his disappointment can only
be imagined when he saw that the
/ tariff bill could not be taken up on
/ that day bcca use of the absence of a
quorum Of Democrats, it being the
policy OF the Republicans not to allow
the bill to be considered without a
quorum, which they will refuse to as
sist in making. Inasmuch as every
Democratic member knew the import
ance Of having a quorum OF their own
members present this absenteeism is
inexcusable. The whole country is
demanding prompt action on the tar
i'll, and at the very opening of the ses-
sion a day is thrown away.
The tariff programme, as mapped
out by Chairman Wilson was, five days
for general debate, eight days with
evening sessions for discussion under
the tive.minute rule. during which the
internal revenue amendments decided
upon this week-the two per cent. tax
upon all incomes of $4,000 and over;
the increase in the tax on cigarettes to
$3.50 per 1000; the increase in the
tax on whisky to 81 per gallon, and
the tax OF two cents per pack on play
ing cards-are to be adopted, and the
final vote to be taken on the 18th Of
January; but it will not be possible to
carry out this or any other programme,
if Democratic quorum cannot be
kept here all the time; already the
day Of the final vote has been changed
to January %. This absenteeism is
more the result OF the big Democratic
majority than indifference. Each
member who stays away probably
thinks there will be a Democratic quo
rum without him, but so many stay
away that there isn't.
The investigation of the relations OF
this government with Hawaii is being
pushed by the subcommittee OF the
Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons. All OF the witnesses heard up
to this time have been gentlemen who
took no active part in the annexation
movement and the formation of the
provisional government of Hawaii;
consequently the testimony has been
all of one kind. Although the pro-
ceedings are supposed to be secret, the
nature of the testimony taken becomes
known almost as soon al it would if
the hearings were made public. Con-
siderable comment not favorable to
ex-Minister Stevens has been INDUCED
in this week. Senator Frye had re.
ported the health of Mr.. Stevens to be
so precarious that it might prevent his
coming to Washington to testify be-
fore the committee, yet the news
papers all contained accounts of his
having travelled from his home in
Maine to Rhode Island, in order to de-
liver speech on Hawaii at q club
banquet. Now the question is being
asked, why, if his health permits him
to attend club banquets and sit up
two-thirds OF night 10 MAKE q speeCli,
it should prevent his coming to the
mild climate of Washington and Civ
ing the committee few hours of his
time during the day? Perhaps the
oath which the committee administers
to its witnesses may have have some
thing to do with the reluctance of Mr..
Stevens. A man doesn't have to swear
to statements made in q banquet
speech.
The Democratic House caucus
which meets tonight will settle for
good and all whether the Democrats
of the Ways and Means Committee
have made a tariff bill worthy of the
support OF the party. or whether the
work of the committee shall be revised
before the bill is passed. Every
Democrat who has, or thinks he has,
q grievance will be given an oppor-
tunity to state it and to ascertain
whether the majority sides with or
against him. When the caucus de-
cides that settles it and the bill as
finally approved will be Loyalty sup
ported by every Democrat who attends
the caucus. 1t is thought probable
that it may be necessary to continue
the caucus for several nights in order
to hear all that those opposed to sew
eral OF the tariff schedules and to the
income tax amendment may desire to
say, and confidently expected that it
will ratify the work of the committee
as whole, although there may be
some minor amendments made in
portions of the bill. The opposition
to the individual income tax will prob
ably develop the most strength, ow-
ing to the vote in the committee hav-
ing been so close-six to five-and to
President Cleveland and Secretary
Carlisle being in doubt as to its ex-
pediency.
Representative Bland has introduced
a bill in the House, providing for the
immediate issue of $55. OOO, 600 of sill
yer certificates to supply the Treasury
with money to meet the growing de-
ficiency, the same to be based upon
the seigniorage of the silver bullion in
the Treasury; also providing for the
coinage of the silver bullion in the
Treasury as rapidly as possible. Mr..
Bland thinks the adoption of this bill
preferable to an issue of bonds to
meet current expenses OF the govern.
ment.
Boutelle, of Maine, seems determined
to play the monkey on the Hawaiian
question. He started off ON the first
day of the session in his usual style.
DEN.
Articles Of incorporation.
The following interpretations have
made filings with the Secretary of
State since our last report:
Sparks Brothers. of Tekoa, Whit
man county: to carry on a real estate
and loan business; capital stock, $1O,-
OOO; incorporstors, C. r. Sparks, O.
NJ. Sparks, d. c. Sparks.
Dar1, o.l~o ~