Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-06
IN THE THIRD HOUSE.
A Big Lobby Looking After the Lead
Ore interest.
Bitter Opposition 10 bs Eaeeunieset BY viii
son BiI In Senate.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Feb 5.-lSpecial J.
The Wilson tariff bill has now passed the
bonse substantially As it was reported from
.he ways and means tommttee. II goes TO
the senate, therefore. as an administration
bill pure and simple. Whatever its faults
as it now stands, the administration must
bear the brunt OF them. 1t is worthy OF
more than passing notice that, after all
the talk about the possible defeat OK the
measure, the administration leaders III the
house should have been able to pass the bill
without single amendment other than
those agreed to by the committee. such
complete control OF the lower house was
totally unexpected by those opposed to the
measure and was an agreeable surprise to
those having the bill in charge.
A Big Fight.
But the bill will meet with totally diff
ferent reception in the senate. There the
imposition to it is already we'll defined and
aggressive. 1t il of such q nature that it
will I've impossible to satisfy it until some
very substantial changes have been made
in the bill as passed by the house. The big
fight will come over the income tax amend
nent. and it is extremely doubtful at this
time what the outcome will bc. There vii!
contest over the sugar schedule. Tremen-
tlous pressure will DO brought to bear to
nave n tax of cent pound placed on sug-
mr.. but the effort is likely to proven failure.
The coal men from all over the country are
preparing to make u fight to keep coal on
the dutiuble list and already have their
representatives here working to that end.
II is said about the lobby that they have Il
,;.,l, tbov willing
10 spend freely in order to accomplish their
purpose
But the biggest lobby which has yet put
In an appearance here is that looking after
theinterests Of the lead ore people. For sew
eral weeks past there has been quite dele
cation of these gentlemen in the city spend
ing money literally in order to get the drift
of opinion Of senators. At first it was ex-
pected that an effort would be made to
keep lead ore on the dutiable list in the
house, but after some inquiry those having
charge of the work decided that such an eff
fort would be futile, and it was therefore
abandoned.
They will therefore devote themselves to
the senate. Considerable preliminary work
has already been done. There is good
deal of grumbling among the regular mem
beers of the lobby over the employment OF
an outsider to handle the money for the
lead ore people. This gentleman is from
the west and represents the largest produ-
GERS of lead ore i'll the country. This envy
OIL the part of the regular members OF the
third house doubtless accounts for soma OF
the peculiar stories atloat involving mem
Der of the senate and u former member of
the same body The western man, it is said,
is only n ''stool pigeon" acting simply as "a
20 between for the senator and ex-senator,
who really have charge of this attempt to
influence legislation
Money OH Tap.
While the story is apparently exaggerat-
ed, il comes with such directness that il
has found many believers, and may in the
end do much harm to the cause of the lead
ore people That there is considerable
money on tap for the use of those willing to
vote TO keep the tariff on lead ore there can
be no doubt, but it would be difficult in
deed to prove to whom it was given.
The amount of money sent to Washing
ton since the tariff bill came before con-
press Is almost impossible of belief, when
the entire country is groaning under the
weight Of hard times. But it Is fact
Not since the good old days of reconstruc
ton has there been such an opportunity for
those members of congress inclined to make
something on the outside to feather their
financial nests, and many have awaited
themselves OF the opportunity, no doubt.
But the race does not always go to the
swiftest, nor does it follow that the lobby
with the biggest wad of money gets there
in legislative sense. Quite the contrary.
The lead ore people have certainly had mon
IS enough. and yet they have already aban-
doned their fight in one quarter, only to
take 1t up in another Even now they APP
pear to be beaten, for the senate is i'll no
mood to make changes in the bill except
for good and sufficient reason. The fight
over the income Tax amendment will be so
bitter as TO exhaust much of the patience
and u great deal of the I ime of both houses.
Those senators opposed to this tax are so
pronounced in their views as TO be willing
10 sacrifice almost anything rather than
have it go to the president as part of the
tariff bill for his signature.
Present Indications.
To effect this they appear to be willing
to sacrifice sugar and coal and lead ore, not
to mention several other less important
items to which there Is considerable objec-
ton in the senate The indications at this
time are, however, that the Wilson bill
will be very materially altered before final
action is had in the senate. 1t will then be
sent back to the house, where a refusal TO
concur will undoubtedly follow. Joint
conferees will then be appointed. and after
n week or two spent in wrangling some
sort Of patchwork will be decided on. and
the bill will again be passed by both houses
.,,,l 49, bot tIapf for his Qipnntnra