Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-01-22
PLENTY OF WORK.
The Weeks Programme as Laid Out
for Congress.
Tari&. Federal Elections Law Pepsal and Ma
waii 70 be Debated.

W0ss " W0 UeU0tV0s
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Ths same topic
before Congress last week, will continue to
engage its attention all this week, in the
House, the tariff bill, and in the Senate the
bill to repeal the federal election laws. One
person who halls with delight the approach
of the end of the tariff deb ate ia the House.
newed zest, for the reason it is the last to
be devoted TO the pending measure.
That is Representative w. L. Wilson,
chairman of the committee on ways and
means, responsible for the progress of the
bill through the House. His has been .
most prodigious labor. Not only has the
burden of the parliamentary struggle on
the floor been borne by him in the largest
measure, but the demands made by anxious
representatives of this or that interest
for changes in the schedules
of the bill have engrossed his
time and attention in and out of the commit
tee room, before and since the measure was
reported to the House, and neither by day
or night has he had N hour for months thx,
he could call his own.
The drafts upon bis mental and physical
powers have been such that many q man
of more rugged physique would have sue
cumbed to the strain.
Thus far::Mr. Wilson has been able to
respond to every call, save in few in.
stances last week, when he was unable to
meet his committee associates at the night
sessions, being completely exhausted. One
night he suffered from . slight hemorrhage,
but its ill effects were speedily overcome.
At the conclusion of the debate, when the
bill has passed the House, Mr.. Wilson will
doubtless seek needed rest and recreation
for a season.
When debate closed in the House Satur-
day night last there semained upon the desk
of Chairman Richardson a amendments
that the authors desire to offer for the &C.
ton of the House, The progress of the bill
in committee. last week demonstrates that it
will be practically impossible for all or
many of those to reach position whence
they can receive amendment, unless some
modification Of the present methods of con-
sideration is made. There will probably he
some change by which either the time al
loted for the iliscurs sion of each amendment
will be limited, OF by which the ways and
means committee be placed in control, and
no amendments proposed except such a.
meet its approval, in other words become a
committee on anne ndments.
Under the orders adopted by the House
last week, the sugar item will be discussed
on Monday, and coal ON Tuesday. three
hours being allotted TO each. Various
amendments will be proposed to the present
text of the bill. The Louisiana members
will seek to retain the bounty on sugar,
c. - Hl,n l,,kx Ma pfn
will propose 10 make the duty on all
grades of sugar one cent pound and
abolish the bounty.
Said Mr.. Harter: sShould my proposit-
ION become a law, the revenue Of the gov
ernment will be increased and at once, b,
It least $40, 900, 900 q year-S35, 900, 900
from custom dues, and $l0.000,000 from
saving in bounty" Vigorous efforts will
ne made to restore coal to the dutiable list.
The amendment is for duty ranging from
% to 80 cents bushel, an organ ed move
ment to effect thi, change was made. Rep
resentatives of transportation and mining
interests have been hard at work in Wash
ing. ou to secure votes. Much effort was
spent on Repub ,an representatives in his
behalf, but 80 far as can be leaned, with
out success.
A leading member of the minority in the
House, said, speaking of this missionary
labor: 1--WE do not consider it good politics
% join in movement having for its object
the relief of the Democratic party from its
leaders not even when the chief beneficiary
to be the chairman of the ways and means
C .mmittee himself. The other three mem
ers from West Virginia are asking Us to
help them pull Lin out of the hole into
which he has fallen. Inasmuch a. their
sympathy for American interests affected
~ the bill expends itself wholly ON the coal
miner and owner, we think they can take
eir medicine with the rest of u.s."
1jThere is every indication that when the
bills come to a vote on the goth, they will
receive the support of every Democratic
and Populist member, with possibly at out
side half dczen exceptions.
In the Senate there will be slight re-
taxation of the programme to permit the
delivery of speech on the subject Of our
Hawaiian relations by Senator Cullom Of
Illinois. He expected to talk Monday or
Tuesday. The discussion Of this subject
may take an interesting turn and trench
more upon the time set apart for the consid-
Grafton of the election law repeal bill. il
some Republican senators realize their ex-
pectations that the Turpie resolution declar-
ing foreign intervention in Hawaii, or the
concurrent resolution recognizing by legis-
lative act the provisional government of
Hawaii, be pressed to the front.
Except by unanimous consent, the dis
cussion of the Hawaiian affairs must be
CO fined to the morning hours of the week
and the regular topic for debate will bs the
election bills. Speeches on this bill will be
made by Senators Higgins Of New jersey,
Hawley of Connecticut, Lodge Of Massa-
chusetts, Frye Of Maine, and Senators
Hoar and Chandler stand ready to partici-
pate in the debate if necessary. A vote 10
not expected this week.
0oFiiR0 k0fas