Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-16
FREE LIST BILLS.
Congressional Speculation a. to
the Senate's Action.
OPINION THEY WILL Be VOTED DOWN
Republicans In Favor Of the Tariff Bill Be-
coming Law Without Further OPP
posltion-Ths Vacancy on ~
Finance Committee.

interest felt in the action Of the presi.
dent on the tariff bill, congressional
speculation has now turned upon tho
probable course Of the senate with ref
erence TO the supplemental BILLS
Neither the democratic steering com.
mittee Of the senate nor the finance
committee has met since the bills
were introduced, consequently there
has been no official action looking
to a decision upon the policy to
be pursued. Some democratic senator's
profess to be DESTROYS that the senate
should take them up and dispose Of
them promptly upon their presentation.
This course is advocated alike by DEM
ocratic senators who think the bills
would be voted down and by some who
think there is possibility Of the pas
sage Of some Of them with republican
assistance.
The advocates on the democratic
side Of the chamber Of a duty on coal,
iron and barbed wire are Of the opin.
lon that the bills would be voted
down, and thus the agitation which
they foresee will not increase until the
question 10 passed upon would DO
brought to speedy end. The sugar
men, the friends Of both the refncrs
and planters, are quite as DESTROYS, for
opposite reasons, that the bill putting
sugar on the free list should
not be considered at the present ses-
sion. They are undoubtedly somewhat
spprehensive Is to the result In case
the senate should take up the bill, for
while the republican senators probably
could be counted upon to vote solidly
against the other bills, there are indi-
cations that II forced to vote on the
sugar bill they would divide and there
is apprehension that sufficient num-
Der might vote with the democrats
who desire free sugar to pass the bills.
The republican steering committee
at its meeting discussed these questions
and while there was found to be u diff
ference Of sentiment, the majority
favored the postponement OF the con-
sideration Of all these separate bills,
and especially the free sugar bill. II,
however, they should be forced to meet
the issue they probably would divide
on it, some Of them supporting the bill
and others seeking to substitute for 1t
the present law continuing bounty.
They prefer as party, however, that
there should be test on the question
of the sugar duty, as provided In the
senate bill just agreed to by the house.
It has transpired that the republican
steering committee had under consid-
GRAFTON the question Of legality Of the
proceedings Of the house In passing the
bill with especial reference to whether
the house legitimately had the tariff
bill in Its possession, and that the com.
mittee was given to understand that II
the republicans should decide TO raise
this question by resolution or other
wise they could have the support Of the
Louisiana senators and Of Senator'S
Allen and Kyle, populists, because Of
the failure Of the bill to make provision
for the bounty for the present year.
The decision Of the republicans was
against this course, however, and In
favor of permitting the Wilson bill to
become a law without the interposi-
ton Of further opposition on the part
Of the republicans. 1t is understood
also that the steering committee de-
cided that the supplemental bills
should be referred to the finance com.
mittee. The belief Is that II this
course is taken they cannot be report.
ed before the quorum at present here
vanishes. 1t is known that many sen.
ators are expecting to leave as soon a.
the Wilson bill Is signed by the vice
president and the remaining appropria-
ton bills are finally disposed Of. With
no quorum present the supplemental
tariff bills, Of course, could not be act
ed upon.
The democrats Of the finance commit
tee will probably find 1t necessary TO
fill the vacancy in the committee,
which has existed since the death Of
Senator Vance, before action upon any
Of the bills With this vacancy exist
ing, the committee would tie upon any
important question in which political
lines were drawn, and any action would
be impossible, This question has been
discussed by the democratic managers
in the senate, and 1t Is understood that
the filling Of the vacancy Is contem-
plated before final adjournment.
Among the names which have been
canvassed are those of Senators Cor.
man, Blackburn and White.