The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-05
RUSHING THINGS.
House Conference on Tariff
May Be Under Way Soon.
Bill Passed by Senate Monotonous
Wind-up to Long and Bitter Fight.

WASHINGTON. July b-With the tariff
bill passed by the senate, attention is now
directed 10 the action of the house.
Representative Catchings. who, with
Speaker Crisp and Representative Outh-
waite, constitute the Democratic mem bers
Of the rules, or ''steering" committee,
outlined as follows the course of proceed
ure In the house, and what would be done
TO expedite the bill to its final enact
ment.
''As n general thing" said Mr. Catch
fngs, "Mr. Wilson will be given every as
sistance at the command OF the rules
committee There has been no conference
with him and no exact program is ar
ranged, but he will be given such support
90 he desires at successive stages.
"The bill will be laid over one day un-
der the rules. Tomorrow 1t will be for
mally referred TO the ways and means
committee. By Saturday, think, they
will report it back TO the house with a
recommendation OF non-concurrence In
the senate amendments, and for confer
ence. 1t Is probable, therefore, that the
conferrees can be appointed and the con-
ference sessions actually opened by Satur-
day Of this week"
Mr.. Catchings then took up each step
of legislative progress. explaining the
possibilities of delay and the manner of
overcoming it, "The first step made by
Mr. Wilson tomorrow for reference to
the ways and means committee is for
NAL and will probably be agreed to at
once without debate. But there Is the
possibility of some comment and discus
sion at that time. There Is no rule to pre-
vent il. Some member may rise with an
unexpected proposition for disagreement
with the senate. without reference TO
committee. or for instructions to the COM
mittse, but such moves are hardly proba-
bla
Quick Work Expected.
"Tse usual and regular course would
be to Immediately refer the bill TO Mr..
Wilson's committee. And il the course
was interrupted a special rule would be
brought In to bring the question to vote
lat once The prospects are that the COM
mittee stage can be completed In one
day. 30 that Saturday will see the report
of the committee to the house.
''It will probably be a brief recon-
mendation of non-concurrence and for q
conference. II will not advise or suggest
as to who the conferrees shall be. That is
entirely for the speaker to determine. He
selects the conferrees from the whole
house, and is not restricted to the mem
bership of the ways aud means commit
tee. 1t is possible, therefore, for man
outside the committee to be conferred,
although IL is usual to take the conferrees
from the committee.
"When the committee makes its report
recommending conference, there is
again AN opportunity for discussion. But
again special rule will operate to let the
house vote on the simple proposition OF
whether It wishes TO disagree with the
senate, 80 that either with or without a
rule the vote will undou btedly be reached,
the conferrees appointed by the speaker
end the conference under way by Satur-
day,
when the conference begins" con-
tinued Mr.. Catchings, they may make
occasional reports on such agreements as
are reached. In the meantime the senate
and house will proceed with their regular
business. A conference report is always
privileged, 90 that the conferrees can come
in at any time and secure immediate
hearing, either on partial agreements or
IN agreement throughout. As TO how
long they will take is problematic. IL
may be 10 days or two weeks, with oc-
cAsional reports Of partial progress in the
meantime.
''The last stage will be when the con-
ferrees report to the house. At that time
there Will be more or less debate. The
house may give specific instructions to
the eonferrees on one thing or another.
But when the conferrees present definite
psoposition there will be special rule,
II noed be. to bring the proposition to a
vote. There will be no nibbling at the
bill and no long debate when the main
point ID to have the house express its
wishes by a vote"
BY Five Majority
At 1045 Tuesday night the senate passed
the tariff bill by q vote OF 80 TO a.
Only one Democrat. Hill of New York,
voted against the bill With the Demo
Gratis voted two OF the Populists, Allen OF
Nebrsska aud Kyle of seueh-Hakeea.-
There was no break in the Republican
column. which was swelled by the vote Of
PETER Of Kansas
For many weary hours before the vote
was taken strangers aud visitors thronged
the galleries waiting 70 be present either
at the defeat or passage of this all-impor-
tant legislation.
All during the long and sweltering
afternoon, with the sun beating down
upon the glass roof OF the chamber and
making IL like "A bake oven, people sat
there patiently waiting for the end.
What the peculiar fascination is about
"big day" in the senate or house is one OF
the undiscovered mysteries of Washing
ton, but that IL exists no one can deny
The final session OF the tariff fight in
the senate was a long one. but not par
ticularly interesting or entertaining
The one thing which gave IL unusual
interest was the fact that this was TO be
the last battle In stubbornly contested
campaign which had lasted for over five
months, and there was just that element
Of doubt and uncertainty about the out
come which made the men with sporting
instincts indulge in wRgers.
Up 10 the last, almost, there were men
on both sides OF the chamber who felt
none too sure As TO the final result. while
there were others who were confident that
their side would be victorious. These,
however, were more swayed by their feel
ings than their judgment, as it was man
ifsst that which ever way the vote went