The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-14
The Conference Committee Per-
fecting the Tariff Bill.
Absenteeism is Greatly In
creased by the Heat.
CHANGES In THE BILL.
Wilson and Voorhees, Arrange
for Continuous Sessions.

priced meat and increasing abSenteeiSIn,
business goes right along. and congress
men talk with increasing confidence Of
soon setting a date for adjournment, that
much promised event which, like the
desert mirage, recedes as we move toward
it. The tariff bill was rushed from the
house to the ways and means committee
back into the house and into conference
with dizzy rapidity in spite of the strug
giles of Republican parliaInentarians to de-
lay it. Speaker Crisp late at night had
long talk with tho president, and early
the next day liz was KNOWN that an ttggreSS-
i've policy was to be pursued by the house
and that there was to be departure
from the usual rule in naming the con
feroes- The rule has been to appoint them
according to seniority, and owing TO the
long known fact that southern congress
men, as . rule, serve many more terms in
succession than northern it has resulted
that the senior mem ers OF nearly all the
committees are southerners- 1t was there
fore urged by the conservatives that the
rule should be disreqarded to more nearly
equalize the sections Between the two
evils what was thought the less was taken,
and so the house is represented in the con
ference committee by Messrs. Wilson,
West Virginia; Mc-1lllIn, Tennessee
Turner, Georgia, and Montgomery, Ken
lucky, Democrats, and by Alessrs. Reed,
Burrows and Payne. Republicans
Changes In the Wilson IsiII-
Senator voorhees, and Mr.. Wilson got
Gus sessions BIZ the Democrats of the con
ference committee, and they HAYS worked
industriously ever since Mr. VOORHEES,
has stated cnat they viii pursue the Same
practice as with the original measure-that
Is, the Democrats Will decide, item by
item, what they intend to support before
they meet with their Republican col
leagues. OF course it was known from
the start that Che income tax amendments,
the merely verbal changes and many minor
start, and that the struggle would be
chiefly confined TO a few schedules and
few items in each.
The senate has made 634 changes, in all
Of which there are 50 in the chemical
schedule, "a in iron, in wool, > in sugar,
in tobacco, 10 in cotton, 10 in fax, 80 IN
wool and in silk. Eighty-nine changes
consist Of transfers from tho free to the
taxable list. Hon Tom johnson wanted
specific instructions given that the con
ferses should -s-st on separate reports on
the sugar anc-2dments that each
might be voocd ca upon its merits and ev-
cry member OF 18th houses put on record
The event is ia The dark unforeseen, but
the old members say, with a smile, when
there is a long fight between the houses,
the senate always wins -
Absenteeisln has greatly increased, and
the cases are rarc when yea and nay vote
shows no more than 100 not voting. Con
ventlCnS ar6 coming on rapidly, IN the
south and southwest especially, and in
Alabama the campaign is already pretty
lively. Mr.. Bankhead went home not to
return this session, he thinks, and some
what disguised at the treatment accorded
60 ali his bills for new public buildings.
The death of Hon Marcus Claiborne Lisle
of Kentucky and the departure of the
funeral remains caused several more va
cancies for the time He was, next to Mr..
Bailey of Texas and Mr.. Settle of North
Carolina, the youngest man in the house
and had been in failing health for sOme
time.
Breclsinridge's Chances
The strikes and complications herewith
IN other parts Of the country are also re
sponsiblc FOR much absenteeisln, as all
mem bers liable to be affected are in an ex-
tremely nervous state about the feeling in
their districts Mr.. Breckenridge of Ken
lucky may be called a chronic absentee
as he is making the fight Of his life and
for his life and is reported as saying that
there is ono good thing about the strikes
they give him and his district a much
needed rest Strangely enough, an increas-
ing number of political experts believe he
viii be reelected in spite Of the women,
tho preachers and the Republicans.
Society has long been fitting, and now
it IS Tat. EGrly this week Vice President
Stevenson returned from North Carolina
having left his family at Charlesroyvr1
W. Va, where he visited few days on
his return DR. Thomas G. Mendenhall
superintendent OF the coast and g-eodetic
survey, sailed with his wife for Europe a
few days ago, and now it is announced
that ne has resi- gned and is to take a posi-
tiCn at the Worcester (dass-) Polytechnic
institute. which Will leave an attractive
vacancy for some good man All the Nir-
ginians in this city. members of congress
or otherwise. had their annual racket at
Marshall Hall this week. with speeches by
Senator Daniel and Cyclone Jim Mar
shall of the Ninth district The Mexican
minister and Nine Romero have departed
for Cape May, and their present intention
is, after remaining there awhile to visit
the Catskill mountains. The Guatemalan
minister and Nine Lazo Arriago are also
and Nine Cana expect to pass a few
weeks there.
The Political Outlook
While the aitcing society people rise su-
periOr TO tho terrors Of the strike, those
who ARC left behind are by no means easy
in their minds despite the daily promises
OF rapid Improvement. Every railroad
man in the city and every visitor of prolni-
hence is besought for his opinion and the
question Of the hour among members Of
the house is, Is there only q brief lull, or IS
the thing over, and how has il affected the
vote in my district OF course there is a
great deal of Wild and foolish talk and
soIne of the interviews, given in strict
confidence, = would make very queer read
Ing year hence. The interest in General
Miles is almost as great as it was in Grant
early in 1864, and in army circles many
remarkable statements are made about
him lit is said that he T. by all odds the
most interesting personality among the
volunteer officers of the civil war, that on