Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-15
FEDERAL ELECTIONS
Bill May Be SidetraCked
For a Few Days.
TARIFF BILL IS IN DANGER.
The Income Tax is Now Matter Of
Much Consideration.

WAbHINGTON, Jan. lo.-Ine consluer-
alton Of the federal elections bill should
have begun today, but the measure will
probably go over for at least day or two.
Should Senator Gray persist In his effort
to have the agreement adhered to, his ac-
ton would probably be antagonized by
some who are friendly to the bill, who
will ask the senate TO go into executive
session this afternoon for the considera-
ton Of the Hornblower nomination. II
Senator Hill, who Is supposed to be lead
ing the opposition to Judge Hornblower,
could have his way, the vote would prob
obly be taken without any speechmaking
whatever, but 1t is presumed that the
friends of Mr.. Hornblower will wish to be
heard
Under existing circumstances. a Ha-
waiian speech Is always possible, although
there Is q disposition to allow this subject
to rest until the foreign relations COM
mittee can conclude its investigation and
make its report.
Senator Gallinger has given notice Of a
tariff speech for tomorrow, but IL, as well
ss the elections bill, may be crowded over
until later In the week.
Work In the House.
The real work on the tariff bill COM
menced today when the bill begun TO be
read by sections and is open to amend
ment under the fve-minute rule. From
now on the bill will be in constant danger
of amendment, and the house Democratic
leaders have urged upon all their col
leagues the absolute necessity of their
continual presence until the final vote is
taken.
The committee amendments necessary
to correct imperfections In the bill will
have the right of way. The amendments
which the committee offers are considered
pending and take precedence over amend
ments offered by individual members. The
bill will first be read by sections under
the special order and thereafter be open
TO amendment In any part. ~.
The decision of the Democratic mem
bers Of the committee to report the In
come tax and other internal revenue fea-
lures of the comffittee's revenue plan as
Q separate measure removes one Of the
main dangers TO the bill, as the opposi-
ton to the income tax feature was for
midable, especially In the east, and some
of 10 was Of such character that, had the
proposition been placed In the bill, 1t
would have arrayed many Democratic
mem bers against the whole measure.
The Sugar Bounty.
The fact that the proposition is not in
cluded In the bill will, 1t Is thought,
strengthen the attempt to remove the su-
gar bounty and substitute in its stead q
duty of one cent on sugar. Should this
be done IL would raise e35 900, 900 Of rev.
enue and save SIC, ,0O0 900 of sugar bounty,
and remove the necessity for and proba-
bly, kill the income tax proposition,
which IL is now the purpose Of the COM
mittee to present later with the internal
revenue bill. Il II not believed that the
attempts 10 restore . portion of the duty
On coal, iron ore, lumber and other raw
materials placed on the free list In the
bill will be successful
According to careful canvass of the
house made by the friends of the measure
Il would seem that this particular oppo-
sition lacks both cohesion and the numer-
ical strength to carry the amendments
through. Little Democratic opposition to
the bill has manifested itself during the
general debate, and the Democratic men,
bers of the committee express confidence
that the bill will 60 through practically
In an unamendsd form-with the possible
exception Of the sugar schedule.
On this proposition tho committee Is
itself divided, those favoring an individ-
ual income tar supporting the free sugar
proposition, and the opponents Of the in
come tax favoring the restoration Of the
sugar duty In order to do away with the
necessity for an income tax.
Where the Hitch May Como.
The great difficulty In the way Of the
modification Of the bill in this particular,
however, even II IL should develop great
strength on the Democratic side, is that
the Republicans will not vote to restore a
duty on sugar, which was placed on the
free list by the Mckinley law.
The most important committee work Of
the week will be that before the ways and
means committee, where the internal rev.
enus bill Is still under consideration. II
was practically settled that the measure
should contain an income tax. an in
creased tax on whisky and on playing
cards and cigarets. But by the unex-
pected change Of attitude of Representa-
tive Bynum In moving Q reconsideration
Of the internal revenue features, there Is
much doubt - TO what the committee
will ultimately do with the bill.
The committee on foreign affairs have
reported all the Hawaiian resolutions re-
ferred to them. The mass of correspond
encs submitted by President Cleveland
has been referred to this committee, and
IL will determine at the meeting next
l. A. - a.