The Portland daily press., 1896-11-16
Congressman Discuss Proposed Tariff
Legislation. i
SENATOR BRICE THINKS DINGLEY
BILL WILL PASS.

vOrs Extra Session Idea-Other Views.
Washington. November l5.-The Wash
ington bureau of United Presses has
sought the written opinions of number
of prominent Senators and Representa-
tors as to the probability of tariff legisla-
ton in the next Congress, and an to the
Likelihood of an extra session.
Senator Calvin S. Brice of Ohio re-
spends.
Firsu-It is quite certain that the Re-
publican President-elect will, after
March 4th. 1897, be sustained by a large
Republican MAJOR ity in the House, and
by sufficient Republican majority in the
Senate. Seoond-Free silver men will be
in the minority In the Senate as well as
in the House. Third-Wh lie several free
silver Seniors. who have heretofore pre-
vented the passage of the Dingley bill
with such amendments as may make
certain sufficient revenue, will in view
OF the result Of the election probably vote
with their Republican brethren. 1t Is
i'm material whether they do or not as in
my opinion sufficient mum ber of sound
money Democratic Senators will assist
the Republicans to pass necessary tariff
legislation in the 54th Congress to supply
the existing deficit in the revenue. l at
least shall 30 vote. l understand that
Senator German and a mum Der Of others
occupy the same position"
Senator Sherman who has been quoted
at great length In two interviews dramatic
cally contradicting each other; one as
serting that the Dingley bill would pass,
and the other saying there Was no chance
OF Its passing, and that an extra session
was inev1ta BILE, refuses to affirm the cor
rectness of either statement but writes as
follows: "In the present condition of
affairs do not cnre to express my
opinion as to the proper tariff and final
legislation of this or the next Congress I"
Senator W. B. Allison of Iowa, chair
man of the Senate committee on appro-
priations writes: 81 do not think it is
practicable to predict what will be done
or can be done as respects tariff and
financial legislation during the last
session of the 54th Congress. hope the
Dingley bill will pass with such noditi-
cations as may be necessary to secure
sufficient revenue to carry on the govern
ment. II this cannot be done during the
Bath, it seems to me an extra session of
the 56th Congress Is inevitable
Senator Joseph R. Hawley of Conneo-
ticut says: Gas to the financial lcgisla-
tion to be expected from the session, /
should hope well guarded, careful bill
defining the circumstan ces under which
the executive might issue bonds may be
passed. The possibility of adopting a
satisfactory revision of tariff (such az
might be expected to remain undia-
tnrbed) at the last session Of the 54th
Congress seems very doubtful. If the
revenues permit it the matter ought to
go over to the extra session of the 65th
Congress-. with a view to securing such
revision as / refer to. If that could bs
had 1t would give tho country rest in
the matter for the next four years.
Senator Walthall OF Massachusetts,,
said: II see no reason to Justify the ex-
pectation that there will be any i'm
portant tariff or financial legislation at
che approaching session of Congress.
can form no opinion as to what will be
done at possible extra session of the
55th Congress in advance of senatorial
elections to occur during the coming
winter.o
Mr.. Dingley refers to his recently pub :
lished interview in which he expressed
the opinion that there was not the
slightest hope of the passage of the Ding
ley bill by the Senate at the next session
ia OtuRFeSS.
Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio. writes; II do
not believe it possible that any material
legislation for the benefit of the country
can be passed in the 5lth Congress. The
Senators who have left the Republican
party in the interest of few silver mine
owners of the West will resent to rather
than obey the demands of the enormous
majority of the people of the United
States, that the greatest good shall be
the rule of their action, rather than
selfish greed Of less than fifty souleess
corporations of the Rocky Mountains. l
do believe the Republican party will be
in position in the 18th Congress to save
the country from bankruptcy and the in
dustries of the country from destruo-
tion."
Representative Charles A. Russell of
Connecticut, member of the committee
on ways and means. says: s'The patriotic
and business like duty Of the coming
session Congress, 1.-THE last session of the
saith Congress) is to provide revenue for
the needs of the government. 1t could be
effectsd by adopting the Dingley bill or
some measure on the same lines. If this
be done business will BIZ further benefited
and possibly an extra session of the new
Congress will not be necessary"