Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-11-16
THE TARIFF.
Expressions Of Congressman
as to the Possible Action
Of Congress and the Probability Of
Calling Extra Session.
Unanimous Belief and Hope that Relief Meas.
urc Will Be Passed.

Washington, Nov. 15.-The Washing
ton bureau of the United Associated
Presses has sought written opinions OF
number of prominent senators and
representatives as to the probability Of
tariff Legislation in the next Congress
and as to the likelihood of an extra ses-
son.
Senator Calvin S. Brice of Ohio, re-
spends: First, il is quite certain that
the Republican President-electw will af-
ter March 4. 1897, be sustained by large
Republican majority in the Senate.
Second, the free silver men will be in
the minority in the Senate as well as
in the House. Third, whole the free
silver senators. who have heretofore
prevent passage of the Dingley bill
with such amendments as may make
certain revenue, will in view OF the re-
suit of election, probably vote with their
Republican brethren. 1t is immaterial
whether they do or not as in my Opin-
ion, sufficient number of sound money
Democrat senators will assist the Re-
publicans to pass the necessary tariff
legislation in the 5ith Congress, to sup
ply the existing deficite in revenue. /.
at least, shall so vote and understand
that Senator German and number of
others occupy the same positions"
Senator Sherman, who has been
quoted at great length in two inter-
views, Numerically contradicting each
other, one asserting that the Dingley
bill would pass. the other saying there
was no chance of its passage. and that
an extra session was inevitable, refuse
to affirm the correctness of either
statement, and writes as follows: In
the present condition of affairs.I do not
care to express my opinion as to the
proper tariff and financial legislation
of this or the next Congress"
Senator W.B. Allison of Iowa. chair
man of the Senate committee on ap-
propriations. writes: Il do not think it
is practicable to predict what will be
done, or can be done, as respects tar
iff and financial legislation during the
last session of the 54th Congress. l
hope the Dingley bill will pass with
such notifications as may be necessary
to secure sufficient revenue to carry
on the government. If this cannot be
done during the 54th is seems to me
an extra session of the 55th Congress
is inevitable"
Senator Jos. r. Hawley of Connecti-
cut. with modest disclaimer of any de-
sire to enter the field as a prophet, and
the still more deprecatory remark that
anything he could say at this time
would be the cheapest common place.
adds these remarks: 'As to the finan-
cial legislation to be expected from the
coming session. l should hope a we'll
guarded. careful bill, defining the cir
cumstances under which the Executive
might issue bonds may be passed. The
possibility of adopting a satisfactory
revision of the tariff (such as might be
expected to remain undisturbed) at the
last session of the 54th Congress. seems
to me very doubtful. If the revenues
permit it. the matter ought to go over
to the extra session of the 55the Con-
gress. with the view to securing such
a revision as l refer to. If that could
be had it would probably give the
country a very desirable rest in the mat
ter for the next four years.
Senator Walthall of Mississippi, says:
Il see no reason to justify the expecta-
ton that there will be any important
tariff or financial legislation at the ap-
session of Congress. l can
form no opinion as to what will be done
at a possible extra session of the 55th
Continued on page 2.)