The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-01

Washington. Nov. = -Specia1.-Two
principal topics have engrpssed the con-
versatlon OF returning ccngressnen, de-
partment ofiieials and local politicians
since tEle esection--.2rln and an extra scs-
sion.
To De sure. there have been almost daily
repesitlons OF Cuban war acares. ccncocted
by correspondents OF Sensational journals,
and as Professionally denied BY those writers
who have some reputation for furnishing
facts 20 the reading public TEsss how
ever, has grown very sac, anu IKE the
boy in the fable, who led 'Eolf.' so. x
through any act OF folly on the part OK
either government shousS there De actual
danger OF war. It would De almost impos-
sib.e now 10 get any one TO oeiieFe II.
Tariff legislation, however, 3 I'VE
TOPIC. IN view OF the recent election. ev-
eryone Is anxious TO know what congress
proposes to do. Each senator and repre-
sentative. returning TO washington for the
winter, is held up" the moment or his
arrival and made 10 deliver an expression
OF opinion. which includes not only his own
opinion as 10 what is best to be done. but
also what he thinks congress Is likely
TO do.
SO FAR as any legislation which may be
enacted az the coming short session IL
concerned, al action lies with the senate
The house, IL viii be recalled, passed
measure imposing a 90 per cent. tax on
wool, q small tax on Few other Things
now on the free list, and provided Tor a
horizontal increase OF 10 per cent on AL
Wilson bill schedules. providing that such
increase should not, In any case, exceed
the amount OF tax under the Mckinley
tariff act of 1850. BY the votes of the freq
silver Republicans being cast with the
Democrats and Populists. the senate re-
fused to consider the Dingley bill at the
last session. The present status or the
bill has been the subject OF much recent
controversy. It was declared that no such
bill now existed. the claim being made
that the Dinghy BIZ was thrown into the
waste basket by the senate finance COM
mittee. which reported in its stead free
silver subs flutes.
Such statement. shows utter ignorance
of legislative methods, and careless neg
lect in a matter where information was
easily obtalnable. Wishing 10 be abso-
lutely certain about the matter, I called
upon Senator Morrill, chairman of the
finance committee, who, according to his
usual custom, returned to this city near
~ a month in advaaes OF the beginning
Of congress. The .enator willingly gave
this clear. concise statement OF the status
OF the Dingley bill:
when the finance committee came to
consider the tariff bill, ii WAS found that
majority OF the committee. counting
the Democrats and Silver Republicans
together. were In favor OF attaching a
free silver rider 10 the tariff measure. A
little later the silver men decided 10 Of
fer the free silver bill, which had al
ready been passed by the senate, "a a
substitute for the house bond bill also as
substitute for The tariff bin II was so
reported 70 the senate. But this does not
in any way put aside the tarin measure
until the senate has had an opportunity
to vote thereon. The Dingley bill Hes
upon the table in the senate, accompanied
by a report of the finance COMMITTEES rec
ommending that all after its enacting
clause be stricken out, and the Tree. sill
yer substitute put IN place therecf.
Twice during the, last session | made
an effort 10 have the matter taken up
for consideration, and twice by the uni
ted vote OF the Democrats. Populists and
five Republicans from silver states. did
the senate refuse to take up the bill.
Had the bill been taken up, the question
then before the senate would have been.
shall the report CT the committee be
adopted? Not until that report Is adopt
ed can the tariff bin be said 10 be dead.
or to be replaced by the silver sabsti-
tute.'