The Portland daily press., 1896-12-17

Work of Ways and Means Comm on
the New Tariff Bil1-CIerk Lords Posit-
ion Made Donbly arold
sewau at Capital.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J
Washington, December 16.-The ways
and means committee of the House be-
gan on Monday evening to work in earn
EST on the construction of the new tariff
bill which Is to be passed. by the House,
and 1T is hoped and expected, by the Sen
pte also at the speoi al session of the
Eifty-ffth Congress, which is probably
to be convened about the middle of next
March. This beginning Ct the work by
evening sessions at the very start indi-
Gates that the work is to be pushed with
great diligence. Hearings will begin at
an early date, special days being assigned
to the various schedules, and quite pro-
bably more than one day to some of the
more important classifoations. But
SO protsoted hearings will not be needed
as ii the Fiftv-ffth Congress because
the hearings at that time were all writ
ten out and indexed for ready reference;
and also the hearings OH the Wilson bill
wsrs similarly preserved. This places
at the disposal of the committee nearly
all the main facts needed for the con-
struction of their bill.
This work on the new tariff bill will
bring great amount Of important work
upon the clerk of the ways and means
committee, Mr.. Herbert NJ. Lord Of Rock
land, Ne. Mr. Lord has, in his service,
and opportunities at the present session,
qualified himself for the delicate and
dffioults duties now devolving upon
him.
II Is not often that the House Of Re.
presentatives sustains President Cleye-
land in q veto of q private pension bill.
The President does not veto SO many of
these bills as he used to during his first
tsrm; but occasionally he tries one, just
to keep his hand In. On Monday such
q casa came up. and the House did an
unusual thing in sustaining the veto.
But the President made out pretty
strong case The bill was one to grant
a pension to Lydia A. Taft, who was
during the war the wife of Lowell Taft,
Of the Oonuecticut volunteers. Mrs. Taft
got divorce from her husband In 1891
on account of intoxication. In 1892 he
died in the soldiers home. OF course
the object Of granting pension to a
widow IS to recompense her fer the loss
of her husband by reason Of his service
for the country. 1t WAS pretty hard TO
set up that Mrs. Taft had lost much when
her husband died, since she had before
thas cast him off as not worth keeping.
Ore or two members tried to Set up the
plea that the habits Of intoxicati0n had
been acquired while soldier, but in
quiries as 20 whether this was in the line
of duty, destroyed the effect Of the argu-
ment. II req uises two-thirds vote to
pass bill over the Presidents veto and
the friends of the bill could muster but
9s votes, while IS voted against it. Pro-
baby many voted for the bill because Of
prejudice against Mr.. Cleveland's pen
sion yetoes rather than because they be-
lieyed there was meri1 in the bill.
Considerable pressure has been brought
to bear upon Speaker Reed to have him
appoint Representative Newlands OF
Nevsda, 60 the place on the ways and
means couznittee, made vacant by the
death Of NJ Crisp of Georgia. Mr.. Crisp
was a Democrat, and Mr. New lands is an
indspendent silver man, foImsrly Re
publican. 1t is urged on behalf Of Mr..
Neulands that he is an ardent psoteo-
ZIONIST. and has given the subject much
study; also that his presence on tho ways
and means committee will have the effect
of making the two Nevada Senators,
Jones and Stewart, look with favor on
the tariff bill when 1t shall come into the
Genate. On the other hand, Mr.. Crisp's
place belongs to Democrat, and 1t is
urged tint Mr.. Newlands does OF fill
the bill, although he supported Bryan.
And if this place is to be given to a
Democrat, it is urged that the Democrat
felecsed should be one OF the sound
money contingent, WHO Helped in the last
election. As to the proposition to throw
oas bait to Jones and Stewart, 1t is
urged that the Repp blican party hes
tried repeatedly to secure their co-opera-
tion, only to get stabbed on the most
favorable opportunity and that NOW 1T
is time for Che two Senatots to throw
bait awhile.
Hon. Harold sewalI of Bath, arrived
In the city Monday.