The herald., 1896-02-13
IN COMMITTEE

The Tariff Will Be Considered After the
Appropriations
The friends of the tariff bill in the scna te
have found it eXpedient to change their
plans somewhat, and instead of taking up
the tariff Immediately will postpone its
consideration until after all the appropria-
ton bills which have been reported from
committees shall have been disposed of. 1t
is believed these measures will monopolze
the greater part of the time of the senate
for the next week. Other questions will
intervene, 80 that it now looks as if debate
ON the tariff or the silver substitute will not
be had until the week after next at the
earliest.
prominent Republican of the commit
tee on finance today expressed the opinion
that the silver substitute would be defeated
by at least fifteen majority. He said that
not to exceed four of the silver Republi-
cans would vote for the substitute. With
this disposed of he thinks the tariff bill
will pass with full Republican vote aided
by the votes OF ct least three of the Popu-
list senators.
THE CANAL PROJECT
The subcommittee of the house commit
tee on commerce is considering the report
of the Nicaragua canal commission. The
general impression among the members of
the subcommittee is that the estimate of
the commission for the completion of the
work ($l36, ,000,0 ,000) is entirely too high.
Mr.. Doollttle OF Washington says that
there are gentlemen in the United States
who can give the best of security for carry
| ing out their contract who will agree to
| complete the work for $40 100000
Next Tuesday the subcommittee will
meet for the purpose of drawing up a rough
draft of a bill for submission to the full
committee. 1t is probable that the Morgan
| bill, which was before the senate in the last
congress, will form the basis of the bill to
| be prepared. The guarantee of the bonds
! of the com moany to an extent not exceeding
/ 100000. 900 will be the main proposition.
The government will secure a majority of
| the stock and be insured perpetual ma
| jority of the directora The bill will also
provide for the prosecution of the work
under the inspection of government en-
gineers, and will provide for complete SUI
pervision, auditing, etc, of all accounts by
the treasury department.
ALASKAN BOUNDARY
The convention between the govern.
ments of the United States and of Great
Britain for arbitration of claims for dam
ages made on account of the Bering sea
sealing vessel seizures, was received by
! the senate in executive session yesterday,
and was considered by the committee on
foreign relations today. The treaty is a
brief document, signed by Secretary Oh
/ ney on the part of the United States and
| by Sir Julian Pauncefote for Great Brit
ain. 1t provides for the reference of the
claims to two commissioners, one to be
appointed by the United States and the
other by Great Britain, who, in case of a
failure to agree, are to be authorized to
select third commissioner. If not able
to agree upon a man for this offics, the
matter is to be referred to the president of
hl Aurfaa Nhal
quest that he name the third man,
which he has consented to do.
| The agreement is made in conformity
| with the Paris arbitration, and it's findings
/ are made obligatory upon both govern
menis. As submitted, the treaty only pro-
/ vldes for the payment of damages by the
| United states Tor vessels engaged in seal
| catching belonging to citizens of Great
! Britain. but disposition has already man
| ifested itself in the committee to amend it
! so as to provide also for the arbitration of
| claims which may arse on the part of the
! citizens of the United States for seizures OF
| American vessels made by Great Britain,
and the probabilities are that such an
| amendment will be made in committee.
Senator Morgan talked at length to the
| committee today. explaining the origin of
/ these claims, and going into the findings
| of the Paris tribunal, as we'll as the efforts
| TO have the claims settled during the last
congress by the payment of lump sum,
| which was opposed at the time. The COM
I mittee adjourned without taking any ac-
ton, but the Indications ara that with the
change making the findings of the COM
mission mutual as between the two
, countries, the committee will recommend
the ratification of the treaty.
STATEHOOD DISCUSSION
The house com nittee on territories held
a warm session today over the bills to adj
NIT Arizona and New Mexico into the
union. For several weeks it has been ap
parent that there was a disposition among
some of the opponents of free silver on the
| committee to postpone favorable reports
on these bills, at least for the present, to
prevent the increase of the free silver
strength in the senate. Today the fight
eliminated whom, while the bill to admit
Arizona was under discussion, the commit.
tee voted 6 to to adjourn.
1t was enormously reported about the
house today that the vote was taken on the
Arizona bill and that the bill itself had
been defeated. Although, as stated, the
| opponents OF free silver were responsible
for the postponement of action, all oppo
nents of free coinage on the committee
were not in favor of deferring action. Mr.
Scranton of Pennsylvania, the chairman
Mr.. Perkins of Iowa, Republican, and
Mr.. Turner, Democrat of Virginia, who
voted against the motion to adjourn, are
also opposed to free coinage.
Those who voted to adjourn were Had
ley of Illinois, Knox of Massachusetts
Taft of Ohio, Lowe of New York Republi
cans: Harrison of Alabama, Democrat
and Owens of Kentucky, Democrat. Av
cry of Michigan, Republican, and Cooper
of Texas, Democrat, voted against ad
journnent in addition to those named