The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-16
Import Tax Equal to the Difference
Between Selling Price and Par to
BE Levied on Foreign Bullion.
PURELY TARIFF MEASURE
AND WILL NOT SATISFY THE 16-TO-1
POLITICAL AGITATORs.
Little Probability that the New Rev
Features of Other Legislation.
pecial to the indianapolis Journal.


WASHINGTON. Dec. l5.-One of the
things to be embodied in the new tariff
bill is clause giving unexpected and un-
asked recognition to silver by putting
on an import tax equal to the difference
between the selling price of bullion per
ounce and par. The scale will necessarily
have TO be a sliding one, based an an
average price for a given time. and ad-
Unstable to the changed condition of the
market. IL the quotation should be 90
cents ounce for the specified period.
then the duty would be 50 cents an ounce;
If the price should be 60 cents the duty
would be ga cents, and so on. The scheme,
which has received favorable consideration
at the hands of House and Senate leaders,
will be greatly to the advantage of pro-
ducers, but il is not what the free-coinage
element is asking for. The advocates of
silver protection claim, however, that the
measure is distinctly tariff, and that its
adoption will make no difference whatever
with the money end of the question leav-
ing that as it was before. The effect will
be, however, to placate the mine owners
and decidedly moderate their enthusiasm
for free coinage, which is something the
l6-to-1 agtators do not want. At the same
time. they cannot consistently oppose the
granting of protection to the silver-pro-
ducing interests i'm the same way that pro-
lection is given to iron, coal. lead and
nearly everything else that comes out of
the ground. 1t is true that this country
is silver exporter, but we also import
large quantity from Mexico and other
count~ies, which comes into competition
with cur own produCtoin
Washington is excited over the report
which was sent TO the Journal several
days ago that an effort would be made to
complete and pass the new tariff bill i'm
the House this session and send it to the
Senate. The additional information is given
that the sound-money Democratic senators
will assist i'm the passage of the bill
through that body. Two or three of these
senator's have, however, confdentially in
formed friends that they have no notion
that they will be called on to
make good any half promises to
vote for protection revenue
measure, and if 1t develops that there
is any danger of vote they will employ
! all available parliamentary tactics TO pre-
vent action. This means that whatever may
be said openly. looking to the passage of a
tariff measure this session, there is no
show whatever of its becoming a law.
An Associated Press dispatch says: Men,
say there have been no DEVELOPMENTS
either in their various conferences or in
| suggestions from leaders of the House in
| dicating there is any desire or intention to
pass a tariff bill during the present Con-
gress. 1t has been reported that the bill
on which the committee now working
| would be passed at this session. Chairman
Dingley said that nothing of the kind was
| in contemplation and no such plan would
considered unless something
by the Senate to take up the bill il now
has. amend ii and put IL into conference
Mr.. Dingley indicated that IL would be inn
practicable to pass bill which could not
receive consideration in the Senate. An
other member of the ways and means COM
House TO pass bill which would be torn
to pieces in the Senate. The next House
would have to pass 1t again over the oppo-
sition the bill aroused in the Senate. The
present work of the ways and means COM
mittee is the preliminary work which that
committee would have to do in the begin
ming OF new session.
| The House committee on appropriations
| to-day finished the bill for the legislative
executive and judicial expenses Of the gov
ernment for the fiscal year ending June 30
| 1898. The bill carries a total of $21 ,667, ,S69
which is 81, PSI less than the estimates
and ss7. sss less than the appropriations for
| the current year. The principal new item
| Is for clerical force Of the new congress
| sional library. which will number 1877 men,
an increase of IA m The salary roll will ag-
| gregate S177,900. The salary of the libra
rian is increased from $4, 900 to $4,000; a chief
assistant librarian at $4,000, and nine ad-
| ditonal employees in the catalogue depart
ment are provided for In accordance with
| the recommendations of the joint commit
| tee on library. 1t is provided that the Ii
| brary employees are selected by the libra
| ran by reason of special aptitude for the
| work. reduction of five employees in the
| Carson New mint is made and the
4 Cor 0fx l.
| ors i'm New Orleans is reduced from $4 900
| to $4,000 but there are small increases in
the Philadelphia and Helena mints. For
government of the territories the allow
| ances Is decreased $4,000 because there are
| no Legislative SESSIONS TO be provided for.
the Indian Territy is omitted. it being the
| intention to change them from salaried to
feed officers on the lines of the Updegraff
bill.
Five members Of the Illinois congressional
| observation-disclosures Aldrich. Belknap Cook
| Reeves and Lorrimer-had an interview to-
day with General Craighill. the chief of
army engineers. to urge the pushing of
wor on the Chicago river and the Hennepin
| canal. In the last river and harbor bill
authority was given the secretary TO con-
tract for the building of the canal TO the
amount OF s5.535.OOO and to expend 500. .OOC
In Strengthening. dredging and widening the
| Chicago river. Complications have arisen
| in carrying out both projects so that nc
| work has vet been done nor contracts
| made. In the case Of the canal the Secre-
| tary of war has not advertised for bids
| yet. Max Marshall. engineer in charge OF
| the Chicago river work, holds that under
| the terms of the appropriation IL can be
expended only for dredging. which would
| require but a fraction of the allowance
| The War Department officials have told
| the Chicago members that if the appropria-
ton was expended for any other work thar
the dredging. Controller Bowler might re-
| fuse TO pass the accounts. General Craig
hill has. In accordance with the request
| of the congressional delegation, written tC
| Secretary Lamont asking that construc-
| ton of the appropriating act he secured
| from the attorney general. The intent OF
| the law was plain and III its wording proved
| 10 be defective the Illinois members pro-
| pose TO remedy the defect by new legisla
| ton Mr. Reeves laid the Hennepin cana
| matter before General Craighfll and Clicitec
| the assurance that the department would
| proceed 10 carry out the terms of the law
The Senate committee on Pacific rail-
roads to-day agreed that, i'm view OF the
fact that the mortgages on both the Union
Pacific and the Central Pacific are now
practically due. il was important TO secure
the action or Congress at the earliest prac-
ticabe date. Senator Morgan was the only
senator present who dissented from this
81. and t.4 I.a a xa-f n cir I.1.