Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-01
The Legislative Grind.

03C0S W the country 0t k0TX6s
The Legislative Grind.
Debate upon the tariff bill was com
menced In the House Monday. Mr.
Bailey of Texas presented minority re
port on the bill. The Anglo-Americal
arbitration treaty was advanced towar,
final ratification in the Senate. All tn,
amendments recommended by the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations were agree,
to. These amendments provide for rati
ication by the Senate of all agreement,
between this Government and Great Brit
ain; eliminating the United States Su
preme Court as members of arbitration
tribunal; and abolishing the provision fol
an umpire, thus dispensing with the ser
vices of King Oscar of Norway and Swe
den.
On Tuesday, the speech of Mr.. Dolliver
of Iowa. was the feature of the tariff de-
bate. which occupied both day and night
sessions. The time of the Senate was
divided between an unexpected discussion
OF civil service. election of Senators by
popular vote, and the passage of bills tc
establish survey of certain lands in
Nebraska and the bill to amend the act
repeating the timber culture laws.
The House Wednesday was again en-.
gagged in tariff debate, the discussion last.
ing into the night. The opposition made
by the colleges of New England and by
many scientific men against the duties
placed on books and scientific apparatus
by the Dingley bill induced the trainers
OF the measure TO amend it and restore
SO many of these articles to the free list
as are imported for the use of educational
institutions. The Senate's open session
lasted only half an hour, and no business
was done beyond the introduction of bills.
among these was one by Mr.. Allen, of
Nebraska, to repeal the civil service laws,
and to do away with educational tests as
preliminary to entering the public SER
vice. MIR. Hoar, of Massachusetts. pre-
sented bill prohibiting vitascope and
kindred exhibitions of prize fights i'm the
District of Columbia and the territories
and forbidding the shipment of pictures
Tor these exhibits by mail or through any
interstate means. The Senate confirmed
the appointment of Binger Hermann. of
Oregon, to be Commissioners of the Gen
eral Land Office; +. G. Timms. of Wis
consin, to be Auditor of the State and
other departments. and George e. Thum-
mel. of Nebraska. to be Marshal of the
United States district of Nebraska.
The four-days' debate upon the tariff
Dill In the House closed Thursday night,
making the bill open for amendment un-
DER the hve-minute rule until the time set
Tor vote. The Senate held n half-hour
session early in the day, and then. after
TWO hours in executive session on the
arbitration treaty, resumed the open ses-
sion In order to go on with the bankruptcy
Dill. Amended credentials were present
ed in behalf of John w. Henderson. an
pointed by the Governor of Florida to the
seat vacated by Mr.. Call. 1t brought out
a statement from Mr.. Hoar, acting chair
man of the Committee on Privileges and
ELECTIONS, that action on the pending cleo
ton cases was delayed by the uncertainty
as to committee organization in the SEN
ate. The revised credentials were re-
ferred to the Elections Committee.
The tariff bill was thrown omen for
amendment under the five-minute rule in
the House Friday, but seven weary
hours of work only served to dispose of
nine of the 1872 pages of the bill. Three
slight committee amendments were adopt-
ed, one of which was to increase the duty
on white lead from 2h to 3 cents a pound.
the rate in the act of 1890. The present
duty is III cents. In the Senate Mr.. Gal
linger (Rep) of Nebraska presented sew
eral forms issued by the civil service COM
mission to substantiate his recent state
ment that certain applicants for Office
were required to hop on one foot for
twelve feet. The Senator read the "hop-
ping provision and several other aues-
lions as to the weight and height of the
typesetters, which he characterized as
absurd. Referring to the size and weight
requirement Mr.. Gallinger said phil
Sheridan could not have served the gov
eminent If the civil service commission
had got at him." The matter was re-
ferred to the Civil Service Committee.
Adjourned to Monday.
In the House Saturday. only five more
of the 162 pages of the bill were disposed
OF, making fourteen pages in two Of the
five days allowed for consideration under
the five-minute rule. Only five amend
ments were adopted. all of minor import
ance, and each an amendment of the ways
and means committee. Fully two hours
were spent in the discussion of whether
the foreigner or consumer paid the tax.
If more progress is not made night ses-
sions may be held. Senator Warren of
Wyoming, in conference with the Re
publican members of the Senate commit
tee on finance on schedules affecting
Western interests. made some sugges-
tons concerning third-class woods, look
ing more, however. to change in adjust
ment than change of rates. He also
urged upon the committee the propriety
of return TO the policy of putting
duty on hides.