The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-08
WILL PUSH TARIFF BILL
Republican Leaders Arranging Plans
For Work of Extra Session.
Sabbath Quiet Surrounds tho
White House.


washington. March S.-Republican
leaders are determined that the new
tariff bill shaD be rapidly put through
the house, and IL possible through the
senate without factious delay. In this
they will have the cooperation of the
administration, IL needed.
There is not very much that the ad-
ministration can do i'm the way OF ad.
vancing tariff legislation beyond sum-
moning congress in extra session. The
holding up Of appointments, which some
have supposed might be potent weapon
will be OF very little account. The key
TO the situation lies with Speaker Reed
and not with the president. 1t Is in the
power OF the speaker to prevent the en-
actment OF any legislation by the house
until the tariff bill will haye been dis
posel OF. and IL Is almost equally In his
power to compel reasonably speedy ac-
tion BY the senate. II Is his present plan
TO have the tariff bill passed by the
house early In April after a debate OF
q fortnight, and then to let the house
lie on Its oars while the country looks
10 the senate for action. This can be
accomplished by holding up the appoint
Inent of committees until after the tariff
bill will have gone through, and Speaker
Reed Is quite ready to do this.
There are four appropriation bills re-
naming over from the last congress-
the general deficiency. sundry civil, In
dian and agricultural. These bills will
have to be passed sooner or later, and IL
happens that they are the very bills I'm
(which individual senator's and represen-
tatives are especially interested. The
sundry civil carries appropriations foI
public buildings and river and harboi
improvements and contains all sorts of
items which mean q great deal to the
local constituents Of congressman. The
general deficiency. as its name implies.
is also an urgent bill. and is an omnibus
affair In which every senator end rep
resentative likes to have an interest
With clubs like these to hold over the
head of the senate it can be seen that
Speaker Reed may be able TO accomplish
a great deal For IL 1t be once thor
oughly understood that neither the sun
dry civil nor the general deficiency bill
can become law until after the tariff bill
has been enacted. the senate will be very
likely to devise some means Of hasten
ing its labors. To cut off appropriations
viii prove discourager of hesitancy.
The speaker holds the situation in his
own hands. because such appropriations
as are absolutely essential to the run
ming Of the government can be provided
s7or by joint resolutions containing the
present laws for another year.
The only prominent subject now up
which might be expected to Interfere
with speedy action in the senate is the
arbitration treaty. This is a constant
temptation TO debate, sand IL might be
used by the opponents of tariff legisla-
ton. IL they desire. with great effect
But IL looks now as though the arbitra-
tion treaty might be out of the way be-
fore the tariff will have reached the sem
ate.
Senator Lodge and Senator Frye. who
have il in charge, now that Sherman has
retired, will push il at once. and they
hope 70 secure speedy action. Condi-
tions favor their hope. The senate will
lie in session for over a week before the
house will have convened, with nothing
to do except to confirm nominations, and
almost all this time can be devoted to
the treaty. There will also be at least
a fortnight. and perhaps three weeks.
after March i5 before tariff bill can
come over from the house. and all that
time can also be devoted to the discus
sion of the treaty. There has already
been week of debate. and the senate is
really ripe for action now. When the
treaty comes to a vote there Is little
doubt that il will be ratified. The test
votes In the last congress indicated this,
and a canvass which has been made by
Senators Lodge and Gray helps to con-
firm the indications.