The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-02-19


congressional News Notes Of IntersSt.
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Feb. tS-The
Republican members OF the ways and
means commltt took an Important
step to-day inStheir work on the new
taritI bill by deciding to restore the Mc-
Einley rates on coal and coke. These
rates were 70 cents per ton OF IS BUSH
els on bitnminous and shRle and 70
cents on coal slack. such as will pass
through a half-inch screen. The pres
ent rates are 20 cents and 10 cents. Coke
Is advanced from Is to 20 per cent I'D
valorem.
The changes were made in response
to general demand from the coal In
terests whose advocates advocated that
the Wilson rates had Increased Cana
dian competition 30 greatly that the
american mine owners had been oblig-
al TO reduce wages to keep In the field.
The first conferences OF the week
have dealt with the tobacco schedule
and although no hnal agreement has
been reached there is q practical under~
standing that the new bill will return
10 the Mckinley rates ON tobacco. ex-
cept ON the grade known as tlller.The
rate on this win be 20 cents u pound.
double the Mckinley duty. which was
50 cents. II was represented by the to-
baccO manufacturers that most OF the
tobacco Imported from Crba as tiller
was used for wTappingS and that this
evasion OF the law gave the Key West
factories an advantage over those using
sumatra tobacco. The Mckinley du-
ties on wrapper tobacco were 81 per
pound on stemmed and s. 20 on unstem~
med. on SnutR the rate was 10 cents, on
cigars and cigarettes N and IS per cent
ad VRlOrem, and on tobacco not emu.
Inerated 70 cents. The committee VIII
devote most OF this week TO the schedule
Of sundries, which includes buttons, ex.
plosives, matches. musical Instruments,
furs, jewelry. gloves and mlscellaneous
manufactures and on most OF these the
Mckinley rates will be restored.
The appropriations cOmmlttee Of the
house had spirited discussion to-day
over the insertion in the general deh-
cheney bill Of s., $40 900 to pay the tudg-
ment OF the court OF claims secured by
the Southern Pacific railroad against
the government. which has been with
held 10 apply 1t to the debts Of the Gem
trai Pacific
Representative Sayres (Dem.. Tex.)
formerly chairman of the committee,
will make = motion in the house to
strike out the item from the bill II he
has an opportunity to do SO. Chairman
Cannon, OF the COMMITTEES, says now
that he does not intend 10 move sus-
pension Of the rules for the bill.
The senate committee on commerce
to-day agreed TO report favorably
number OF amendments TO the SundrY
civil appropriation bill providing for
improvements to rivers and harbors, ln-
Guiding the following:
S27S,000 to complete the Improvement
Of the Great Kanawha river, w. Va;
$al8,9 go for dredging a, channel in Mare
Island SCrRlt to enable all classes OF
vessels to reach the naval establishment
al Mare Island: S20O,O 900 for steam revs
enue cutter, with headquarters at New
York; $S5. 900 for steam tender for cons
struction and repair duty In third Light
house district
An amendment WAS agreed TO direct-
ing the secretary OF war to designate
board of Ave engineers OF the army to
Investigate tho question OF movable
dams and to recommend the best type
for various conditions OF service All
these amendments go to the committee
on appropriations for consideration and
hnal report,
The house committee on Indian affairs
to-day reported faVOrabiy bills 20 Sc
cure payment OF Indian trust funds; for
the distribution OF lands IN Minnesota
damaged by government reservoirs and
dams built by the government.
The senate committee on foreign re-
lRtions again postponed to-day action
upon the resolution demanding the re-
lease of General Julio SanEuilly from
his prison in CuOa on assurance recelv-
ed from the state department that the
Spanish authorities at Madrid had
agreed to llberate General sanguilly
Immediately, as heretofore announced
by the Associated Press On this as
surance the further consideration OF
the matter was ~eferred until the next
regular meeting Wednesday.
Only flvc senators were present when
the session of the senate opened to-day,
but the galleries were crowded with la
dies here to attend the Mothers Con-
sress"
Nir. Villas Dem., Wis.,) secured the
passage of the senate bill ito extend the
use Of the mail service" 1t provides
IpI uAluB u phttNI pVhlAA SNAu NuN va
velope. with coupons attached.
After the open session had proceeded
twenty minutes. the senate, on Mr..
ShermaD'R motion went into executive
session Mr. Quay (Rep., Pn.,) wanted
TO go on with the bill for a commission
TO take into labor problems, but said
that as the executive session was Ike
~ TO bring definite results he would not
antagonize Mr. Sherman's motion.
The house to-day by vote Of 1877 to 9i
reversed the finding Of q majority OF the
elections committee and decided the
contested election case OF ". T. Hop
klns vs.. j. NJ. Kendall from the Tenth
Kentucky district, IN favor OF the Re-
publican contestant, Mr., Hopkins.
Eleven Republicans ana three POpullsts
voted with the Democrats against un-
sentlnE Kendall. The conference re-
ports on the bills to pension Major Gen.
eral Julius II, Stahl ut $75 and the Wild
ow OF Major General StOneman at $50
were adopted.
After protractcd session lasting
nearly oil day. the senate by vote OF
35 10 IL confirmed the nomination OF
Charles r. Amldon TO be United States
district Judge OF tho District OF North
Dakota This nomination has been
contested some time by Senator Hans
brou1h of North lJntOta, To-day hu