The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-23
Both Branches Of Congress In Per.
feet Accord.
AND PROSPECTS FOR NEW TARIFF
BILL VERY GOOD.
Attitude of Silver Men and Populists at
Present Very acknowledgements Ation
Bills Have Been Sent to tho Senate
House VIII Do No Legislation After
Passage of Tariff Bill.
ESPECIAL TO THE pREss.l

lo1 rsCAhb ~ LIN 111koos4
Washington, March 22.-The debate on
the tariff bill has begun, with the House
working ten hours day to consider 1t
In time to send it to the Senate on the
last day OF March. That the bill will 60
to the Senate on that day there can be
no doubt, since the House has so decided.
just what the reception of the measure
In that body will be cannot of course be
foretold. but there seems to be no ground
at present to warrant the reports that the
Senate feels net.led at the action of the
House and disposed to resent the plan to
adjourn for three days at a time in the
lower body while the upper body is
wrestling with the bill. 1t is represented
that the Republican leaders of the Senate
have not been consulted by the House
leaders in the preparation of the bill, and
that therefore the former feels like taking
their time. This IL not true. The Senate
leaders were consulted very freely and
frequently during the preparation of the
bill, and are undoubtedly thoroughly
oonversant with 1t already. This will
contribute to diminish the time in which
the bill will remain in the Senate COM
mittee. AS to the attitude of the silver
men, and the populists, it may be eaid
that at the present time 1t is most favor
able. They not only give assurances that
they do not intend to obstruct. but even
60 SO far as to say that they hope to see
speedy action on the bill In the Senate.
Some of them talk Of an adjournment as
early as tho first OF June. but this is un-
doubtedly rather too sanguine.
The House has sent bhe four delayed
appropriation bills to the Senate and
that body should have them done by the
time the tariff bill gets over. 1t was
originally the intention of the leaders to
leave these bills until the tariff bill
should have passed the Senate, whom they
would have gone through both House
and Senate very quickly, without danger
of getting in the way Of the tariff bill.
But the Senate leaders concluded that
they could take them at once. SO the
House went ahead. The House leaders
felt some misgtvings about the wisdom
81 tQl6s Uub tAo lASpuullCdu loesucEa III
the two bodies are working in harmony,
with thorough understanding, and as
Mr.. Allison and his associates are oon-
ceded to have very delicate task to get
the tariff bill through this Senate, the
House leaders act in response to their re-
quests and suggestions. This is what oc-
oasioned the change Of plan in regard to
the tariff bill.
The members of the House have quite
generally settled down to the idea that
the House will do no legislation after
the passage Of the tariff bill. The Demo-
orats profess to condemn such a policy,
but in the special session of the SD Con-
gress, called to repeal the silver purchase
law, no general lsgislation was done by
the House, only about thirty bills and
resolutions being noted on.
Messrs. Harry Virgin Of Portland. and
Walter Dane Of Kennebunk, and Everett
Totman of Fairfield, are among Maine
visitors of the capitol.