Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-03-29
WORK is CUT OUT
VOTE WILL BE TAKEN WEDNESDAY,

Is
VOTE WILL BE TAKEN WEDNESDAY,
Purpose ana Policy Of the Democrats Is TO
Get . Record Vote ON One of Their
Trust" Observation-Disclosures Made Il
Very 6low-Senate Forecast Not So Easy.
but It WIN TaIk-Proposed Financial
Legislators.
Washington. March 29-Three more
days will probably see the end OF the
struggle over the Dingley tariff bill in
the house. The bill will be open for
amendment until o'clock on Wednes-
day. when the debate is to Close with a
two-hour display OF oratory. The vot-
Ing Is to begin at o'clock on that day.
So far as known there will be no break
In the Republican ranks. but at least
four Of the Democrats will brave the
party whip and cast their votes for the
bill-three from Louisiana and one from
Texas. There is also a probability that
one Populist and one silverite will vote
for the protective measure. Dingley.
who has engineered the bill through the
eddies Of debate. will devote his ener-
gies to pressing the consideration of the
bill forward with the utmost expedition
In order to complete it before the vote Is
taken. But the Democrats are pursu-
ing a course which has thus far rem
dered progress extremely difficult.
Getting Along Mighty Slowly.
But fourteen OF the 162 pages of the
bill were disposed of in the two days
Of last week. At this rate it would re-
quire twenty-one days for the house,
sitting seven hours a day, to complete
the consideration Of the bill under the
five-minute rule. If the present tactics
Of the opposition are persisted in it is
not improbable that night sessions will
be held today and tomorrow. The pol
icy Of the Democrats thus far has been
to attack every item and make it the
text for general assaults on the bill. 1t
is understood that they will make a
particularly strong stand against the
steel and sugar schedules. They do not
hope to accomplish anything, how
ever, in the way Of amendment.
Policy of the Democrats.
They have made trusts the keystone
Of their opposition up to this time, and
the only thing which they really believe
vote on an amendment such as was Of
fered on Friday. providing for the sus-
pension Of the duty on any article con-
trolled by a trust or combination. They
propose to do this, II possible, by a mo-
ton to recommit with instructions aft
er the bill is reported from the commit
tee of the whole. There seems to be a
question, however, whether this motion
will be entertained under the spe-
cial order under which the house is op-
Grating.
Dingley Is Master of the Situation.
The fact that the reading of the bill
may not be completed under the FIVE
minute rule will in no wise interfere
with the power Of the ways and means
committee to perfect 1t. Their amend.
ments are in order to any part of the
bill at any time, and when it becomes
apparent that the bill cannot be com.
pleted Dingley can assume charge and
clear up all the amendments he desires
to offer. After the tariff bill is passed
the house probably will adjourn three
days at a time until the appropriation
bills are returned to 1t. If they ART
amended by the senate the house prob
| ably will accept the opportunity Of
| fered for talking, and as no injury cor
be done is likely that the leaders viii
indulge the members to some extent IL
| this regard.
| Little Progress Made Saturday.
The progress Of the house on the tar
III bill was even slower Saturday than Fri
day. Only five more pages of the 16
pages Of the bill were disposed Of, max
ing fourteen pages in all in the two O
the five days allowed for consideration
under the five minute rule. At this rat
only thirty-one pages Of the bill viii
be disposed OF before the bill come
to a final vote. Only five amendment
were adopted Saturday, all OF minor i'm
portance. and each an amendment o
the ways an means committee. All tn
| questions involved in the tariff, witt
occasional incursions into the realm o
the financial theories, furnished fruit
full topics for the members. Fully tw
hours was spent in the discussion o
whether the foreigner or the consume
paid the tax. This question bids fai
| to consume much more time before tn
debate closes. The Republicans are try
ing to advance the consideration of tn
bill by refraining from debate, but the
are forced by the attacks Of the opposi
ton to defend their measure.
TWO NEW FINANCIAL BILLS.