Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-07-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT


The responsibility for the failure of
the Senate to pass the tariff bill last
week belongs to the republican Sena-
tors. Had they been able to agree on
several proposed amendments to the
bill, the measure would today have
been returned to the House according
to expectations. The republican Sena.
tors agreed at the last minute to press
an amendment giving a bounty to beet
sugar, but rs soon as 1t was brought be-
fore the Senate, Senators Jones of Ark,
and Teller of Colorado, informed them
that the Senate would remain in SEES
sion all the summer before that amend.
ment would be allowed to pass, and the
republicans were compelled to with
draw it, but it was then renewed by
Senator Allen and is still pending.
Nothing now stands in the way Of the
final vote on the bill, but an agree
ment among the republicans, and that
will probably be reached within two or
three days.
Judging from expressions in Wash
iugton, the tariff amendment taxing
transfers Of stocks and bonds promises
to be popular one with the people.
1t will be paid by the spectators who
deal in stocks and bonds. who, as rule
do not pay their share of taxation.
A member Of the administration says
that President Mckinley has almost
decided to send a special message to
Congress; asking that legislation au
thorizing a currency commission be
passed. 1t was supposed that repre-
sentation made to the President by sen
ators had caused him to drop this idea,
because Of the impossibility of getting
such Legislation to Il vote, even suppos-
ing that quorum could be kept in
Washington after the tariff bill is out
Of the way and that majority could
be depended upon; but other influences
have been working to bring about the
sending of the message to Congress, re
gardless of the probability Of its being
acted upon at this session. This was
not known until the Presidents de-
parture for Canton, and as soon as he
gets back to Washington, he will hear
from the Senators of his party who
wish the currency question let alone
for the present.
There is more or less growing among
republican Senators because a caucus
turned down the antitrust amendment
to the tariff bill. prepared by Senators
Thurston, Davis and Spooner, upon
lines suggested by Senator Nelson, and
the amendment has been introduced as
bill by Senator Thurston. The bill
makes every person engaged in con
Quoting combine or trust guilty of
misdemeanor, and provides for their
punishment, on conviction, by both fine
and Imprisonment at hard labor. Al
though it was stated by the opponents
of this amendment in the caucus that it
was not the matter itself they opposed,
but incorporating it in the tariff bill,
nobody has any idea that the matter
will be allowed to get through the sen.
ate as an independent bill.
Senator Wellington Of Maryland, Is
going through what appears to unin,
terested folks to be a case of biting his
own nose off to spite his face, and his
face isn't pretty even at its best. He
seems to have made the mistake of &C.
ceptlng as literally true, the fiction that
Senators in sympathy with the admin.
istration, are allowed to dictate all the
Federal patronage given to citizens of
their states, and to have been led as a