Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-06-03
WORK OF CONGRESS
Good Progress Made on the Tariff
Bill In the Senate.
QUESTIONS FOR a POPULAR VOTE.



made good progress on the tariff bill
yesterday, advancing to the important
metals schedule. During the day par
agraphs covering marble and stone,
china, glass, brick and tile were COM
pleted with few minor exceptions.
Messrs. Vest and Jones, Of Arkansas,
in behalf Of the minority Of the finance
committee, proposed numerous amend
ments, which were defeated by major
tiles Of to IA. The votes were on
party lines in the main, although
Messrs. Rawlins and White dem vot-
ed with the republicans to increase the
rate on onyx, and Mr.. McEnery (dem.)
voted with the republicans against Mr..
Jones proposition for a reduction Of
rates on china.
As sequel to the recent sensational
speech Of Mr.. Tillman, Mr.. Smith, Of
New Jersey, rose to question Of per-
sonal privilege, while the tariff debate
was proceeding, and made brief, but
pointed, denial Of all speculation in
stock, either recently or at any time
when sugar was the subject Of legisla-
ton. Mr.. Tillnan was among those
who heard the denial, but he made no
comment on it. The senator from
South Carolina, John L. McLaurin,
who succeeded the late Senator Earle,
was sworn in at the opening Of the
session. This establishes the person.
mel of the senate as it will remain for
some time, viz: Republicans, 4S; demo-
Gratis, 81; populists, 4 silver republic
ans, 5; vacancy Oregon, |. Total, 80.
Mr.. Pettigrew introduced a bill to
provide for the submission to a popu-
lar vote at the congressional election
of 1898 Of the following questions;
Shall congress OF once enact law providing
for the immediate free and unlimited coinage
Of silver and gold at the ratio Of sixteen to
onef
Shall the constitution Of the United States
be so amended as to provide for the election Of
United States senator's and Of the president
and vice president by direct vote Of the peo-
pie?
1t is made the duty Of the secretary Of
each state to forward the result Of the
vote to the president, who is required to
transmit the statements to congress.
There was lively session Of the
house yesterday, at which the policy
of Speaker Reed and the republican
majority were again made the subject
of attack by members of the minority.
The appeal Of Mr.. Lewis, of Washing
ton, taken Thursday from the decision
of the chair that resolution relating
to foreign affairs did not constitute a
question of privilege, was laid on the
table, and after the skirmish over the
methods Of procedure three special
orders were successfully adopted, by
two of which the senate bills making
a special appropriation for the
government printing office and for
granting the secretary of the
navy authority to contract with
any two vessels to carry contributed
supplies to India, were passed. The
other provided for the consideration of
the Frye bill to prevent collisions upon
harbors, rivers, and inland waters of
the United States, connected with the
ocean. But Mr.. Payne in charge of
the latter bill, was forced to abandon
it for the day to avoid the point of no
quorum. The conference report on the
sundry civil bill was adopted. The
compromise relative to the revocation
Of President Cleveland's forest reserva-
ton order excited comment. Mr. Loud,
of California, objected to one feature of
the compromise, but the opposition
was not carried to the point of divi-
sion. AT 1880 the house adjourned un.
til Thursday.
TILLMAN RESOLUTION NOT REPORTED.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The senate
to audit and control the
expenses Of the senate, to
which was referred the Tillman reso-
luton providing for an investigation
of the charges that senator's have been
specializing in sugar stocks, held
yesterday and decided to take
time to look into the charges to GER
tain extent before reporting the reso-
luton back. The committee therefore
to postpone making any rec
concentrations for the present.
REPORT ON ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The Alaskan
boundary treaty was reported in ex.
ecutive session by Senator Turpie yes
terday. The report recommends the
ratification of the treaty with an
amendment making it clear that the
United States comedies none Of Its sea-
coast rights by accepting Mount ST.
Elias as the initial point for marking
the l4lst meridian boundary line.
STEPHENS MADE A DOCTOR.
Curators at Missouri state University Con-
fer Degree Upon the Governor.
COLUMBIA, Mo-, June AT COM
mencement exercises here it will be
that the board of curators