The Press., 1897-07-01
Washington Letter.
Washington, May e5tE

A stranger at the capitol would know without being told that the tariff debate Is drawing to n close in the senate. The senators show 1t by their general good nature. Of course, there are senators to whom the bill, which will be passed this week, Is anything but pleasing, but 1t Is doubtful whether there is single sena- tor who does not rejoice to know that the end Is near at hand. Unless there shall be much greater delay than is expected in reaching an agreement as to the senate amendments in conference, the tariff bill will be law before July 10th, and con- gress can adjourn by that date, as it Ia generally understood that no other legis- lation is to be attempted at this session.
 Senator Harris resolution, declaring that the government should at once re- deem the Union Pacific railroad from It's mortgage, with an amendment offered by Senator Morgan, requesting the presi- dent to suspend proceedings to carry into effect the agreement alleged to have been made to sell the interest of the U. s. in the U. F. R. R. and in the sinking fund until further action of congress Is had in refer ence thereto, has been favorably reported to the senate. Senator Harris, of Kans wrote the report on the resolution, and he presented figures to show that If the proposed reorganization Is allowed to go through, the government will lose near S25, ,000, ,0O0, and other creditors will also lose quite heavily. The report makes what Is very near to a a direct charge against the last administration of trying 10 aid the reorganization scheme, and of withholding information on the subject from congress.
 Senator Hoar's report in favor of seat ing ex-Senator Corbett on the certificate of the governor of Oregon has been order ed printed by the committee on privileges and elections, but the committee has not voted either for or against the report, ,and Is not likely to do so at the present ses- sion of congress.
 Senator Butler Is much pleased that his resolution as to the feasibility of applying the principle of the initiative and referendum to federal legislation Is to be investigated by n subcommittee.
 A proposition Is being talked of among some senators to present Vice. President asking him to speak louder. Mir. Hobart makes fairly good presiding officer, ex- eept that his voice can scarecely be heard even by the occupants of the seats near est to him when he states his decisions on points of order or says anything relating to the business of the senate.
 During the last two weeks eight patent attorneys have been dlsbarred from prac- tice before the U. s. patent office. Two were from New York, two from Ohio ,and one from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maine and Tennessee, respectively and Com missioner ButterwoTth has ordered John Wedderburn & Co.,, to show cause why they should not be dlsbarred, charging them among other disreputable practices with making fraudulent, deceptive, i'm proper and incomplete searches, with in- tent to defraud and the result of defraud- ing clients, to their injury; wrong doing, to the scandal aud repI oach of the patent office and contrary to equity and good morals"
 The opponents of the treaty for the annexation of Hawaii are playing 1t smart by trying to keep as quiet as they can, less the programme of allowing the treaty to go over to the next session should be abandoned, and the treaty rati- fled before the present session adiourns. It Is said that the money Is to come from European governments who wish the treaty to fall, but do not wish to appear to be opposing 1t, and from the sugar trust, which has opposed 1t from the first. The friends of the treaty say they have no fears. They believe that the senate will ratify the treaty, but if 1t fails, the Morgan bill, already introduced, will bring annexation at once, and there Is not R bit of doubt about their ability to pass that.
 Fewer ex-senators have been on the floor of the senate since Senator Hale offered his resolution, to amend the rules to exclude from the privileges of the floor ex-senators engaged in lobbying, than for a long time. Some of the ex-senators are hopping mad, but the activity of ex-sena- tors as lobbyists was fast becoming scan- dalous and Mir. Hale's act Is generally considered wise.
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