Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-24
THE 55TH CONGRESS- AT WORK


the tariff bill, except the provision
relating To Hawaii, which went over.
This schedule has been the storm CEN
ter of the entire bill, and with it dis
posed of there is a better prospect for
speedy action on the bill as whole.
The first paragraph of the sugar sched-
ule served to bring out all the speeches
and test votes and when this was
passed the other paragraphs of the
schedule were agreed to without
further opposition. The consideration
of the agricultural schedule was
taken up.
SENATE. 10th day-There was rapid
work on the tariff bill. There were
no long speeches and the debate was
of snappy character which at times
enlivened but did not delay the serious
work on the bill. Thirteen pages were
disposed of, carrying the Senate
through the agricultural schedule and
up to schedule Ii, relating to spirits,
wines, etc. During the day the para
graphs on dairy products, farm pro-
ducts, fish, fruit and nuts, meat pro-
duets and miscellaneous agricultural
products were acted on. The finance
committee proposed many changes, in
the main advancing rates somewhat
over those heretofore reported. The
committee was sustained on every vote
although contest was made on al
most every paragraph. Mr. Vests
motion to restore salt to the free list
was ejected-yeas "a, nays 81. The
important paragraph proposing a tax
on tea went over at the suggestion of
Mr.. Allison, who expressed hope that
this duty on tea might be dispensed
with. A message was received from
President Mckinley together with the
Hawaiian annexation treaty. AS soon
as they had been read in executive
session they were laid aside for the day.
SENATE. eth day. = Greater pro-
gress was made on the tariff bill than
on any day since the debate opened.
Two entire schedules, covering 90
pages, were completed, namely, sched-
ule III on spirits, wines and beverages,
and schedule L ON manufactured cotton
goods. This brings the Senate to the
flax schedule with the important wool
of the bill passed is substantially the
same as that reported, all committee
changes being unimportant, while the
opposition amendments of Mr.. Jones,
of Arkansas, and Mr.. Vest were sys-
tematically rejected by majorities
varying from five to ten. Mr.. Allison
secured the addition of new para
graph to the cotton schedule with a
view to compensating the cotton man
ufacturers for recent action of the Sen
ate in placing raw cotton on the duti-
able list. The HOUSE was in session
an hour and a half. most of the time
being taken up with roll calls. Mr..
Sulzer, Democrat, of New York, sue
ceeded in injecting into the proceed
jngs brief speech in favor of Cuba in
which he denounced Weyler as a
thief and murderer" The bill for
the relief of the cyclone stricken resi-
dents of Greer county, Oklahoma, was
passed.
SENATE.-6Sth day-The tariff bill
came to sudden halt, less than one
page of the fax schedule being dis
posed OF during the day. The debate
drifted into politics, Senators Bacon
Vest, jones of Arkansas, and Tillman
taking part in an exposition of Dem
ocratic doctrine on the tariff. Mr..
Morgan proposed a sweeping amend
ment to place 10 per cent ad valorem
duty on all articles now on the free
list with few stated exceptions. In
supporting the amendment Mr.. Morgan
called attention to the singular fact
that the income tax feature of the Will
son bill is not repealed and can be en-
forced by change in the personnel of
the supreme court of the United States.
Owing to the interest in the Hawaiian
annexation question, Mr.. Davis, of
Minnesota, secured an agreement for
the printing of 5000 copies of the
treaty and other documents.
SENATE. Goth day. - The finance
committee received turn down on the
flax, hemp, jute and mating para
graphs of the tariff bill. This resulted
in the placing of mattings on the free
list as were cotton cloth for bagging
and woven fabrics of jute yarns. The
Democrats were enabled to carry their
point against these paragraphs by the
assistance of the silver Republicans and
Populists and by the help of Messrs.
Carter and Hansbrough, straight Re-
publicans, on mattings.
SENATE-70th day-The record was
broken by the disposal of Sc pages of
the tariff bill during the day. The
wool and silk schedules were laid aside
temporarily, and the work went on
rapidly until the last two schedules of
the dutiable list covering paper and
manufactured sundries, were completed
with the exception OF the paragraphs
on hides, gloves, coal and some lesser
articles, which went over. This adj
vanced the Senate to the free list,
which was taken up and completed in
three hours After wool and silk are
disposed of the tobacco schedule, the
reciprocity provisions and the internal
revenue portions of the bill, as we'll as
the many isolated paragraphs passed
over, remain TO be considered. HOUSE
Only routine business and a few
matters of minor Importance were dis
posed of.
Iohnpio Ghaaban acrad q Gale,