Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-25
BRIEF SESSIONS.
The Proceedings In Both Houses
Of Congress Uneventful
PLANS MADE FOR The TARIFF BILL.
The Final Vote to BE Taken In the House
on March 31-Speaker Reed Deter
mined to Hold the House
Down to the Tariff Bill.

WASHINGTON, March lv.-The session
Of the senate yesterday was brief and
uneventful. A large number OF bills
were introduced and the first report of
the session was received. A smile went
around the chamber when Mr.. Stewart,
a resident Of Carson City, New, where
the pugilistic contest occurred, offered
q bill for the relief Of one Corbett. II
proved to be a private pension bill.
One Of the measures introduced by Mr..
Gallinger proposed an amendment to
the constitution prohibiting legislation
in behalf OF any religious denomina-
ton.
Mr.. Turpie, Of Indiana, gave notice
Of speech next Tuesday on the cleo
ton Of senators by popular vote, and
introduced resolution proposing an
amendment to the constitution for the
purpose.
: The first report Of the session was
presented by Mr.. Gear, Of Iowa, from
the committee on Pacific railroads, and
was favorable to the bill for an adjust
ment Of the Pacific railroad debt by
commission consisting Of the secretary
OF the treasury, the secretary Of the inte-
rior and the encouragement. Mr.. Gear
asked that the bill be made the unfin-
ished business of the senate with pro-
viso that 1t should not be taken up for
q month. There was an objection,
however, from Mr.. Cockrell, of Mis-
souri, and after considerable discussion
the bill went to the calendar. There
was objection also to Mr.. Gears reso-
lmtion calling on the encouragement
for information as to the foreclosure
proceedings against the Pacific roads.
Mr.. Morgan. of Alabama, gave notice
that he. would later submit minority
report on the bill for commission.
A resolution by Mr.. Lodge, Of Mas
sachusetts, was agreed to, instructing
the committee on foreign relations to
inquire whether the islands Of st.
Croix, St. Johns and St. Thomas Of the
West Indian group could be purchased
by the United States, and If not
whether there is probability Of their
sale to other powers.
At one o'clock the senate went into
executive session and at two p. m. ad-
journed until to-day.
The house was ia session yesterday
only Is minutes, and that time was
consumed in the reading Of the jour
nal. The galleries were filed in antici-
patton Of the opening Of the tariff de-
bate, but Mr.. Henderson, Of Iowa, an
nounced that the ways and means COM
mittee would not be ready to report
until to-day and accordingly on his
motion the house adjourned at 1915.
PLANS MADE FOR THE TARIFF BILL
WASHINGTON, March l9.-The pro-
gramme for the tariff bill in the house
was agreed upon by the ways and
means committee yesterday after a
long and somewhat discordant meet
ing, in which there was disappoint-
ment, not only between the two par
ties, but among the democratic mem-
beers of the committee. The bill will
be reported to the house to-day, debate
will begin on Monday next and the
final vote will be taken on Wednesday,
March 81. In the meantime the house
will be in session from II in the morn
ing to an indefinite hour at night with
a recess for dinner, all the time to be
consumed in debate on the bill. The
republicans presented a list of amend
ments which were incorporated in the
bill by aparty vote, while many amend
ments were proposed by democrats
several of which did not secure the
united support Of the representatives
of that party. 1t is understood that
Mr. Bailey will make the minority re-
port on the bill but will concede to
Mr.. McMillin the privilege of making
the first speech in opposition.
The sugar schedule has been amend
ed to read as follows: Sugar not above
No. rs Dutch standard in color. tank
bottoms, sirups or cane juice, Melada,
concentrated Melada, concentrated mo-
lasscs, testing by the polariscope not
above rs degrees, | cent per pound, and
for every additional degree shown by
the polariscope three-hundredths of |
cent per pound additional, and frac-
tons of a degree in proportion; and on
sugar above No. IS Dutch standard in
color and on all sugar which has gone
through process OF refining, 1875
cents per pound; molasses testing
above 40 degrees and not above SO de-
grees, cents per gallon. Several 9th
err amendments to the bill were offered
by the republicans and were adopted.
ONLY TARIFF LEGISLATION.
WASHINGTON, March 10. Speaker
Reed has definitely decided that fol-
the present, at least, he will not ap
point any Of the regular committees Of
the house beyond the three already an
nounced. In this way all the miscel
laneous legislation will be blocked and
the entire attention Of the house 70
cused on the tariff bill. The bills
which are being introduced by thu
hundreds will have to wait until tn,
committees to which they would &c
under the usual order of thing'
are appointed. 1t is not ever
likely that the appropriation com
mittee will be appointed. As soor
as the tariff bill has been sent to tn,
senate, the three appropriation bills a