Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-03-27
FROM WASHINGTON
An Unauthorized State
ment.
NEW TARIFF MEASURE
Representative Cannon's Re-
tOrtS.
sOoLDED HIS COLLEAGUES.
The Postmaster Generals Ruling.

(From Our Regular Correspondent. }
WARRINGTON, March p. 1897.
Speaker Reed has not authorized the
statement that he will not appoint the
other House Committees until the
meeting OF the regular session of Con-
gress, next December. To all inqui-
ries on the subject the Speaker has re-
piled in substance that he has not
decided the matter definitely. The
impress sion left upon the mind of those
who have talked with him on the sub
ject is that Mr.. Reed will be governed
by circumstances. There is reason to
believe that the committee assign
ments have practically been completed
and could be announced at short no
tice. A gentleman whose position is
as good as anybody's for getting ad-
vsnce knowledge Of Mr.. reeds inten-
tions, said when asked about the COM
mittees: 81 don't know, but my guess
is that the committees will be an
nOunced at the present session, but not
until the joint resolution naming the
day of adjournment has been adopted
and signed by the President.
THE HOUSE TO ACT PROMPTLY.
1t having been made very plain by
the business-like beginning of the de-
bate on the Dingley tariff bill in the
House that the republicans intend to
put that measure through just as it is
on the afternoon of March 3lst, in ac-
cordance with the rule which has been
adopted, the men who are trying to
get the bill amended in all sorts of
ways have transferred their intention
to the members of the Senate Finance
Committee, which has already taken
the bill up for consideration. These
men are now predicting that the bill
will be amended out of all resem-
blance to itself in the Senate, but re-
publicans are 10th to believe that the
republicans on the Finance Commit
tee-Senators Morrill,, Allison, Aldrich,
Platt and Wolcott. will sanction any
amendments calculated TO make the
bill any less protective to American
interests. Senator Jones of Nevada,
holds the balance of power between
republicans and democrats in the com
mittee, and he has only recently said
that he believed in protection as much
may be added on the floor of the Sen
ate, but republicans do not expect
such from the finance committee.
DRoLL REToRT.
Representative Cannon of Illinois ha,
habit of getting off retorts in such
droll and dry manner that he seldom
fails TO make his victim join in thu
laughter which usually follows
Speaking of the Indian Appropriation
bill, one Of those that failed at the las
session. Representative SaYres, OF Tex
as. expressed the opinion that Presi
dent Mckinley would not sign the bill
if it was passed.
Looking S, raight at Sayres. Mr. Can
non said very slowly and distinctly
Il have great confidence in my friend
but / would never shoot him for
prophet" Mr.. Sayres Joined in tn
shout of laughter The House acte,
promptly upon the advice of Mr.. Can
non, who was chairman Of TIE Com
mittee on Appropriations in the las
Rouse aud who will occupy the sam
position in the present House and pass
ed the appropriation bills that faile
at the last Congress, just as they ha
been passed before, with the exception
OF one paragraph in the Indian bill
what had been well-done at first.
THE BALANCE OF POWER.
Senator Allen, of Nebraska, under
took TO give the republicans aud de
mocrats of the Senate, sc0lding be
cause the vacancies In the Senate Com
mittees had not been filed, but he hai
no reply to make when Senator Chand
Ter said: Doesn't the Senator knoN
that neither party has a majority her
unless it gets the cooperation OF tn
Populists Now, / would suggest that
the Senator will only cast his vote wit
us, we will have the necessary work
ing majority"
The speech of Senator Davis, {
MINI. now Chair nan of the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations, in favor c
the Arbitration Treaty, has made ne'
friends for the treaty. Mr.. Davis sta
ed in his speech, which was made
executive session, that he had oppose
the treaty as il was sent to the Senat,
but that the amendments, now added
had removed the Objectionable fei
lures and that he was heartily in fave
of its ratification.
REPUBLICANS TO SAY.
Postmaster General Gray has deciC
ed that except in cases which preser
some extraordinary reason TOT OeV
alton the old rules will be adhered
in the appointment of postmaster
These rules in brief are about as 70
lows: Republican Senators will be a
lowed to name the Postmaster of ii
largest city in their Congressional di
trict; Republican Representatives w
name all other postmasters in the
districts, and in districts representa-
in Congress by democrats or populis
aud in states having no repablicl
Senators, the choice will be made
the republican chairman or some OF
er designated referee. The Congre
sional delegations must also Ike
track of the expiration of the terms
postmasters, as the department W
not notify them.
FROM LYNOHBURG.