Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-12
55th CONGRESS.
The Weeks Programme De-
ponds on Tariff Conferees.
Senate Has Only the General Def
cheney Bill to Deal With.
Report on Taria Expected BY Jhsrsdsy Oihea
National Capital matters.

Washington, July 11.-Beyond the
| fact that the general deficiency apprO-
priation bill probably will be passed
and that the Senate will stand ready to
! take up the tariff bill at any time that
q report may be brought in by the con-
ference committee. little can be pre-
dicted of the course of even this In the
Senate during the present week.
The disposition is to do little in the
way Of general legislation. and there Ia
a proposition under consideration by
the leaders Of the two sides Of the
chamber to adopt the plan now in
vogue in the House for sitting only
tevery third day after the deficiency
bill shall have been disposed of. This
suggestion has been made in view of
the possibility Of pressure to take up of
the matter of appointment Of a cur
rency commission.
The general impression about the
Senate is that the House will pass such
bill on this subject as the President
| may recommend, but there is no prob
| ability that the Senate will take the
matter up seriously. The desire is to
| make this intention clear by infreQuent
| meetings.
There are, however, some matters on
the executiXe calendar demanding at
tention and. here may be an effort to
| clear this calendar off during the week.
| II such should prove to be the case
there would be more or less discussion
| in executive session over the McCord,
Warner and GoodnOw nominations
The friends Of the Hawaiian annexa-
ton treaty on the foreign relations
committee also hope to be authorized
| to report ratification resolution at the
Senate meeting, Wednesday, but it is
by no means certain that the commit
tee will be able to reach an agreement
so soon.
Monday will be devoted to the gen.
eral deficiency bill. particular atten-
| ton being given to the provision for
the purchase of armor plate at $425 per
ton. This portion of the bill will be
seriously antagonized and quite fierce
| ly debated.
Senator Harrison of kansas. will en-
deavor to get up his resolution regard
ing the reorganization OF the Union
Pacific Railroad, during the week. but
in this he will be opposed and It is not
likely to succeed.
The tariff conferees confidently ex-
pect to bring in the tariff bill by
Thursday. The length Of the debate on
the report will depend upon how well
the Senate conferees may have sue
ceeded in maintaining the integrity of
the Senate bill.
The Democrats and other opponents
Of the bill make no secret of their in
tention to oppose the adoption of the
report if it appears that the amend
ments which they were instrumental
in securing putting cotton bagging,
cotton ties, burlaps, paris green, etc,
on the free list. have been receded from.
The Senate will insist upon final adj
journment as soon as the tariff is dis
posed of.
One of the most influential of the
conferees said. tonight. that all esti-
mates were necessarily pure guess
work. He said that the decisions on
the matters of transcendent Importance
in the bill were SO interdependent that
an ultimate decision on one might in
volve a complete agreement on others
and thus final agreement might come
at any time after the rest of the mat
tiers Of secondary importance were out
of the way.
When the report is completed it will
at once go to the House where it is not
likely that more than one day will be
allowed for debate. The anxiety to get
the bill on the statute books and the
great loss of revenue involved in each
"a hours delay, it is argued, justifies
the Republican managers in declining
to give more than a single day for dis
cussion.
Several of the eminent lawyers in
both branches of Congress question the
cOnstitutiOnality of the power conferred
upon the President by the Senate reci-
procity provision. The stamp tax on
bonds and stocks provided for in one of
the Senate amendments has not yet
been accepted.
The revenue afforded by it furnishes
a strong argument for its acceptance in
view of the navy anticipatory importa-
tons and there is talk of widening its
scope so as not only to include a tax on |
actual transfers. but on all recorded
sales. This necessity of revenue also |
furnishes a strong argument for the |
restoration Of the House rates on i'm
ported tobacco.
1t is impossible to estimate yet when |
a final agreement will he reached and |
various dates are given as to |
the length of time the bill will remain |
in conference ranging from Tuesday to
a week from tomorrow.
The House will adjourn from tomor- |
row until Thursday. Its course there |
after will depend on the condition of |
the tariff bill.