Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-01
END ON SATURDAY
WHAT THE REPUBLIuAIs BELIEVE

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WHAT THE REPUBLICANS BELIEVE
Oe0seFa1s Nako No Proaases-Elnsnce
Csnnitsss Busy Prepesing sAs Han-Ns
Other Leg1slasasn Likely This ssssssn
fsr Ons Reasen That . Qssrun C..nue
h AsanaaiDea-Pregrsss on tAe nan
Yesterday-Gage On the WHISKY Eax.
Washington. July I. = Senators. say
rather confidently that . vote can be
reached on the tarif bill Saturday. they
say that nothing would be gaine6 by
having the final vote taken before that
day. as the bill cannot be sent to the
house before Monday and into conference
before Wednesday. Prominent Repubn-
can senators say that there is q gen
eral understanding, though not definite,
that the bill will reach q final vote SAT-
urday. but the Democrats have entered
into no agrtem nor do they feel un-
der any restrictions by any implied UNI
derstanding. Occasion, they say, may
arise which will induce them to debate
some paragraphs longer than they now
anticipate.
Hard 1t Work on the Bill.
The Republican members Of the senate
finance committee consumed several
hours last night putting the finishing
touches on the tariff bill. and practical
ly adjusted all the paragraphs that have
been passed over. The most important
action taken was to agree in principle to
the provision in the house bill limiting
to 500 in value the amount of baggage Of
persons arriving in the United States
that may be admitted free Of duty The
amendment to be proposed by the COM
mittee will be in different language from
the provision in the house bill, but is
designed to accomplish practically the
same object.
No Other Legislation This Session.
The prospects are that there will be
no other legislation Of Importance at this
session. 1t has been stated before that
neither the Hawaiian annexation nor
any currency legislation will come up
In the senate. It is also known that a
quorum cannot be maintained in the
senate once the tariff is out Of the way.
AS soon as the tariff bill is sent to the
house the senate will take up the gen.
eral deficiency bill. and 1t is expected
that considerable time will be occupied
with 1t. The senate will also consider a
number of nominations over which there
is contention. 1t has been suggested
that the Alaskan boundary treaty may
be called up, but as it will provoke con-
siderable discussion it will be allowed to
50 over until next session.
STATESMEN DO RAPID WORK.
Settle the Coal Question and Hawaiian
Reciprocity-Gage ON the Whisky Tax.
Washington. July las q result Of
the rapid work on the tariff bill yes
terday the close Of the long debate in
the senate and the final vote on the bill
is felt to be very near at hand. Two Of
the most important provisions-thosere re-
lating to the Hawaiian treaty Of reci-
procity and the duty on coal-were per-
fected, while another source Of much
conflict. the reciprocity section, was
matured by the finance committee and
presented to the senate. Aside from
these larger items q great many minor
ones which have caused more or less
conflict were disposed Of The Ha-
waiian provision Of the house bill was
restored after q brief debate and with
OUT the formality Of q vote. This has
the effect Of leaving the Hawaiian
treaty of reciprocity in full force and
effect. During the day Turpie spoke in
support of the amendment for q 2 per
cent. tax on inheritances.
Under date Of June 10 Secretary Gage
addressed the following letter to Eena-
tor Burrows concerning the proposed
tax on distilled spirits: 'Sir:-Your let
ter Of the 18th inst. relative to the leg
islative proposition to secure increased
revenue by reducing the rate Of tax on
distilled spirits has been received. In re-
ply you are informed that do not think
II advisable to endanger the passage Of
this measure by appending to it pro-
vision shortening the period during
which the spirits may remain in the
bonded warehouse on the6isti3}eY prem
Uses. The allusion in my 1ettef, to which
you refer, relating to the shortening of
this bonded period was merely in the
nature Of a suggestion, and was not in
tended as a recommendation"
Chandler has added a provisiO to his
amendment to the tariff bill rellting to
railroad pools q provision prohibiting
the issuance Of free passes as follows:
THE giving by one person as officer,
carrier Of any free passes or any free
transportation not expressly authorized
by section % Of the interstate COM
merce act shall be deemedean ,nniawful
discrimination and q misdemeanor and
punished accordingly" He presented the
amendment In its amended form yester-
day.
Fact That Ruins . Story,
Washington, July 1.-The story, wide
~ printed, that President Cleveland re-
fused during the last days Of his admin
istration to appoint Phil Sheridan. son
Of the hero-general. to q West Point
cadetship. has fallen fiat by the discov-
cry that young Sheridan was not Of
legal age to secure such appointment
and will not have attained the required
II years until July 20. 1t il also a we'll
known fact in army and society circles
that the Clevelands and Mrs. Sheridan
were close friends.
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