Evening journal., 1897-05-28
DOINGS IN CONGRESS.
The Tariff Occupies the Time of
the Senate.
GOOD PROGRESS WAS MADE WITH IT.
The sundry Civil Bill Report Agreed to
After Some Discussion-In the House
Mr.. Lewis Asks to Have the
Cuban Question Heard.

Cuban Question Heard.
Washington May 2s-The senate
made good progress on the tariff bill,
disposng of about 10 pages. Several
votes were taken during the session,
the finance committee being sustained
In each case by majorties varying from
to Is. The drug schedule was under
discussion, and the debate was largely
technical Occasionally, however, 1t
branched off to general phases of the
tariff, although at no time was there
speech of more than FIVE minutes dura-
ton.
Mr. Jones of Arkansas tenaciously re-
sisted the rates Of the opium schedule
saying great increases had been made
on drug of universal use. He moved
to amend the rate on morphia from 81
to so cents per ounce and said he would
later move to place crude and unmanu-
featured opium on the free list. Mr..
Jones' amendment was disagreed to
yeas "a nays 80.
Mr.. McEnery (Dem) and Messrs.
Pettigrew, Kyle and Stewart voted with
the Republicans and Mr.. Heitfeld with
the Democrats. In other respects the
vote was on party lines.
The final conference report on the
sundry civil bill was agreed to, includ-
ing the provision suspending until
March 1, 1885, the executive order Great
ing extensive forest reserves.
Some provisions Of the amendment
were objected to by Senators White.
Cannon. Shoup. Kyle and Stewart and
these objections were met with expla-
nations by Senator Allison, in charge Of
the report. Senator Berry Of Arl1an-
sas, in his anxiety for the bill to go
into effect on account Of the $1,000 900
appropriation which 1t contains for the
improvement of the Mississippi. co;in-
seled the acceptance of the forest reser-
walton amendment as being the best
measure Of relief that the house would
agree to-
Mr.. Stewart declared that the setting
apart of 21.OO0.O00 acres as a forest res
ervation was "a dedication to folly and
barbarism;" that tile bureau which ad-
vised it ought to he abolished, and that
the act itself was "the most barbarous
outrage perpetrated in the last half
century"
Cuban Question In the House.
The final vote on the adoption Of the
conference report was: Yeas, 32; nays,
25.
In the house Mr.. Lewis (Dem) Of
Washington rose to question Of privi-
lege and sent to the clerks desk a reso-
luton setting forth that the senate hav-
ing passed a resolution recognizing the
! bellgerency Of Cuba the house should
proceed to express its sentiments upon
the subject.
Mr.. Dingley made the point tnat that
was not a matter of privilege but the
speaker permitted Mr.. Lewis to state
his point
This he did al some length. citing prec-
edents both in parliament and con-
gress to the effect that matter affect
ing the foreign policy of the govern
ment was a question of the highest
privilege. The latest precedent he re-
ferred to was that in the Fifty-thir6
congress, when the gentleman from
Maine (Mr. Dingley) introduced a sim
liar resolution regarding the policy will
regard to Hawaii. Mr. McCreary Of
Kentucky, chairman of the committe,
on foreign affairs, made the point of or
der that 1t was not a question of privi
lege, and the present occupant of th'
chair (Mr. Reed was quoted as observ
ing that a matter touching the foreign
policy of the government was a ques
tion of privilege Of the highest order.
Mr. Lewis remarks were greeted
with applause by the Democrats. TIT
speaker sustained Mr.. Dingleys poin
of order, suggesting that the gentle
man from Washington could get con
sideration Of his resolution by introduc
ing 1t in the regular order, having
referred and getting the report of
committee thereon.
Mr.. Lewis appealed from the decision
of the chair, and on motion of MI
Dngley the house voted 81 to 81 to la,
the appeal on the table. Not satisfied
with this. Mr.. Lewis demanded and Sc
cured a vote by the yeas and nays.
The vote resulted: Yeas, So; nays, 81
This was not a quorum, and in viel
of this disclosure, on motion of MI
Dingley, the house adjourned unit
Monday next.
Mr.. Wheeler of Kentucky introduce
bill for taxing certain occupations
The taxes proposed are based on tn
amounts Of capital invested. Companie
engaged In the petroleum business
any form are to be taxed from $500 o
100000 to $4,000 on $4,000 OOO Otht
branches of business to be taxed al
iron and steel railways and street raj
. ways, banks, stock exchanges and glas
wool, silk, paper, leather and sugs
v,,aprfo