The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-04-09
CONGRESSIONAL.

April 1.-The Cuban question was revived
in the Senate, after a long period of COM
paratlve calm. -Four distinct Cuban reso-
lutions were brought forward in rapid
succession The last and most important
one came from Senator Morgan of Alabama
1t declares that state of war exists in
Cuba and announces the policy of the United
States to accord with both parties to
the conflict with full recognition as
belligerents Mr.. Morgan gave notice that
he would call up the resolution at the next
meeting of the Senate with the expectation
of securing final action. OF the other res
olutions, two were agreed to- One of these
by Mr. Morgan, calls on the President for
the letters of General Gomez to himself and
Mr.. Cleveland and for other informa-
ton on Cuban affairs. The other by
Mr.. Mills of Texas, instructs the committee
on foreign relations to report what obliga-
tons the United States has assumed by COM
pelling Cuba to re main subject to Spain.
Both resolutions were passed without oppo-
sition. Mr.. Allen of Nebraska offered a res
olution protesting against the execution of
General Rivera by Spanish drum-head
court martial. The resolution went over on
objection from Mr.. Hoar
March So Party feeling ran high during
the last day of the tariff debate in the
House. Political speeches were wedged in
at every opportunity, and there was con-
slant maneuvering for political advantage
The ways and means committee held the
floor with their amendments from 10 in
the morning to O'Clock in the after
noon. About thlrty-five were offered and
adopted. Among them was one admitting
free of duty books, scientific apparatus,
charts, maps, etc, for scientific ana educa-
tional purposes" After that five more
pages of the bill were read, making twenty
pages in all of the 169 pages of the bill.
Senator Allen, Populist, of Nebraska
made speech in the Senate on the uncon-
stitutlonality of tariff taxes beyond those
requisite for revenue. Mr.. Allen severely
criticised the trusts and combines which,
he declared, reaped the main advan-
tage of tariff taxes. The senator's re.
marks were in the nature of
legal argument showing the constitu-
uonal limitations of the taxing power
of Congress. The House amendments to the
Senate joint resolution appropriating $780,
600 for the saving of life and property along
the Mississippi river were agreed to and the
resolution now goes to the President
March 2o.-This was by far the most ex-
citing day the House has witnessed since
the tariff debate began. The proceedings
throughout were of lively order and sew
eral times bordered on the sensational The
Democrats blocked proceedings for over an
hour by demanding the presence of a
quorum before allowing any legislative
work. Mr.. Bland spoke for free silver and
Mr.. Simpson of Kansas read long state
ment which he said defined the position of
the Populists toward the tariff 1t stated in
effect that the tariff had been the football
of politics for century. and that the
Populists had no faith in the ability of
either the Republican or Democratic tariff
law to remedy the evils of the existing gold
standard. Mr.. Mccall was the first Repub-
lican to slap the bill in the face. He boldly
expressed the opinion that the duties the
bill were too high. He especially mentioned
wool. Mr.. Lowering, Republican of Massa-
chusetts, large manufacturer, followed
Mr.. McCall's lead and again aroused the
plaudits of the opposition by declaring that
the manufacturers of New England aid not
want the duties in the cotton and wooden
schedules in the bill, neither the compen-
satory nor the straight duties we want
tariff law that will live and stand" said he.
we do not want to be strangled with free
trade; neither do we want to be smothered
with protection.
Before turning to the arbitration treaty,
the Senate gave an hour to routine business
in open session. Mr.. Hoar reported favor
ably the bin to prevent kaleidoscope exhl-
billions of prize fights in the District of
Columbia and the territories. and to pro-
hibt the shipping of material for the ex-
hibition
March 81. The progress of the House on
the tariff bill was even slower to-day than
yesterday. Only five more pages of the 1862
pages of the bill were disposed of, making
fourteen pages in all in the two of the five
days allowed for consideration under the
five minute rule. Only five amendments
were adopted, all of minor Importance, and
each an amendment of the ways and means
committee. Ali the questions involved in
the tariff, with occasional incursions into
the realm of the financial theories, fur
nished fruitful topics for the members.
Fully two hours was spent in the discussion
OF whether the foreigner or the consumer
pays the tax, Mr. Simpson of Kansas spoke
for duty on hides