Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-07-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Tariff Bill in Conference
Committee,

AfoNtas
Although the secrecy maintained
by the Senators and Representa-
tives on the conference committee
which is mt work on the tariff bill
passed by the Senate last week is ag-
gravating to the newsgatherers, it
is considered absolutely necessary
to avoid delay in the final disposi
tion of the bill If each agreement
reached by the conference should be
announced, there would be no peace
for the members of the committee,
owing to the objections of those
who are interested 1t has also been
determined, to avoid delay, that no
partial reports shall re made to the
House and Senate, everything being
held back until final agreement
has been reached. Experience has
proven that partial reports are pro-
ductive of much delay, especially
when the measure under considera-
tion is of such a complicated nature
as a tariff bill necessarily is. AL
though there is nothing official on
the subject, have excellent reasons
for saying that the Republican con
ferees-the Democratic conferee5
will take no part in the conferences
until the Republicans have reached
an agreement-expect to complete
their work this week.
President Mckinley has indicated
quite plainly to a number of pro-
minent Republicans that he has
about decided to modify Mr.. Cleve-
lands orders for the extension of
the civil service rules and the Pre-
sident's order may be expected at
any time. 1t is not yet certain how
far this modification will go, but it
is the impression of those who have
talked with M al Mckinley on the
subject that deputy collectors of in
ternal revenue, who have charge of
the distribution of stamps, and de-
putty collectors of customs, who are
in charge of sub-stations, will be
among those placed outside of the
civil service rules.
As was stated in this correspond
ence several months ago, Mr.. Cleve-
lands consolidation of Pension
Agencies, announced to go into eff
feet Sept. 1, 1897, will not go into
effect The Cleveland order will in
due time be officially revoked by
Presidenty Mckinley, a through in
vestigation having shown that the
government would save nothing by
the proposed consolidation, and that
it would greatly inconvenience
thousands of pensioners.
The report that Japan will file an
additional and stronger protest
against the annexation of Hawaii
excites such very little interest in
Washington that nobody appears to
care whether it turns out to be true
or not. Hawaii will be annexed in due
time, and Senator Morgan,a dyed in
the wool Democratic member of the
committee on Foreign Relations,
says that if President Mckinley
wishes the treaty to be ratified at
the present session of Congress, in
stead of at the regular session, next
winter, he has only to say so and it
will be done.
The death of Senator Harris, of
Tenn, has once more made Repre-
sentatives McBiillin and Richardson
of that State, rivals; they both
want to go to the Senate, just as
they both wanted the minority
leadership in the House, that went
to Bailey, of Texas.
Secretary Alger has accepted an
invitation to deliver an address at a
G. A. R. reunion at Spirit Lake,
Iowa, on the 2lst inst, and from
there he will 60 to. Chicago to be
present Mt the unveiling of the Logan
statue on the 22nd inst. President
Mckinley is very anxious TO be pre-
sent at the latter event, and if Con-
gress adjourns this week he will go.
There is a strong probability that
Congress will adjourn as soon as the
tariff bill has been agreed to, as it is
unlikely that there viii be any seri
ous attempt to secure action on the
President s currency commission re
commentator at this session al
least, not in the Senate. The House
may act upon it. Present indica-
tions are that the tariff bill wiz DC
completed and signed by the Presi.
dent before the end Of the week.
President and Mrs Mckinley have
decided to spend a greater part oi
their vacation on Lake Champlain
which makes it certain that they
viii not be able 10 make their con
templated visit to the Pacific cOas
this summer. They viii not give "
the idea, however, as the Presiden
is very anxious to see that section
Of the country and will go at thu
first opportunity, probably mex
summer