The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-17
Gossip at
the Capital
Special Correspondence of The Tribune


Washington, July l6.
The tariff, the currency, and the i'm
provement in business conditions are the
three subjects which have especially at
tracted attention in Washington this
week. They all gave evidence that the
Republican party is carrying out its
pledges rapidly, more rapidly, indeed,
than any party ever performed the acts
promised in it's platform in the memory
of the present generation.
Progress in the consideration Of the tar
iff bill by the conference committee has
been rapid and gratifying in ITS character.
A large proportion of the amendments
made by the senate have been discussed
and easily agreed upon, and only few
knotty problems still remain and with
every prospect of these being disposed OF
very soon. Wool, sugar lumber, cotton
ties, and a few of the less important sub
jects proved the most difficult in the at
tempt to bring about a final agreement
between the two branches of congress,
and in ell there was a disposition to give
thoughtful consideration to the best In
terests of the people and to meet the
popular demand as it became apparent
that the final result would be such as TO
meet the popular approval. one question,
however, the conferees have been COM
PEELED to keep constantly in mind, and
that relates to the effect of their action
upon the chances of final passage of the
bill in the senate. The fact that the Re
publicans 90 not and cannot control that
body still makes it absolutely necessary
that they move with the greatest caution
and exercise vast amount of diplomacy
in their final shaping of the bill in order
to absolutely assure its final passage in
that body.
The work upon the tariff bill in confer
ence has been as unsatisfactory to the
trusts as was that of the house and SEN
ate. Every step in the framing of this
bill has shown a determination on tine
part of those in charge of it to avoid tue
mistakes which the Democrats made in
the framing of their tariff bill and by
which the party gave to the trusts, and
especially the sugar trust, such enormous
advantages. OF course the Democrats
have tried to make it appear that the Re-
publicans were laying themselves liable
to as grave charges as were successfully
made against their own party and tariff
bill, but have failed i'm that attempt, and
there is good reason to assert that the
new bill when it gets upon the statute
books will be less satisfactory to the
trusts than any measure enacted in many
years.
VIII be sent to congress as soon as the
tariff bill is out of the way asking that
the president be given authority to ap-
point commission to consider the cur
| rency question and frame a measure for
| a general currency law. The delay in
sending in this message has been due 10
| the fear that this action might precipi-
tate a currency discussion and thus delay
| action upon the tariff bill, but there is
| n hpliaUa no Will he
| forthcoming as soon as the tariff bill is
| disposed of. Whether il will be possible
| to pass a measure of this character
| through the senate without very great
| delay is of course uncertain, but IL Re
| publican votes can pass II II will become
law promptly. 1t is felt that a commits.
sion selected from the best students OF
| finance in the country will be able to
| frame a much more satisfactory currency
measure than would probably be pre-.
| pared by any general committee of con-
gress, which could not, of course. be
made up of men who have made life.
long study of this complex and difficult
| subject.
The statements of the fiscal year Just
ended show that the agricultural ele,
| nent of the country has enjoyed a greatly
| improved condition during the past year
| while other statements received here are
| equally gratifying as TO the prospects foi
the coming year. The expectations OF
breadstuffs during the year ended june
30, 1897, amounted TO SlS9, ,S3S, ,S2S IN value
| against Sl36 S45, si5 in the fiscal year end
cd June 30, 1896, and sllO967,75S in tn,
fiscal year ended June 30, 1895. This /.
an increase of S53000,000 in the pocket,
Of the farmers for the year just endeC
| for breadstuffs alone, as compared witt
| the preceding year and an increase o.
S9,000,0O0 compared with the year 1885
The expectations of cattle for the fisca
year just ended amounted to about 81,
100000 more than in the preceding year
Fresh beef increased about $i0O0, 900, hams
100000
Now that we are about to bid adieu L
the Wilson law It may not be uninterest
ing to point out some of its failures sine
II is impossible TO say anything good II
taking leave of a measure which ha
brought such distress 10 the country an,
the treasury. The deficit Of 1925, 900, 90
which II had made up TO the time of Nc
Kinley's inauguration has been somewha
reduced by the enormous lmportations o
the past three months which were mad
i'm order TO escape duties under the new
tariff law Notwithstanding the increas
in receipts BY reai 20 this flood of i'm