Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-29
55th CONGRESS-.
A Busy Week is Outlined fol
Both House and Senate.
House Will Have All It Can Attend to
With the Tariff Bill.
Senate viii Endasor to SiraIghien 0st Arbi.
traiion Treaty Tsssis.

washington, March 28.-Three more
days will see the end of the struggle
over the Dingley tariff bill in ths
House. The bill will be open 10,
amendments till o'clock on Wednes
day. when the debate will close with Z
two hours display OF oratory. I'll,
voting will begin at o'clock on tina
day. So far as known there will be nj
break in the Republican ranks but a.
least four of the Democrats will brav.
the party whip and cast their votes fo1
the bill. three from Louisiana and on.
from Texas. There is also proba.
bility that one Populist and one Silver.
lite also will vote for this protective
measure.
Mr.. Dingley. who has engineered tht
bill through the eddies of debate with
great skill. will devote his energies t.
pressing the consideration OF the bill
forward with utmost expedition ir
order to complete ii before the vote II
taken. But the Democrats are pursu.
ing a course which has thus far rem.
dered progress extremely difficult. But
IA Of the 1852 pages of the bill were dis
posed Of in the two days Of last week
At this rate II would require q days
for the House. taking seven hours a
day. to complete the consideration OF
the bill under the five-minute rule.
TIE policy of the Democrats thus far
has been TO attack every item and make
II the text for general assaults on the
bill. 1t is understood that they will make
a particularly strong stand against the
steel and sugar schedules. They do not
in the way of amendments. They have
made trusts the keystone of their oppo-
sition up to this time. and the only thing
which they really believe they can accom-
amendment such as was offered Friday.
providing for the suspension of the duty
on any article controlled by trust or
combination.
They propose to do this II possible by
a motion to recommit with instructions
after the bill is reported from the COM
mittee of the whole. There seems to be
La question. however, whether this motion
will be entertained under the special or
der under which the House Is operating.
The fact that the reading of the bill
may not be completed under the five
minute rule will in no wise interfere with
the powers of the ways and means CON-
mittee to perfect it, Their amendments
are in order to any part of the bill at any
the bill cannot be completed. Mr.. Dingley
can assume charge and clear up all the
amendments he desires to offer.
After TT the u tariff bill is passed Wsdnes,
three days at time until the appropria-
ton bills are returned to 1t. If they are
amended by the Senate, the House prob
ably will accept the opportunity offered
for talking and no injury can be done,
1t is likely that the leaders will indulge
the members to some extent in this re-
gard.
The Senate will devote its energies. this
week. to the arbitration treaty. with the
vague hope on the part of some of the
friends of that instrument of securing a
final vote. Friday or Saturday. The Sem
to consider the treaty If no unforeseen
circumstance prevents, and thus offer
ample time to complete all speeches by
"Wednesday, when the voting is to begin
on the miscellaneous amendments. The
consideration of amendments is to con-
tinue. Thursday, provided new ones are
not offered after Wednesdays pro-
ceeding.
Later than that the Senate procedure
IS not clear. Consent to naming date
for the vote on the treaty itself is still
withheld and will not be given until after
known. 1t is surfnised that If the Chill
ton amendments should be accepted the
debate on the treaty would soon come to
conclusion. but if they should be beaten
the subsequent discussion would be OF
indefinite duration.
be reported to the Sefsate after the meet
ing of the committee on appropriations
Tuesday, but they will not be taken up
in the Senate until the treaty is disposed
of. The question of organizing the COM
mittees continues to press for attention
and may reach a climax during the week.
The tariff bill will reach the Senate late
in the week. and be referred to the COM
mfttee which. however. already has the
various schedules under consideration.