The Saint Paul globe., 1898-05-09
TINKERINC THE REVENUES
COMMITTEE BUSY
WITH THE WAR BILL

Republican Part Responsible for
the Delay Of the Measure, as Nu-
merous Amendments Are Yet to
Be Acted Upon Before Those Pro-
posed by the Democrats Are TAX
en- Up-Forecast of the Week.
WASHINGTON, May 8.-The eXpec-
tation is that the war revenue bill will
be received In the senate from the
committee on finance about Wednesday,
but Its report may be delayed for q
day or two beyond that date. The
fact Is that the committee has found
SO many changes considered desirable
from its standpoint that progress has
necessarily been slow.
This has proved to be true without
regard to party lines. The RepublI-
cans have suggested many more
amendments to the bill than have the
Democratic members, and many Of
these suggestions have been Of such
Importance as to require much atten-
ton and time. There are many matters
Yet requiring consideration, and until
these have been voted on in committee,
it will be impossible to fix day for
reporting the bill.
Whether the bill shall carry a provi-
sion for the new government loan on
bonds depends entirely upon Senator
Jones, Of Nevada. So far as can be
learned, he has not made known his
position to the committee, and the
other members profess to be ignorant
ON the subject. The understanding on
the outside is that he will oppose the
bond feature, and that consequently
when the bill Is reported this provision
will be eliminated and probably an
I1f hnp TO, fop ~
backs substituted for 1t.
Whatever the verdict Of the commit
tee on, the bond clause, the bond ques-
ton will form the basis Of the senates
consideration Of the bill. This subject
will, in any event, be debated at length
in the senate. 1t is generally conceded
that even though the committee dis
places the provision, the friends Of
the bond policy will be strong enough
to restore it in the senate, if a vote
Is taken. The opponents of bonds ho.d
that the strength of the bond provision
is due to the fact that state Of war
exists. and they are hopeful that the
war may come to a close before it will
be necessary to vote upon the bill. They
do not indicate any purpose Of holding
the bill in the senate with this purpose
In view, but they now assert 1t to be
their intention to debate the bill at
length, or. at least, to the extent neces-
sary to present their views fully to the
country
The Republican amendments are d.
rected to the Improvement of the de-
tails Of the bill and to the elimination
of many small items and the insertion
of others which will bring more reve-
nue.. The Democratic members of the
committee are generally assisting their
Republican colleagues in this matter,
and admit the bill Is being improved by
the process: but they insist that as
they have so far been engaged on Re-
publican amendments, that party
should take the responsibility for the
delay which has occurred. 1t is ex-
pected that one or two days more will
he necessary to the perfection Of the
measure according to the Republican
plans. How much more time will be
necessary for the Democratic sugges-
tions cannot be foretold. 1t would not.
however, be very surprising If the bill
should not be taken up for debate be-
fore the last days Of the week.
In the meantime, the senate twill de-
vote it's time to miscellaneous questiocs.
Monday will be devoted to the post
office appropriation bill, and speeches
will be made by Messrs Falkner, But
ler, Pettigrew and others.
The House.
No definite programme for house pro-
cedure during the present week is fix
ed. If the president shall send tomor-
row message to congress reviewing
the operations Of the American fleet in
Philippine waters and recommend a
vote of thanks to Acting Admiral
Dewey, the house will almost imme-
diately act in response to the suggeS-
ton of the president. Then, unless un-
foreseen developments arise, the houS =
will devote the day to the considera-
ton of matters affecting the District
of Columbia.
On Monday the committee on foreign
affairs probably will report joint reso
luton providing for the annexation Of
the Hawaiian islands. 1t will have
the support Of all Republican and some
Democratic members Of the committee,
and, furthermore, in view Of what
seems a recently growing sentiment
here favora BILE to policy of colonlza-
ton, its passage by the house this week
without very strong resistance Is like
| ly. The volunteer immune bill, passed
last week by the senate, is upon the
! speakers table and will be considered
and passed during the week, though
rot without some opposition. The gen
eral deficiency bill is practically COM
| pleted. but the committee Is holding
| 1t back pending the action of the sen
| ate upon the revenue Dill and In oder
| to catch up such items as may de-
velop incident to the progress Of the
| war. 1t will hardly be reported this
week.
Very little progress has been made
| uron the appropriation bills now in
| conference, owing to the fact that Sen
ator Allison, chairman Of the senate
committee on appropriations, is also on
the senate committee on finance, and
his attention is being monopolized by
| the latter committees consideration Of
| the revenue bill. Consequently final
action upon the appropriation bills row
| in conference will be delayed until the
| revenue bill is reported. Generally,
members Of the house will make an
effort to secure the passage of local
bills in which they are particularly
| interested.
COngratuIatiOns for Olympia.
o