The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-08
LONG LINES THEN UP
Big Seventies Member in an
important Relation
TO THE PORTO RICO BILL
Bills Advocates Hold a Threat
Over Opponents.
TO THE PORTO RICO BILL

Especial Correspondence of the Eagle
Washington, April 7.-Representative
Long has been again honored by the
leaders of the house It is again in con-
lection with the Puerto Rican tariff bill.
he will have general supervision over
the arrangements Of pairs for the final
vote on the bill; will be the one to cline
up the majority; to secure the atten-
dance of Republican members, many Of
whom are now out OF town. and to re-
port TO the speaker and majority OF the
committee of ways and means from time
10 time in regard TO the developments
OF the fight He virtually settles the
day on which the final vote will be taken.
Each side of the house has a perrna-
nent man for this trying position Mr.
committee of ways and means, holds
the responsible position for the Demo-
Gratis. Mr.. Tawney, Minnesota, also a
member of the committee Of ways ana
means. us the Republican who oversees
these matters for the majority. Mr.. law
A~S---Ob
owing 60 the illness of his wife, and that
is how Mr. Long happens to hold this
important position just at this time. The
speaker and the committee of ways and
means, which is virtually the house er.
ganization, chose Mr.. Long for the place.
The duties of the position are keep
ing the Seventh district representative
very busy these days. He wants arrange
for the final vote on about Wednesday,
and in order to have it on that day, he
is obliged to do a good deal of figuring.
telegraphing for absent members, and
arranging pairs. This latter is the hard
est work of ALTO arrange paris that
will stand. The most important thing
is to secure a live pair, if it can be
done which is not often. A live pair
consists Of, for instance, in the case of
this bill, an absent Republican paired
with a Democrat who is here on the
ground. and who if not paired, would
vote against the bill This must be work
ed very carefully to bring about such
a result, which, of course, means gain
of one vote for the bill. In consequence
of the fact that a number Of Republicans
are at home at conventions or attend
use Of the wires to arrange pairs and to
get the absentees here. A complete and
systematic record is kept of all this
transaction, and Mr. Long has charge
Of it all.
A rnomentous possibility develops in
connection with a point in congressional
procedure: 1t is claimed by eminent pro-
Porto-Rican tariff authority that it will
be the pending Puerto Rican tariff bill
or the full rates of the Dingley bill; in
other words Is per cent. rates or 100 per
cent rates; virtual free trade or the
furtherest away from that policy. The
opponents of the bill it is said by its
advocates. can take their choice: either
the pending bill, or present conditions,
declaring that il will he an absolute i'm
possibility to secure absolute free-trade.
Their point is stated thus: There is a
well-known and frmly-settled precedent
in parliamentary practice which is to the
effect that where the two houses have
agreed on a bill or a section or a pro-
vision. it is not subject to amendment
or conference. This is true Of the pres
ent tariff provision in the senate bill,
currence in the amendments. The SEN
ate bill is the house bill, as TO the Is
per cent tariff rates, wrod for word. II
is then amended by placing on the free
list the articles already on the free list
by military order such as breadstuffs
and agricultural products, and placing q
duty Of 5 per cent. on coffee into Puerto
Rico. These are the only provisions in
the tariff portion OF the senate bill
ydhich differ from the original house
bill 1t will therefore be impossible tC
offer a free-trade amendment when the
senate bill comes up in the house fol
concurrence, because, in view of parlia'
mentary procedure, the amendment vii
promptly be ruled out of order. Again
az the bill should go to the conference
on account Of the coffee duty or the free
list. or the civil government amendment
Of the senate. these things might %
changed in a conference report, but The
tariff provisions in general, once having
been agreed on by both houses, must
perforce. remain the same. Thus it i
said the choice is with the opponents o
the tariff whether they accept the 1
per cent rates for Puerto Rico or wheth
er the fun Dingley rates obtain.
A second irstallment of 10000 copie
Of Mr.. Longs recent speech has BEEF
ordered printed by the congressiona
campaign committee Not only this, bu
- Is asserted that of the members an
senator's who are ordering their quota o
fr-o speeches each. at first TO be take
al Of one or apportioned among the lead
Ing speeches Of the session the tota
number taken of Mr.. Longs exceeds IN
total number Of any other speakers an
that the demand is very great for hi
speech.
Recret is expressed in Indian officia
circles here over the death Of Joe Blan
chard. the Shawnee interpreter. who re
Gently died here Of pneumonia Blan
rbard was considered one Of the yer
best Interpreters in the country.
Colonel Sidney G. Cooke of Harrington
member of the board Of managers c
the national soldiers home, ism the cit
on official business.
NJ James Allison of Wichita, CON
missioner to the Paris exposition, wa
in the city this week.
Pensions have been recently Above
20 ipVeil. EIrez