The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-04

Washington. November S.-There
were a number OF republican senators
al the capitol today and they were in
informal conference during the greater
part of the time concerning the bust
ness likely to come before congress dur
ing the approaching session. Among
those who participated in these meet
n were Senators Allison. chairman
of the committee on finance: Frye.
president pro tenn OF the senase: Lodge.
a leading member OF the foreign reia-
tons committee: Plat, Of Connecticut.
a member OF the finance committee.
and Hale. chairman OF the committee
on naval affairs.
Prominent In their deliberations 80
the contemplated amendments TO the
war revenue law. Senators Aldr4ch.
Allison and Plat were together FOR
some time on this subject and had with
them Representatives Payne and DIAL
zell. OF the house committed on WAYS
and means. Il was stated at the close
of this talk that the discussion had
been on very general lines. and that
as the house people had not mplet
their measure and the treasury esu-
mates had not been received. no COP
clusion had been reached.
So far as the senators expressed
themselves. they were favorable To
making the revision 50 thorough as to
relieve the work entirely OF the posi-
bility of having ii considered Of empoT-
cry character. They expressed the
opinion that whatever changes are to
be made should be made at the pres
ent session in order to prevent the re-
opening OF the subject at The next SEES
sion of congress, as they thtnk that IL
the question should be entered apon at
the beginning OF a long session an en-
tire revision of the tariff might be at
tempted This they would avoid. Thew
also rave some indication Of their views
of the changes to be made. in a gen
eral way favoring the removal OF the
extra tax from articles not returning
a large revenue and leaving it on the
more productive articles. The ten
dency seemed to be against any remov-
al of the beer or tobacco taxes and
also against the removal Of the tax on
exchange transactions.
There was also considerable discus
sion of the shipping subsidy bill and IL
was made evident that there will be q
strenuous effort to have this measure
made the unfinished business in place
Of the Spooner bill for the regulation
of public administration in the Philip
pines. There is said TO be no doub4
no" lndI I0lS SUBSTITUTION VIII De atf
tempted at the first meeting OF TIL
committee on order of business. whicM
probably will occur Monday next aferl
the adjournment of the senate.
senator Frye is giving his espeCiat'
attention to this subject and expresses
his determination to crowd the bill as
fast as possible. All senator's seen spoka
of the inutility of the Spooner bill and
said that for the present at least. no
effort will be mad to l~egislate along the
line suggested by hat measure.
The effects OF this decision will be u
leave the Philippine question entirely
in the hands OF the president.
If this programme can be carried into
execution. the Nicaragua canal bill
will be displaced at least temporarily.
The canal bill Is Only a special order
and could not be used to displace I'M
finished business except upon a vote or
by general consent. With reference to
the canal bill there was manifest in
he various talks some disposition TO
have 1T await action on the Hay
Pauncefote treaty. and the suggestion
was made on the part OF at least one
republican leader that the canal legis-
lation of this session hou be confined
TO an authorization to acquire a prep
erty right of way for the canal.
Senator Frye during the day was In
consultation concerning the shipping
bill with representatives of the Mer-
chants Association of New York who
urged that as the bill stands Il will De
injurious to the export trade. while
representatives Of the New York and
/ Pacific Steamship Company. who were
also with the senator. expressed the
opinion that unless full subsidies were
granted to foreign built ships they
would be operated at a loss.
nat Frye said that the bill was
now in as perfect shape az seemed pos
slble TO get II and that he did not
see the ~advisability OF making any
amendment. A meeting Of the friends
or the measure will be held in this city
tomorrow to consider these and other
objections TO the bill