The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-12-13
WORK FOR CONGRESS-.
Senators Discuss Business of Com
ing Session.


capitol Friday and they were in in
formal conference during the greater
part of the time concerning the BUSH
ness likely to come before congress dur
ing the approaching session. Among
those who participated in these meet
ings were Senator'S Allison, chairman
OF the committee on appropriations;
Aldrieh, chairman of the committee on
finance; Frye, president pro tenn. of the
senate; Lodge, a leading member of the
foreign relations committee; Platt, of
Connecticut, a member of the finance
committee, and Hale, chairman of the
committee on naval affairs. They were
not all together at any one time, but
there was no effort to conceal the fact
that there was a general exchange of
views,
War Revenue Law.
Prominent in their deliberations was
the contemplated amendments to the
war revenue law. Senators Aldrich, AL
lison and Platt were together for some
time on this latter subject, and had
with them Representatives Payne and
Dalzel, of the house committee on ways
and means. It 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 completed
their measure and the treasury esti
mates had not been received no conclu-
sion had been reached.
Sofar as the senators expressed them
selves their expressions were favorable
to making the revision so thorough as
to relieve the work entirely of the pos
sibility of having it considered of
temporary 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 ses-
sion of congress, as they think that If
the question should be entered upon at
the beginning Of long session an en-
tire revision of the tariff might be at
tempted. This they would avoid. They
also gave some indication of their views
of the changes to be made, in general
way favoring the removal of the extra
tax from articles not returning large
revenue and leaving it on the more pro-
ductive articles. The tendency seemed
to be against any removal of the beer
or tobacco taxes and also against the
removal of the tax on exchange trans
actions.
Shipping Subsidy Bill.
There was also considerable discus
sion of the shipping subsidy bill, and it
was made evident that there will be a
strenuous effort to have the 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 doubt now
| that this substitution will be attempt
| ed at the first meeting of the commit
tee on CIDER Of business, which prob
| ably wilkoceur Monday next after the
adjournment of the senate. Sentaor
Frye is giving his especial attention to
this subject and expresses his deter
mination to crowd the bill as fast as
possible. All senators seen spoke of
the inutility of the Spooner bill and
said that for the present at least no eff
| fort will be made to legislate along the
| lines suggested by that measure. The
effect of this decision will be to leave
the Philippine questions entirely in the
hands of the president.
Senator Frye during the day also was
in consultation concerning the ship
ping bill with representatives of the
! Merchants association of New York,
who urged that as the bill stands it
will be injurious to the export trade,
| ~ i1o ,,a,,roea, a. twas NJ 4bn Nevr VOrly
& 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 loss. SEN
atOr Frye said that the bill was now in
| as perfect shape as seemed possible to
| get it and that he did not see the ad-
visibility of making any amendments.
! A meeting Of friends of the measure
will be held in this city to-day to con-
slider these and other objections to the
| bill; but for the present no meeting
| of the committee on commerce will oc-
cur to consider the bill in any partic-
ular.
Nicaragua Canal.
execution the Nicaragua canal bill also
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
| the various talks some disposition to
have it 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 should be con-
| fined to an authorization to acquire a
property right of way for the canal.
Washington, Dec. Chairman
! Payne, of the ways and means com
mittee, has issued notices recalling
! the previous notice of full commit
tee meeting to-day to consider the
! bill for the reduction of the war rev,
enue. 1T was given out officially that
this was done because Gen. GrosYenor
! by the republican members as have
become known, together with omis-
| sions which the committee has made
in the proposed reductions, have
caused considerable opposition and
it is probable that a conference or
caucus of the republican members viii
be held before a final decision is
reached. The greatest opposition that
has developed comes from the brew
ing interests. Representatives from
districts where there is great deal
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