The-Circulation of THE TIMES-Yesterday
WEATHER PROBABILITIES."
WAS
Pair loathe jnorning, probably rain dur
ing the evening- or night north to cast
winds.
IWI''.
3STO. 1,115.
WASHINGTON, THUBSDAY MOTRIN G, ATltlL 8, 1S97-EIGHT PAG-EB.
ONE CENT.
J
9Qb
COPIES.
"THE Tiy BMTHE HOUSE
An Editorial Which .Made the
Autocratic Speaker Wince.
IIE REPLIED FROM THE FLOOR
Jerry Si Hilton Stirred tlie House
Up by Heading- the Editorial and
Commenting T'iiou the Abuse of
l'uwor on the Sneultei's l'nrt
It Pointed Out.
Speaker Reed, who was characterized
as -a "political cannibal autocrat" in a
Times editorial of the -Jth inst., which
dealt with Ids refusal to organize tiie
House committees as constitutional revolu
tion, availed himself of ;m extraordinary
privilege yesteiday to reply by indirection
to Tiie Times. The article of offense w as
read to the House and produced a breezy
debate, ab was also an extract from a
recent article by .Senator Hoar In the
forimi, taking somewhat the bnme posi
tion as that hebl by The Times.
The debate on the question came up on
a question or highest privilege raised by
Jlr. Simpson, or Kansas who asked that
the clerk read the following from The
'Washington Times, of Sunday, April, -1,
1897: i
CONSTITUTIONAL. REVOLUTION.
"The country appears to be undergoing a
quiet but, effective constitutional revolution.
Nothing much is t icing said about it, be
cause effective speech, a? far as the people
or their legitimate lepiesentatives are con
cerned, has been abolished equally with
jVfricau slavery. All the same, it is poing
on instructively, harmoniously, and omin
ously. We used to have a House of Repre
sentatives. Without any formal change in
the Constitution, that body has practically
ceased to exist, and in its place we have
been supplied with a more concrete, simple,
and unanimous Institution. The body and
other personalis aic one Reed.
"A dnj ago we were inclined to believe
that gieat as was the power of this po
litical rannil alautociat, who poses before
the coimtiy as the great altogether or
what once was the popular branch of the
National Legislating it was confined to
control of legislation within the precincts
or the chambei now occupied by him and
formerly known as the home of the House
or Representatives. We discover our error
and hasten to apologize foi it.
"As now constituted, the House of Heed
exeits autocratic power over the Treasury
Department. It. 01 he, enacts legislation
of a ictroactiveor, in his own flowery lan
guage, "retrospective character, and, al
though it no.ininaly is not law "
"Mr. Dlngley interrupted the reading and
the Speaker asked Mr. Simpson to state
the question ..f privilege.
Air. Simpson Mr. Speaker, in the Tirty
second Congress, as you will remember,
when a member or this House had put into
a campaign book a statement Hint Mem
bers of Congress were seen drunk m the
House, that was -considered at that time
as involving a question of privilege; and
a committee was appointed to investi
gate, and make its report. This is, I
think, a greater, graver, and more serious
reflection on the character of the members
or this body; and I think the Speaker will
icalise that Tact before I get through.
Mr. Simpson here read the extract from
Senator Hoax's article, the point of which
was that free government would not long
endure if both Houses or Congress acted
on methods prevailing in the Lower House.
Proceeding, Mr. Simpson said:
Mr. Speaker, 1 represent a verj-large dis
trictone of the largest in the United
Slates, both in territory and in popula
tion. We have here this condition: By the
refusal of the Speaker to appoint the com
mittees we can carry on no legislation
whatever except by unanimous consent.
Therefore every member of this House is
practi&dly disfranchised, along with his
constituents. This is an autocratic and
despotic powei granted to the Speaker,
that deprives the people of the United
States oJ their representation in this body
Jt has been so charged by the public press,
and in the Forum, one of the great maga
zines of the country I rise here today to
enter my protest against Tills mode of
procedure. Ab a member or tins House I
do not propose to sit here quietly and sub
mit to this autocratic dictation The right,
of my people shall at least have voice
through me in the form of a protest.
It is reported in the newspapers thatthc
honorable Speaker says that where there
is one just claim knocking at the door
for passage, there are ten unjust claims;
and if we appoint committee and allow
general legislation, the danger is that
these unjust claims will get through.
Is not that a reflection upon this House,
1 ask the Speaker? The Speaker well
knows, and so do members of this House,
that there always is a respectable minority
here who have the interests of the coun
try at heart, and are always ready to
tee to it that improper measures do not
pass, and always ready to protect the
Intereslb of the State; and it is onlj sin.-'e
the Fifty-rirst Congress, when the power
was taken out of the hands of the
. minority, that these corrupt impositions
and claims have been passed through
the House.
Gentlemen must see how giadually and
bitrely we have been approaching the pi cs
enc condition, when wemheiK elected by
the people to exeieisc the power of legis
lation aie willing to delegate away their
power to the Speaker, thus tying their
own hands, and have by slow but sure
means taken steps towaid the destruction
of free institutions Now, the long course
or the history of the human race has proved
one thing, if it has piovcd anything at all.
and that is that it is unsafe to tiust to one
niauarbilrary and autociatic power. Outof
a thousand despots probably one may be
a just and good man? but the experience
of the human race has proved that the
ninety-nine who have been intrusted with
despotic power have turned that against
hutnanlibeity. Theiefore,lpioieM:against
this procedure, and 1 call the attention
of the Chair to the fact that Rule X of this
House, under which, 1 piebume, we are
acting today, sajs:
"Unless otherwise specially ordered by
the House, the Speaker shall appoint, at
the commencement of each Congress, the
following standing committees:"
Therefore I want to say here and now
that I insist that these committees shall
be appointed. The Speaker came Into my
district last fall in the campaign and made
a speech in the interest of Mr. Long, the
Republican candidate, and in his opening
remarks he took occasion to say and I
hope the Speaker will excuse me If I quote
himself agalust himself:
Mr. Steele interrupted.
Mr Simpson (continuing) The Speaker
of this House, in hie cpenlng remarks in I
my district, took occasion to say that for
four years the Seventh dlstricu of Kansas
was represented by chaos. (Laughter i
Chaos means lack of oiganlzution, IT it
means anything, gentlemen. It means an
archy, ir it means anything, and tin ill
those committees are appointed tills House
and its members are in a state or chaos.
Not tiie Seenth district of Kansas, alone,
is represented by chaos, but all the dis
tricts in the United States.
Therefore, gentlemen, I want to say
that as long as 1 am here, from this on,
no legislation shall pats this House by
unanimous consent it I can prevent it.
I shall insist, on the appointment .r, the
committees, and going through the legu
lur rorm of passing legislation
President McKinlcy in his inaugural ad
dress said that the lirst thing that 'was
necessary was for Congress to pass ,i
measure to secure ample revenue. We
have already done that, gentlemen. We
have got ample leveuue. There is more
than $120,000,000 of surplus revenue in
the Ticasury, and the income of the Gov
ernment 1b greater than the outgo. The
next step he suggested is to put our linan
cial system on a liriucr basis. We should
have, he suggests, legislation to correct
our linancial system. This is naturally the
next step. Now, let us go to work. The
returns fioni Chicago, Cincinnati and De
troit indicate that the people are anxious
for financial legislation. (Applause and
laughter on the Demociatic side.) Theie
fore, I insist that it is the duty of the
Speaker to appoint these committees and
let us go on and legislate for the people.
Only the other day some Democratic
brother was washing some Democratic
linen out in the front yard, and I sug
gested perhaps that was a useless waste
of time, while the country is suffering for
tiie want of Just legislation, and the
Speaker suggested that that, all depended
uion how much suffeiing there wjls in the
country. Youcannot.Mr. Speaker.incnsure
the buffeting that is in the country by
newspaper reports.
The Speaker The gentleman ought to
confine himself to t he question of privilege.
Mr. Simpson 1 will try and do so, Mr.
Speaker. The question of privilege, then,
briefly stated, is this; in the first place, the
members or this House, by the election
of the Speaker and the adoption of the
present rules, have given to the Speaker
the power to control all legislation, for his
refusal to appoint committees is practically
a veto on all legislation, except by unani
mous consent. Theiefore it would have
been as well if the people of this country
had baved themselves the expense of
electing 357 members of Congress and had
delegated that power to the Speaker alone.
1 say that until that power is restoied to
tiie members of this House we are not a
deliberative and a legislative liody.
Therefore, I insist that the committees lie
appointed, and that we go on in the
regular and legitimate way to pass legis
lation in the interest of all the people.
it was at tills iwint that the Speaker
tookoccasioa to reply to The Times and Mr.
Simpson in tills fashion:
Mr. Heed -The House will perceive that
the gentleman from Kansas has made no
proposition whatever upon the subject.
He has simply stated his own views, and
the chair has thought perhaps It was best
that the matter should be stated and that
the House should consider it.
So far as the power or the Speaker is
concerned, everyone who has made the
subject a matter of consideration under
stands that his power is folcly the power
of ttic House, a-id the House can at any
moment change the action which its repre
sentatives sees fit to iudulgein. The Home
has the power at all times. And while the
rules of the House require certain com
mittees to be appointed, there has always
been allowed to the chair a icasnnable
amount of discretion as to the time when
they should be appointed. Opportunity is
always allowed the chair to find out
something about members, so th.it he may
do the duties which are imposed .ipou him
in the most intelligent way of which lie Is
capable. It is not a rare case that the
Speaker has not appointed committee at
once.
A Congress which was called together
under circumstances something like the
present, the Kortj-econd, was presided
over by a very eminent man, Mr Blaine,
and lie declined not declined, but did not
see fit to appoint committees. Tiie matter
was brought up in the House, and he gave
his reasons therefor; and those reasons
were approved by the House at least no
action was taken by the House on the sub
ject. There are about 150 new members
in the House. Under ordinary ciicum
stances the occupant of ttie chair has time
from the 4th day of March until the rirst
Monday in December to obtain informa
tion m regard to his fellow-members; but
under tiie present, circumstances there has
been no opportunity. Wo have been called
together in extraordinary session, and the
question was, What was the best course
for us to pursue, whether we should wait
in appointing the committees until such
times as would make the appointments
more suitable, or whether the public ser
vice was in such a condition thatthatought
to be done?
Now, the chair has had full consultation
with the various members as he has met
them upon the subject, and until this morn
ing he supposed thatit was the unanimous
feeling or the House thut it was not i.ec
cbsary to appoint the committees in haste,
because the public service did notiequirc
it. Tne chair is sorry to see that any gen
tleman in tiie House has lent himself to
the suggestions which are .sometimes m ide
outside the House with regard to the power
of the occupant of the chair. His a power
that is given to him by tiie House Tor its
purposes, and its imposes alone; not for
any selfish purposes; not for him to carry
out any personal desires or designs of his
own, but to carry out ttie wishes of the
House as he understands them after a
faithful and conscientious examination of
the subject. If the House thinks thatany
occupant of ttie chair is not carrying out
its wishes, is not acting as its representa
tive, the Tcmedy is in the hands of the
House at any time. And tiie chair cheer
fully welcomes any action on the part of
the House, whose representative lie is.
(Prolonged applause on the Republican
side.)
Before the debate took place, on motion
of Mr. Catchingsof Mississippi, unanimous
consent was had to pass the joint, lesoltt
lion appropriating $200,000 for the le
lief of the Mississippi flood sufferers. It
was passed also by the Senate and im
mediately signed by Mr. Reed. The House
adjourned at 1 p. in. till Saturday.
Bicycles for All.
The American League Bicycles, at 602
0th st. nw., are the talk of the town. They
are great, and the price is within the reach
of all. Each wheel guaranteed, cleaned, and
polished once each month, free. League
Club Cycle Co.
Empire Carpet Cleaning; C.
631 Mass. avc.; right kind of work: mat
tresses remade; storage, fireproof.
Mnxit&Is. Any Size, S1.0U Apiece.
Llbbey&Co.,Gth st and New Tort avc. tf
Ivy Institute Business College, Sth andK
None better $25 a year, day or night. 1
.B
Leaves the City on the West
Indian Mail Flyer.
A DINNER WITH MR. BAILEY
The Deniocrutie Lender Gives tin
Impromptu Iteeeptlon to Huston
Teachers Talks Polities, Does
Business, and Gocm to the Land
of Flowers, Will Iteturu Monday.
Mr Bryan left the city on the Florida
special at 6:20 p. m yesterday, having
had a very busy day both from the social
and business points of view. The Boston
school mistress was abroad in tills land
bright and early yesterday to the number
or 100. These ladles had the good fortune
to have their outing at a time when they
could meet Mr. Biyan, and they met him
enthusiastically in the pailorof the Metro
politan Hotel. There was a good deal said
by the teachers, Mr. Bryan only getting in
a word or two edgewise during this 'iitei
estlng "function,'' as they say In Rcslon.
One of the most interesting conferences
had with Mr. Bryan yesterday was that
in which Mr. Lawrence Gardner was the
other parly. The Jeffersonian banquet is
drawing very near, and Mr. Bryan and
Mr. Gaidner, both at the Metropolitan
Hotel and in the room of the Ways and
Means Committee, discussed the anange
ments for the speaker to the toast of the
day, which were evidently very satisfactory
to Mr. Bryan.
In the morning Mr. Bailey called on
Mr. Bryan and invited him to dinner at
the Riggs House. Mr. Bryan accepted this
'nvilation, and called on Mr. Bailey later
in the day at the House, where they had
some conversation, which was made the
subject of several varieties of conjecture
as to what it was about. A great many
and perhaps the mnojrity of those who
talked of the incident of the dinner said
that it wus to remove an impression which
has grown up that there was somerestraint
of feeling between Mr. Bailey and the
leader of the Democratic party.
Whatever was the reason for the invita
tion, other than the most natural one of a
social courtesy extended by Mr. Bailey, no
one received any further explanation of the
little affair. Mr. Bailey went with Air.
Bryan to the Riggs House at about 4 p.
m., where the dinner party was composed
otMr.Balleyandhisfamily and Mr. Bryan.
Mr. Bailey accompanied his guest to the
B. & P. station, where the latter, as
stated, took the train for Florida. He
will speak before the Florida legislature
tomorrow by Invitation.
Mr. Bryan put in an hour listening to
the argument of the railroads in the Ne
braska case, and about 1 p. m., went over
to the Houte, where he took lunch with
. A POOR ;SHOW.
Congressmen McMillin nnd-McLaurln," Dis
trict Attorney Davis and .Mr. Lawrence
Gardner.
He will return to Washington on Mon
day next and will respond to" the toust
or Thomas Jefferson at the banquet on
the 13th.
Til 12 KENTUCKY DEADLOCK.
One Formal Bnllqtjfor United States
Senator Without Result.
Frankrort, Ky., April 7. The silver and
gold Democrats and the anti-Hunter Re
publicans refused to answer to their names
at the. roll call of today's joint session
and prevented a quorum, the Hunter Re
publicans and the three Hunter Democrats
answered, making sixty-one in all. The
president ordered the taking or a formal
ballot, and sixty votes were cast for
Hunter, there being-one pair, after which
the joint session adjourned.
The senate thin morning refused to
adopl the Brpnston resolution to adjourn
sine die April lo, this being a Blackburn
scheme to prevent an election. The gold
Democrats joined with silver Democrats
to prevent a quorum, because the Hunter
Republicans refused ttf pair with two of
their number. -'.
PHILIPPINE REBELS ROUTED.
S punish Troops Inflict Severe
Losses Upon Them.
Madrid, April 7. A dl watch received to
day from Manila saysfthat the Spanish
troops have captured the town of dan
Francisco, Malabong, where neatly all the
insurgents vho are continuing their resis
tance to the government Have taken refuge.
The rebels fought desperately to main
tain their position, but-verc finally touted
with enormous losses. Large numbers of
the insurgents who were1 not wounded es
caped into the interior In' an utterly de
moralized condition.
Fireman and Conductor Killed.
Charlotte, N. C, April 7. The engine of
the regular rreight, on the Cape Fear and
Yadkin Valley Hallway, which lelt Mount
Airy .today at 2:30 p. m., was derailed near
Pilot Mountain, and Fireman Walter Chaf
fin and Conductor Fred; Foushee, the lat
ter riding on the engine at the time, were
caught under It and killed. Engineer
Powers was badly injured.
Cincinnati' Firm Assigns.
Cincinnati, April 7. Charles F- Stiles,
doing business as Stiles & Co., manufactur
ers or iron measures,, and packages, have
assigned, with StJCfcQOOisscts and $45,000
liabilities. . -- ,
Lieut. EI off to Be Tried.
Pretoria, .nril 7. President Knigcr
has ordered the forxnation of u special
court to try Lieut. Eloff, his grandson,
who was recently suspended from duty
for using language that was Insulting to
Queen Victoria.
TCcl Ceilincr,Headecl,M,25 per 100 ft.
Iiibbey&Co.,6th st. and New York avc- tf
BestNnils. per Heir, TOO lbs., Sl.OO.
Libbej & Co.,Gch at. and New Yorkavc. t
TURKS GETTING DISGUSTED
Small Hope That the Powers Will
Help the Situation.
SUFFERING OF CHRISTIANS
The Scarcity of Provisions in the
Interior Becoming Greuter Daily.
Notwithstanding the Bloclmde,
Greek Sailors Occasionally Land
Provisions on the Const.
Canca, April 7. With the exception of
a fight outside of Candia, in which the
Christians were repulsed with a heavier
loss than they inflicted on the Moslems,
there has been little or no prospect of the
impasse being overcome by the powers,
and even the Turks are becoming dis
gusted with the situation.
Reports from the interior show that the
scarcity or provisions is becoming greater
daily and that there is much suffering
among the Christians, who are now prac
tically the only residents outside the coast
towns.
The blockade is maintained with se
verity, but despite this fact Greek sailors
manage occasionally to run In a cargo
of ammunition and food supplies. Of
course no surricienfc supply from this
source can be received, and unless the
jiowers speedily come to some arrange
ment and the blockade be raised the suf
fering will become acute.
FIGHTING OUTSIDE CANDIA.
Insurgents Were Repulsed by Turks
and Lost Eleven Men.
Canea, April 7. Fighting of a some
what serious nature occurred today be
tween the Christians and Turks outside
of Candia. The Insurgents, who were
numerically stronger than the Turics, at
tacked the outposts of the latter from four
points at once. The Turks made a strong
fight, and succeeded in holding their po
sitions. Their loss was only two lulled,
while the loss of tl.e insurgents was eleven
killed. " "
The insurgents afc Kissamo have se'ntTa
letter to the foreign admirals warning them
of their intention to attack the forts at the
place- It is likely that In view of the cir
cumstances a strong force will be placed
in the, fort, and ills not beyond probability
that international troops will be dis
patched to garrison the place.
SHOT AT THE liRITISII CONSUL.
Third Attempt That Das Been Made
on His Life.
London, April 7. The Canea correspon
dent of the Bally. 1'ews telegraphs that
the commission appointed to inquire into
the arming of the Moslem refugees who
made the attack Saturday upon the Chris
tians on tiie peninsular of Akrotiri, has
completed its investigation. It finds that
the Turkish orficiuls acted in a straight
forward manner, and had not distributed
arms to the populace since Februarj '-!.
The charged made by Col. Vassos, the com
mander of the Greek army or occupation,
thut arms had been furnished to the
refugees from Seliuo and Kandamos was
disproved.
The Standard's Canea correspondent says
that while Admiral Harris, the commander
of the British fleet in Cretan waters, was
walking-in the rields near Suda he was
shot at by a Baslii Bazouk. The bullet
from the rifle of the .Moslem plowed the
ground at the feet of the admiral.
This is the third time an attack has:
been made upon the life of the British
admiral. Once he wiis shot while in a
boat.
aiiliturj Governor for Crete.
Berlin, April 7. A dispatch to the Co
logne Gazette from Constantinople says
that the powers have instructed their dip
lomatic representatives there to decide
among themselves in regard to the ap
point mentofa temporary military governor
for Crete.
Ciinevnro's Rumored Recall Denied.
Home, April 7. Therejiort that Admiral
Canevaro, commanding the Italian squad
ron, and, by ru"u of oeniorltv, in com
mand of the joint fleet of foreign war
shipsin Cretan waters, has been recalled, or
is to be relieved of command of he com
bined fleet, is denied in official quarters
here, though it is known that he has asked
that some other officer be assigned to the
chief command.
No More Men From Italy.
Rome, April 7. The Italian govern
ment is disinclined to send reinforce
ments of troops to Crete, and itnow-seems
probable that no more men will ;e senU
Cunevare Not KeeuIIed.
Rome, April 7. It is semi-oflicinlly de
nied that Admiral Caaevarc lias resigned
or that he has been recalled from com
mandof the international squadron in
Cretan waters.
Reports on the Blockade Differ.
London, April 7. Several reports concur
that ttie intention of the powers to es
tablish a blockade or Greece has been
abandoned,, while other reports have it
that the blockade has only been further
deferred.
Call for Turkish Volunteers.
Constantinople, April 7. The Porte has
derided to request the lowers to hapten
the appointment of a governor of the
island of Crete and put an end to the
present, situation in that territory. The
Turkish orficiais at Salonica have made a
call for volunteers in the event of the out
break of war between Turkey and Greco.
ITATHIOTIC LOCAL GREEKS.
Twenty-uue of Ttieiu Depart to Fight
for Their Country.
Fired by the story or their country's
danger and awakened to increased patriot
ism by the celebiatiin of the aimiverary
of Grecian independence last Tuesday,
twenty-one Washington Greeks left this
city yesterday for Greece, to light, if
need be, in their country's cause, and
moie are preparing to follow.
The leader of the party yesterday was
John Harlekas, who sold out a pros
perous fruit business to Join the expedi
tion. Many of the others leave wives
and children in the land of their adop
tion to wait until their return from fight
ing for the Fatherland.
Tlie funds for the passage were secured
last Tuesday during the celebration. About
seventy-live of the local Greek colony had
assembled in a house in Jackson Hall alley,
when one of their number, Charles Pope,
arose and made a fiery speech, calling
for subscriptions and volunteers to aid
Greece- A collection was immcdiately
taken, which yielded if'J"0, and almost all
of those present wished to volunteer. Only
those who were able to paj part of their
passage back and who, in addition, were
strong and hearty were selected by the
committee, which was given control of the
funds.
The party left on the 5:40 train ror New
York. There they will engage pastage ror
Marseilles on the next steamer, and from
Marseilles they will proceed to Piraeus
to enlistin the Grecian army.
The party was escorted to the depot last
evening by a large uumlier ot friends and
relatives, who shouted Godspeeds and mes
sages to friends at home to them until tlie
train pulled out.
Another meeting will be held next Satur
day night, which will probably result in
the sending of about forty more Greeks
across the water.. By that time 1 1 is ex
pected that an answer will be received
to the letter which was sent to the Gre
cian government asking if they could use
volunteers Trom the District of Columbia,
and largely upon thU all future action will
depend. If the reply is affirmative it Is
within the range or possibility that Wash
ington will lose most of Its Greek popu
lation. Among those who left jesteiday were
Peter Jangos, Nicholas Agnostis. John
Cutros, Nicholas Veitcs. and James Lya
kas, all well known and highly respected
among their countrymen here.
THE RnODE ISLAND ELECTIONS.
Healthy Republican Pluralities Are
Reported Over the State.
rr.ividi.nce, R- I-, April 7. In the Rhode
Island election today the Republicans easily
elected their State ticket and retained
their large majority in tlie general assem
bly, but were unsuccessful in electing their
legislative ticket in this city. Gen. Elislia
Dyer was elected governor by a plurality
or not less than 1",000, the largest ever
obtained by a gubernatorial candidate.
In this city a good Government legis
lative ticket Indorsed by tle Bemtcrats
was nominated and was elected by good
pluralities, although the Republican State
ticket carried the city easily. The vote
was light throughout the State, the Demo
crats sufreting the greatest loss.
Assignment of Flour Commissioners.
New York, April 7.-F. I). Ncustadt &
Co., Hour commission dealers, at No. :i3(J
Produce Exchange, assigned today. The
firm was rated at $UoO,000. Liabilities'
estimated at $60,000.
A Democratic Owens Xlcld.
The Democratic Senators held a caucus
yesterday arterroon to consider the sub
ject of filling the committee vacancies.
No conclusion was reached, although the
new Senators urged that something be
done so that they might be assigned to
committees. The caucus decided to wait
until the Republicans submitted their plan
to Mr. Gorman, chairman of the Democratic
steering comruittee-
KOBR D THETiBIFF BILL
It Will Be Reported to the Sen
ate About April 26.
THE REPUBLICAN POLICY
The Sugar and Wool Schedules "Will
Probably He Left Open tor "Trad
ing" I'urnuKi'H in Order to Secure
the Votes Necessary to Pass tho
Measure.
The Republican members of the Senate
Finance Committee are making rapid prog
ress with the analysis of the Dingley bill,
and have completed the examination of its
provisions with reference to the raising
of revenue, with the exception of the
woolen schedule, which is so complicated
that it will require the close examination
of a special expert.
Senator Allison is authority for the state
ment that the bill will be reported to the
Senate two weeks from next Monday, anil,
while this is at least a week curlier than
had been expected, there la reason to te
lievethe committee will bring the measure
into the Senate before the final revision
of certain schedules, notably sugar and
wool, which will be left open for ""tratbiig
purposes in order to secure the votes neces
sary to pass the measure. The Republicans
now control forty-two votes in the Senate,
and, as Senator Kyle is expected to sun
port the Dingley bill, they lack hut two ,f
a majority, and these they confidently
hope to secure from among the silver K
publicans.
It Is to capture these votes that it lj
proposed to bring In the bill with certain
amendments not acted upon, and the
shrewdness of this policy is very generally
conceded. It is now well understood thac
the recent attempt to reorganize the Sen
ate committees by f dling all vacancies, and
removing silver Republicans from important;
chairmanships was abandoned because C
the fact that so radical a iihv promised
to Jeopardize the passage of the Dingley
bill.
Senators Aldnch and Allison are strong
ly inclined to reduce the rate on mtnatra
wrappers, and it is stated that Senator
Aldrich Is in favor of a uniform rate on.
both wrappers and filler, as has been
recommended by an overwhebningmajonty
of the trade. Senator Piatt is supposed
to sympathize with the Connecticut to
bacco growers, but it is intimated that
he appreciates the fallacy of their posi
tion, and is confident that a greater de
mand for Connecticut grown tobacco would
be caused by reducing the price to the
manufacturer of Sumatra wnppers. The
Bepublioan members at tfia Blnanee Oon..
rnRtee.hAvC been, much .Impressed -xi-h
the numerous protests from the tobacco
Irnde, which they have received slmo
the Dingley schedule was first pubhsv.cd
and the fact that the duty sought to be
imposed on Sumatra leaf is so exorbitant
an ad valorem, has also had its effect;
upon the committee's tariff experts.
Within the next week the tobacco trade
may possibly have an opportunity of pre
senting its case to the Republican tari'f.
leaders, and, if so, no time will be lost by
them in doing so, for hearings are few
in these piping tariff times.
The Secretary of the Treasnry is deter
mined to aid Congress in keeping up tho
"bluff regarding the retroactive assess
ment of duties under tlie Dingley bill, as
shown by his much-discussed circular,
which is in the following language:
"Under the authoritj conferred upon tl.o
Secretary of the Treasury by section 24!,
Revised Statutes, chief officers of cus
toms are hereby instructed to delay, until
further orders, final liquidation of entries
made at the respective ports or any mer
chandise arriving thereat after April 1,
1S97. But liquidations may be tentatively
made, and such liquidations shall not be
closed and stamped, but shall be held open
during the pendency of this order so as to
be amended or corrected, if necessary.
These directions shall not be applied,
however, to any entries made after Apnl
1, 1897. of merchandise which was pur
chased and directed by tlie owner to bo
shipped for import Into the United States
by anj peison prior to lpiil 1, 3SU7
"Herenter all entries for consumption,
except thoe specified in the preceding
paragraph," shall be stamped in red ink
by the clerks respectively passing the
same, under the direction of the collector,
with the following words: Subject to
change of rates if required by law.
, Collector.
"A ppraising oriicers will, whenever prac
ticable, retain such samples of imported
merchandise as may be necessary to de
termine any question hereafter arising
relative to the proper identification ar.d
classification for duty of such m erchandise "
It is believed that Secretary Gage has
made a serious blunder in the preparation
of this circular, which will enable the
business community to test the force of tho
retrospective'' provisions of section ST.
It was expected that in postponing liqui
dations the department would instruct col
lectors to hold all invoices open covering
goods arriving after April 15. Instruc
tions to this effect might easily have been
issued under th,e general autliority granted
the Secretary by section 240. Such action
would have been within the power of the
Secretary, and could not be resisted on tho
ground that it was based upon certain
proposed legislation not yet enacted The
Secretary, however, bases his instructions
clearly upon the retrospective clause of the
Dingley bill and confines them to goods
purchased since April 1.
Customs experts declare without hesi
tation that importers will have no diffi
culty in bringing action against collectors
who refuse to make final liquidations
within a reasonable time; that in such
actions the legality as well as the con
stitutionality ot the proposed ex post facto
legislation will be fully tested. In the
meantime advices received at the depart
ment show that prominent importers are
paying no attention to the retroactive
clause, but are counting upon its being
thrown out by tlie Senate, or declared null
and void by the courts. There is every in
dication that the Senate will leave tho
clause In the bill until the last minute,
with a view to preventing Inrgfr antici
patory importations, but will strike it out
before the final vote is taken on the
measure.
Go To
C02 9tli street store or Standard Sewing
Machine Co. ror bicycles, and save iuodcv.
League Club Cycle Co.
12-Inch Stools Board-. $51 r ltjo ru
Libbcy & Co., Cth st. and New York ave.
Blind. Si: "nil Sizes, 75e a Pulr.
Libbey & Co.,Cth st. andNew York ave. tf
-f
J.