Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1897 — NATIONAL SOLONS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL SOLONS.

REVIEW OF THEIR WORK AT WASHINGTON. Detailed Proceedings of Senate and House—Bills Passed or Introduced in Either Branch—Questions of Moment to the Country nt Large. The Legislative Grind. The Senate had a period of tariff speeches Wednesday, and as a result little progress was made on the bill. Mr. Rawlins of Utah and Mr. Mills of Texas discussed the Democratic attitude on the tariff from their respective standpoints. Later in the day Mr. Cannon of Utah proposed an amendment placing an export bounty on agricultural products. He spoke for two hours on the need of giving the farmer a share of the benefits of the tariff. Mr. Butler of North Carolina also spoke in favor of giving the farmer equal benefits with other classes under the bill. Only half a page of the bill, covering four brief and comparatively unimportant par,grapns, were '.isposed of during the day. The long-deferred debate on the sugar schedule of the tariff bill came on Thursday, after the Senate had disposed of the cereals in the agricultural schedule. Nothing definite was accomplished. James T. Lloyd, who tvas recently elected to succeed the late Representative Giles, of the First Missouri District, took the oath at the opening of the House. Mr. Hitt asked unanimous consent for the consideration of a joint resolution for the payment of the salaries of certain consuls general and consuls, the names of whose posts were changed in the last consular and diplomatic bill. The resolution was passed. Mr. Payne then moved an adjournment, which was resisted by the minority. The rising vote resulted in a tie —87 to 87. Speaker Reed saved the motion by voting aye, and the House adjourned until Monday.

The first test vote on the sugar schedule was taken in the Senate iate Friday, resulting in the adoption of the Republican caucus amendment changing the House rate of 1 575-1000 to 1.95 per pound by the close vote of yeas 32, nays 30. The affirmative vote was made up of tw-enty-nine Republicans, one Democrat (McEnery of Louisiana), one silver Republican (Jones of Nevada) and one Populist (Stewart of Nevada). The negative vote •was made up of twenty-five Democrats, three Populists and two silver Republicans. It was the closest vote thus far taken on an issue of importance, and was tccepted as showing that amendments laving the sanction of the caucus were assured of adoption. The vote was taken after a day spent in speeches on the effect of the sugar schedule. The sugar schedule was again the subject of debate Saturday in the Senate. Practically no progress was made. Only one amendment was voted upon and that was defeated. When the Senate adjourned the amendment of Mr. Lindsay of Kentucky to strike out the differential on refined sugar was pending. The most sensational feature of the day was the speech of Senator McEnery of Louisiana. It was his maiden speech in the Senate. He openly avowed himself in favor of a tariff upon sugar. He moreover defended the sugar trust, Whose interests, he argued, went hand in hand with the sugar planters. Mr. Lindsay of Kentucky and Mr. Caffe.-y were the other Senators who addressed the Senate at length. The Senate debate on the sugar schedule of the tariff bill proceeded Monday with only one diverting incident to relieve the monotony into which the discussion has lapsed. This was the sharp exchange between Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts and Mr. Tillman of South Carolina, representing the two extreme® of Senatorial procedure. The House adjourned until Thursday after a session that lasted for-ty-five minutes. The only attempt to transact business was a request by Mr. Lacey of lowa for unanimous consent for a bill for the relief of residents of Greer County, Oklahoma. Mr. Henry of Texas promptly objected, and the House decided to adjourn. Before the session began the hub of a wheel wound round with a monster petition, said to contain 6,000,(XXI signatures, appealing to Congree® to recognize Cuban insurgents as belligerents, was wheeled into the space in fro®' of the Speaker's rostrum. It had been in circulation throughout the United States for about six months, and was presented to Congress by Representative Sulzer of New York. The Senate made a great stride forward Tuesday by completing the consideration of the sugar schedule of the tariff bill, except the provision relating to Hawaii, which went over. This schedule has been the storm center of the entire bill. Senator Tillman gave notice of an amendment he will offer to the tariff bill providing for a head tax of SIOO on all immigrants to the United States. The amendment also makes it a misdemeanor punishable by fine and imprisonment for any person to enter the United State* for. the purpose of engaging in trade or manual labor without intending to become a citizen. These provision® are modified by a proviso to the effect that they “shall only remain in effect until silver shall be admitted to our mints for coinage at the ratio of 16 to 1, on the same conditions with gold.”