The 55th Congress At Work

Seate. - 71st day. - An exciting debate uiarked the opening of the cousideration of the wool schedule. lt, levcloped the lirst gerious disagreemeot on the Repubüean slde of the ehambev and led to a warm personal exchange between Senators Carter, of Montana, and Foraker, of Ohio, on one hand, and Mr. Allison, of Iowa, in charge of the bill, on the other. Mr. Foraker asserted that an agreement concern ing rates on certain wools was being violated, and that, under such cirems stances every Senator would be free to act for himsclf. Mr. Allison, with great vehemence, declared that he could not be driren by threats. Mr. Carter, who had aroused the storm, endeavored to have the paragraphs ïvlating to carpet wools go over, with u view to securing sonie united action, but Mr. Vest, in an ronical speech, objected to delaying the era of prosperity and postponing the public business while Republican Senators held a caucus. Mr. Teller, of Colorado, also spoke against delay and took occasion to say he would not vote for the bill unless objectionable features were eliminated. Fair progresa was made on the schedule notwithstanding tliis hindrance which aecomplished nu purpose. Sk.nate. - 72d day. - Senator Morgan, of Alabama, introduced a bill for the annexation of the Hawaiian islands. The bill provides that the islands shall become a territery of the United States, in accordance with the terms of the recently negotiated treaty. The date set for the extensión of the laws of this couutry over the islands is the 4th of March, 1898. After a contest lasting throughout nearly the whole day the Senate completed the paragraphs of the wool schedule relating to raw wool and advanced into the features relating to manufactured woolen goods. The day was devoted largely to a discussion of the effect of tariff rates in the price of wool and the speeches were on technical lines in the main. Sexate. - 73d day. - A stubborn contest over the duties on manufaetured woolen goods occupied the attention of the Senate throughout the day. Jt was a day of constant roll calis and of cross fire debate on the effect of the duties in advancing rates. Many amendments were proposed to reduce the rates, but these were rejected by decisive majorities. Less than flve pages were disposed of. Senatk. - 74th day. - Owing to rapid progress made during the day in spite of stubborn contests on a number of paragraphs the Senate completed the wool schedule, the silk schedule and the tobáceo schedule of the tariff bill, and with this accomplished the tariff leaders had the satisfaction of knowing that all the schedules of the bill and the free list had been gone over once. The re now remains only to go through the bill a second time, passing on items passed over. These are very numerous and important, including hides, gloves, coal, tea and beer. After that the internal revenue feature of the bill will be all that remains. Senate - 75th day - An abrupt atid startling halt in the tariff debate occnrrcd when, in the midst of a speech, Senator Pettigrew, silver Republican, of South Dakota, was stricken with paralysis of the vocal cords which brought his vehement speech to a close with asentence half uttered. The Senator was not physieally incapacitated, except in the sudden loss of his voico. Although he took his seat unaided, his associates feit that grave possibilities were involved in sueh an attack. They were quickly by his side and he was ministered to with as little confusión as possible. He left the chamber soon after and was taken home by his friends. The debate proceeded, but no further progress on the tariff bill was made, and theawe-like feeling occasioned by this incident led to an early adiournment. Later in the day Mr. Pettigrew was reported to be rapidly recovering. Senate. - 70th day. - Good progress was made on the tariff bill, disposing of the paragraphs relating to hides which have been the source of much controversy. The discussion was protraeted, drif ting into a general debate on trusts, and to a severe arraignment of the sugar trust by Messrs. Caffery and Lindsay, and a general discussion of means to deal with trusts by Mr. Hoar.