Freeland Tribune

NEARING THE CLOSE

Nothing of Special Importance Now Before Congress.

APPROPRIATION BILLS OUT OF THE WAY

Butler Bond Measure and Filled Cheese Bill the Subjects Remaining in the Senate—Alcohol Tariff in the House.

Washington, May 26.—Now that all the annual appropriation bills are out of the way, the last, the deficiency bill, having been passed yesterday afternoon, the senate has practically completed its labor for the present session. The Butler bond bill and the filled cheese measure will probably engross the attention of the senate for several days, the bond measure being on the programme for to-day. The deficiency bill as reported from the appropriation committee covered items aggregating about nine million dollars; about twice the amount that it carried when it came over from the house. In its progress through the senate the aggregate was still further increased by the appropriation of over a million dollars for findings in the French spoliation claims; of over half a million dollars for findings of the court of claims under the Bowman act. The bill was also heavily loaded with private claims.

House of Representatives.

The house to-day in committee of the whole is still considering the bill to repeal that section of the present tariff law providing for rebate on alcohol used in the arts and in medicinal compounds. Mr. Evans, rep., Ky., on behalf of the ways and means committee, offered an amendment providing for the appointment of three senators and three representatives to consider the question relating to the use of alcohol in the arts and 'manufactures free of tax and to report to the next session of congress. In advocating the passage of the bill Mr. Evans stated that the section had been found so faulty that no regulations could be framed by the treasury department—as the language of the section directed—that would protect the government, and that the government stood to lose $25,000 to $30,000 in claims every day since it was enacted. The repeal of the section was vigorously opposed by Messrs. Russell and Hill, reps., Conn., on the ground that it would be a reversal of one of the principles of the republican party in the matter of protection—the latter giving notice that he would move to strike out the repeal clause and insert instead the amendment for a committee of investigation.