Worcester Morning Daily Spy

STARTLING HALT.

Pettigrew Stricken With Paralysis of Vocal Cord.

Vehement Tariff Speech by Dakota Senator Brought to Close With Sentence Half Uttered.

Washington, June 26.-An abrupt and startling halt in the tariff debate occurred in the senate at 2.30 o'clock today, when, in the middle of a passionate speech, Senator Pettigrew (silver republican of South Dakota) was stricken with paralysis of the vocal cord, which brought his vehement speech to a close, with a sentence half uttered. The senator was not physically incapacitated, except in the sudden loss of the power of speech. Although he took his seat unaided, his associates felt that grave possibilities were involved in such an attack.

They were quickly by his side, and he was ministered to with as little confusion 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 the awelike feeling occasioned by this incident led to an adjournment at 3 o'clock.

The senate started today on its second passage through the bill; the purpose being to dispose of all items previously passed over. The paragraphs considered were in the chemical and earthenware schedule, and failed to elicit more than technical debate, except in the unfortunate instance terminating with Mr. Pettigrew's affliction.

THE END IN SIGHT.

The republican tariff managers are very hopeful of being able to complete the consideration of the tariff bill in the senate by next Wednesday night, a result which would bring the end in the senate within the present month. They are led to this conclusion because the republicans have adjusted most of their differences and see their way clear to the settlement of others. The democratic leaders do not concede the possibility of so early a conclusion.

The finance committee has practically decided to abandon the proposed tax on bank checks, which at one time was so favorably considered, and also the increase of 44 cents a barrel in the beer tax and the change in the tobacco tax. Indeed, it appears more than probable that the changes in the internal revenue laws proposed by the bill will be abandoned.

There is some difficulty in the judiciary committee in agreeing upon the form of an anti-trust amendment, but all the probabilities point to the incorporation of the Pettus proposition directed specifically at the sugar trust, and of very little more. It is expected that the reciprocity amendment will be ready for presentation by next Tuesday.

There will probably be objection to the retention of the house provision for the continuance of the Hawaiian reciprocity agreement on sugar, but the finance committee will favor such an agreement, and the probabilities are that the republicans will support it solidly, pending action upon the annexation treaty.

The senate finance committee has changed the provision for a duty on hides, so as to make it ad valorem instead of specific, fixing the rate at 20 per cent instead of 1 1-2 cents per pound. The leather paragraph is also altered so as to provide compensatory duties for the duty on hides.