Mr. Allen, of Nebraska, offered an amendment declaring all combinations
and contracts to restrict labor unlawful, but his motion was lost, and
there is no clause against Trusts in the new bill.

After it had passed, a joint conference was called, and the
Vice-President appointed eight Senators to take part in the discussion
on behalf of the Senate.

This conference is to settle with the House of Representatives the
changes that the Senate has made in the bill.

You remember that the Dingley Tariff Bill was passed by the House of
Representatives before it was sent to the Senate.

Now the Tariff Bill, as it stands to-day, differs in many respects from
the bill as it was received by the Senate. It has therefore been found
necessary to call a conference of members of both Houses to discuss
these points of difference, and arrive at some conclusion in regard to
them.

The Senate's version of the Tariff Bill will be copied and sent to the
House at once. It has been agreed that it shall be handed over to the
members of the conference without being first discussed in the House.

The Senators who are opposed to the bill declare that it is the worst
ever framed, while those who favor it insist that it is going to bring
back prosperity.

* * * * *

The latest news from the Sandwich Islands is that Hawaii has offered to
arbitrate the immigration matter.

The Japanese minister has, however, stated that he does not think his
Government will ever consent to arbitration, and so it is not likely the
difficulty will be settled by that means.

Feeling is running very high in Honolulu. There have been some
unfortunate conflicts between Americans and Japanese there.

It is reported that an American lady has been severely beaten while
trying to assist her brother, who had been attacked by a number of men
from the warship _Naniwa_.

While walking in the town with her brother, this lady encountered two
sailors, who stood in her way and would not make room for her to pass.
Her brother pushed the men aside, whereupon they turned on him and began
to beat him.

When she endeavored to help her brother the Japanese sailors beat her
unmercifully.

The discussion between the United States and Japan seems no nearer a
peaceable settlement.

The Secretary of State has made public the official grounds for Japan's
protest.

They are:

_First_, that it is necessary for Hawaii to remain an independent st