Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1890 — THE NATIONAL SOLONS. [ARTICLE]

THE NATIONAL SOLONS.

SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Oar National Law-Makers and What TheyAro Doing for tho Good of tho Country— Various Measures Proposed, Discussed,. and Acted UponThe Senate, with a small attendance ofmembers, proceeded 'OB the A7th with theusual routine business of the morning hour.. When Mr. Quay called up the bill.providingfor the sale of the old Customs-House-building at Erie, Pa., Mr. Blair protested against giving time to such unimportant matters while so many hills of national Importance were pending, and said that If theSenate could do nothing else during the present session but change its rules It should do. that, and fhture Senators could theu proceed to do something for the country. After - a long debate the Eou«e passed the- apportionment bill with amendment—yeas, 187; nays, 82. Mr. Flower presented l the claims of New York City for p recount. MV. Washington of Tennessee also argued: in favor of the recount. Mr. Allen of Mississippi thought it a mistake to Increase the House membership. Mr. Tillman es South Carolina spoke In favor of tho bill. He defended the Superintendent of the as did also Mr. McKenna of California. Mr. Blount of Georgia favored the bill. The previous question was ordered and a vote taken on Mr. Mcßae’s amendment to ■ make the membership 359. It was lost—yeas, 113; nays, 145. Mr. Washington offered as a substitute for Mr. Flower’s, amendment (to give Now York one moreRepresentative) an amendment ordering a recount In New York City and county, therepresentation of New York to be made thirty-five If the recount warrants It. Lost —yeas, 123; nays, 148. Mr. Flower withdrew his amendment and the bill was< passed—yeas, 187; nays, 82. It fixes themembership of the House of Reprosentatlvesat 356..

Is the Senate, the election bill was taken up again on tho 18th, and Mr. Coke spoke, iin apposition to it. Mr. Cullom (Republican accepted the bill os tho best that could, bo framed to meet the evils complained of, with the understanding that he should favor such amendments as might be offered and might meet his approbation. The bill, s he said, had been opposed on the other side“of the chamber, notably by Mr. Gray and. Mr. George, on the ground that the General Government had no right undertho’ Constitution to control and manage the election of Representatives to Congress, in tho States. But in that objection therewas no virtue. The duty was Imposed upon It by tho Constitution and by the results of the war—to protect the negro of the South. Ip his right to cast a free ballot and to havea fair count; in bis right to exercise, ' without fear of violence and undeterred by threats of any kind, all the political rights of American citi- ' tens. The time was at hand, Mr. "I’ullom declared, when the authority off Ihe Government must be interposed In beittlf of the negroes of the South. In thenorning hour in the House the pending Measure was the Senate bill amending the-literstate-com merco act by providing forthe taking of depositions by notariespublic. The bill was passed. Mr. Farqunar, of New York, as Chairman of theCommittee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, movqd that the House go Into committee of the whole for the consideration of theSenate bill to place the American marineengaged in the foreign trade on an equalitywith that of other nations, with the House substitute therefor. Mr. Farquhar made a motion that the House go Into committee of the whole on the state of the Union, and the House proceeded to the consideration off the Senate bill to place the American merchant marine on an equality with that off Dther nations.

Mr. Stanford addressed the Benate on. the 19th In explanation and advocacy of his, bill to provide the Government with means, sufficient to supply the national want of a Round circulating medium. Said he: “Thebill I am now considering proposes to put the Government in a condition to issue a supply of money equal substantially to the general demand, and to erect a standard by which the Government may determine what la the amount needed. This has never been attempted by any Government. The money (legal tender notes) will'be issued under the provisions of this bilk upon unimpeachable and practically inexhaustible security, and ita supply is ascertained and determined by the rate which the borrower can afford to pay. Two per cent. Is the amount to be paid to the Government for the loan of Its money, and solong as money Is worth more than 2 per cent., the security being practically Inexhaustible. money will always be borrowed: from the Government, and thus the Government will be able to discharge its duty and supply the general want. As borrowed money Is not expected to lie idle, but to be used, it goes into general circulation to. supply the needs of business, and its abundance stimulates not only the larger but the smaller enterprises and industries on. which so largely depend the steady employment of labor with its natural consequences—general prosperity. The rate ot interest on these loans on real estate is fixed at 2 per cent, in the bill, but in timemay be reduced as experience shallteach. The rate of interest charged by the Government under the provisions o this bill will not necessarily fix thegeneral rate of Interest for business purposes. That always will be determined bylts value in use. The farmer having this best security will borrow for ids own use or the use of others who may bo willing to pay him a satisfactory interest. Tho bankerborrows money from the Government free of interest and loans it at such rate as itsuse commands in the market. No buslnessof importance was transacted in the .ilouse.

Mr. Pettigrew Introduced In the Senate, on the 20th, a bill to prohibit the sale ot firearms and ammunition to Indians on reservations. Referred. A dozen private pension bills wore taken up and passed. Mr, Moody, from the Committee on Indian, Depredation Claims, reported from theHouso a bill for the adjudication of claims arising from Indian depredations. Calendar. Mr. Platt introduced a Joint resolution appropriating SIOO,OOO to enable the President, to take action to obtain from the Germ ad Government a supply of the remedy discovered by Dr. Koch and the formula for the, manufacture of the same. Laid over. Mr. Paddock gave notice that after the consideration of the pending bill sand before It should be concluded, If Its debate was to be, protracted to any great extent) he would ask the Senate to take up the pure food bill, which was demanded by the farmers from, one end of the country to the other. Mr. Edmunds demanded the regular order,, and the floor was taken by Mr. Spooner in. a speech in advocacy of the election bill. In the House Mr. Milllken of Maine presented a number of conference reports on. public building bills. In every case thechango mado In the measure was purely verbal In Its character, and though thisstatemont was made by Mr. Milllken Mr. Rogers of Arkansas Insisted upon the reading of each report In full. The reports wereall agreed to, but a good deal of time was consumed. . ,