Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1893 — THE NATIONAL SOLONS. [ARTICLE]

THE NATIONAL SOLONS.

SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Our National Lawmakers and What They Are Doing for the Good of the Country—* Various Measures Proposed, Discussed. and Acted Upon. Doings of Congress. The Nicaragua canal bill was before the Senate Tuesday for a couple of hours, but was then laid aside so that the sundry civil appropriation bill might be proceeded with. The canal bill was the subject of two speeches and of a running discussion. In which Mr.‘Sherman, who Ia in charge of it, took a.lekding pirt; After a short conflict between the Democrat* and. Republicans of the House the Democrats were obliged to yield gracefully and to agree, -to the terms which the Republicans presented. These were that' general debate -on the Invalid pension bill should be continued until the minority was accorded six hours debate. During the discpsslon of the bill In committee of the whole, ME Hatch indirectly gave notice' of-the course which he would pursue In reference to the. aatloptlon bill. He had, he said, waited patiently for days In order that the consideration of the appropriation bijls should be completed. But he now gave notice that unless the appropriation bills were disposed of In a reasonable time be would ask for the Consideration of a measure (the anti-option hill), which, being a revenue bill, had a-right of way. ThevNicaragua canal bill, though having the advantage of being the “unfinished business,” had to give way Wednesday In the Senate to the sundry civil appropriation bill. All the amendments to that hill reported by the committee on appropriations, including the World’s Fair items, were disposed of with the exception of the series relating, to river and harbor improvements, and these were in full tidepf debate President’s Hawaiian message wa9 delivered, und then, without the delay of a minute, on Senator Sherman’s motion, the Senate went into executivo session. The invalid pension appropriation bill monopolized - the attention of the House. The general debate was enlivened by Mr. Boutelle of Maine, who made one of his vigorous and characteristic speeches, hut the House at large looked upon the controversy without excitement, and it ended without any gain on either side. The debate in the House over the pen-sion-appropriation bill was brought to a dramatic and almost -violent conclusion late Thursday afternoon by a scene which was only prevented py the Sergeant-at-arms and his mace from degenerating Into an exchange of blows. The excitement was intense. The Speaker appealed to members to put an end to this most unseemly scene and take their seats; but it was several minutes before his appeal proved of any avulL When order was finally restored the House, finding It was In no temper to proceed with the consideration of the bill, adjourned. The session of the Senate was occupied in the consideration of the sundry civil appropriation bill, An amendment involving the continuance of the office of supervisor of elections gave rise to a long and heated political discussion.

The sundry civil aopropriation bill occupied the attention of the Senate Friday. The amendment which had been discussed Wednesday, and the effect of which Is to continue in force the law fer Federal supervision of elections, was carried by a party vote. All the committee amendmentshaving been disposed of, and the bill being open to general amendment, the question as to the issue of 3 per cent, bonds to maintain the gold reserve was precipitated on the Senate. The amendment was offered by Ml Sherman, and a point of order was raised against it by Mr, Stewart The point was. after discussion, overruled by the Vice President and an appeal from that decision was laid on the table by a vote of 28 yeas to 18 nays. The merits of the amendment were discussed for the rest of the day, and the adjournment came before the debate closed. Tho pension bill was passed by the House and went through free from the various pension amendments which have been proposed of late. It appropriates the sum of $166,400,000 for pension payments during the next year. It is the largest pension Item on record, and. indeed, the largest appropriation of any kind which the House of Representatives ever made. There were no personal conflicts on the floor, although there was a strong undercurrent of had feeling. In four or five instances a passionate word would have worked the trouble The postoffice appropriation bill was considered without final action. The Senate Saturday passed, by a vote of 36 to 16, Senator Sherman’s amendment to the sundry civil bill. It authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, at his discretion, to issue 3 per cent, five-year bonds to an amount not exceeding .$50,000,000, in order to recover gold to the Treasury. Senator Mills’ amendment to make the bonds redeemable at the pleasure of the United States was defeated; as also was one offered by Senator Stewart providing that the bonds shall not be deposited us a basis for national bank issues. Senator Gorman In some remarks which he made In the Senate Monday In opposition to appropriation for public buildings spoke of the serious and alarming condition which confronted the cmntry, expressed the belief that only the borders of the trouble had been touched, and said that extraordinary action would have to be taken by the Treasury Department, or else Congress would have to reassemble before next July to meet the condition. Mr. Quay moved amendments, which were agreed to, fixing the limit of cost Of the public buildings at Allegheny. Pa., at $535,000; of the public building at San Francisco, Cal., at $3,000,000, and of the public building at Portland. Ore., at $1,000,000, and appropriating $5,000 for an additional story to the public building at Sheboygan, Wls. Mr. Allison offered amendments, which were agreed to, appropriating $25,000 for the completion of the postoffice building at Clarksville,Tenu., and $35,000 for the completion of the public building at Sioux Falls, N. D After an executive session the Senate adjourned. Filibustering against the New York and New Jersey bridge bill proved ineffectual in the House. It was led by Messrs W. A. Stone and Dalzell. both of Pennsylvania,, hut they were never able to muster more than seven men to their support and the bill was passed practically without opposition. After the disposition of two private bills the naval and agricultural appropriation bills were called up under suspension of the rules and passed, and the House adjourned. ’ ■