Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1894 — THE NATION’S SOLONS. [ARTICLE]

THE NATION’S SOLONS.

SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Oar National Law-Makers and What They Are Doing for the Good of the CountryVarious Measures Proposed, Discussed) and Acted Upon. Doings of Congress. After two weeks of obstruction Representative Bland cn Wednesday finally secured tbe adoption of his motion to limit debate on tbe seigniorage bllL A quorum having been secured. Mr. Outhwalte, from the Committee on Rules, reported a special order to discharge the committee of the whole from further consideration of the pending bill and providing that after two hours’ consideration in the House the previous question should bo considered as ordered on the bill and pending amendments no Intervening motion to be in order. He demanded the previous question. The speaker had his name called on the demand of the previous question on the adoption of the special order and It was sustained 170 to 10 one more than a quorum. The vote was then taken on the adoption of the special order. The quorum was lost on the vote on the adoption of the special order—l6s to 11, three short of a quorum. Mr. Outhwalte, stating that this question would come up as soon as the house convened again moved an adjournment. It was carried. The senate held a two hours’ session the whole of which was given to a speech by Senator Frye in opposition to President Cleveland’s Hawaiian policy. After a short executive session the senate adjourned. The Bland bill for the coinage of the silver seigniorage and the sliver bullion In the Treasury pas-ed the House Thursday by a vote of 167 to 130. Tbe bill as passed ■was In the nature of a substitute for the original text of the measure, but the changes do not affect the material features of the bill. An analysis of the vote shows that 140 Democrats. 19 Republicans, and 8 Populists (total 167) voted for it. and 79 Republicans and 51 Democrats (total 130, voted against It The bill for the rescue of the armament of the wrecked Kearsarge passed just before adjournment An unimportant session of the Senate took place, confirmation of the following nominations being the only feature: Granville Stuart, of Montana. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Paraguay and Uruguay; collector of customs, Martin J. Russell, Chicago. Collectors of Internal Revenue— James W. Hunter, Fifth District of Illinois. Iowa: Bert J. Wellman at Mauches-' ter. Illinois: Thomas A. Mcllvalne at Tuscola, Thomas E. Garner at Paris, Charles G Chain at Bushnell. Julian J. Beall at Mattoon, Christian W. Barnhart at Wilmington. The Senate adjourned to meet next Monday. The House Friday entered upon tbe consideration of appropriation bills. The fortification bill, carrying something over 82,000,000, was passed In twenty-five minutes and then the pension appropriation bill was taken up. An altercation occurred between Mr. Meredith of Virginia and Mr. Funk of Illinois over the former’s attempt to prove that there were many fraudulent pensions on the rolls which almost resulted In a personal collision. 1 Mr. Meredith, who was the aggressor, rushed over to the place where Mr. Funk was standing and shook his fist In she latter’s face. Hot words were spoken, but friends Interfered, and the Speaker restored order before any blows were struck. Mr. Bankhead. Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings, offered a resolution for the appoln.ment of a subcommittee togo to Chicago and Investigate the Postoffice Building there, with a view to determining the question of its safety, etc. Mn, Bankhead explained the pressing necessity for examination. The amount Involved was large and the committees were unwilling to make a recommendation without a personal Investigation. The resolution carried an appropriation of 81,500. It was passed The debate on tbe pension appropriation bill continued all day Monday in the House, and at times considerable spirit was displayed. The principal speakers were Messrs. Dolliver, Hepburn, Enloe, and Cannon. The Senate held a short session, and but little business of Importance was transacted A brief debate on sliver was precipitated by the Intention expressed by the Vice President to refer the Bland seigniorage bill, which had just been received from the House, to the Finance Committee. Mr. Stewart, of Nevada, opposed this disposition of the bill, and asked that ft be allowed to He on the table subject to being called up at any time. This was finally ordered. Mr. Stewart at the same time offered a free sliver amendment to the bill. The only other event of interest was the offering by Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, of a resolution looking to the appointment of a tariff commission, which he offered as an amendment to the tariff bill. A number of bills of minor importance were passed. The feature of the pension debate In the House Tuesday was the speech of General Daniel E Sickles, of New York. Mr. Milliken (Rep., Maine) made a brief speech In favor of liberality in pensions, and was followed by Mr. Grosvenor (Rep., Ohio). The charge that there was wholesale fraud in the pension rolls General Grosvenor stamped as false and malicious. Mr. Coombs (Dem., N. Y.) decried the constant attempts to make political capital out of the pension business, and the unjust charges of hostility to the system upon the Southern Representatives. The Southern members, he said, had quietly acquiesced In the demands for pensions. They did not even reply to’ the taunts of the other side Mr. Blair (Rep., N. H.) said that the cry that the cry that the pension roll was a roll of dishonor, tainted with fraud, had long been heard in the land. As far back as 1881, in order to get at the fraudulent pensions, the entire roll was published. It was examined In every community, and as far as he knew not one single, solitary* case of fraud was developed. Mr. Mahon (Rep, Pa.) concluded the debate for the day. At the end of his remarks the committee rose. Mr. Dockery presented a bill from the joint committee on expenditures In the department to Improve the methods of auditing accounts In the Treasury Department, and then at 5:40 o’clock tbe House adjourned. The Senate confirmed a number of postmasters.