People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1896 — AMERICANS ARRESTED [ARTICLE]

AMERICANS ARRESTED

TAKEN FROM A STEAMER BY SPANIARDS. Heated Discussion of the Matter in the Senate Tuesday —Mr. Call Asks for Immediate Action —Urgent Deficiency Bill Passed by the House. Washington, Jan. 22.—The senate put aside finance and foreign affairs yesterday, and gave ttie<day to work on comparatively minor bills on the calendar. About seventy bills were passed, clearing the calendar of hiuch accumulation, and leaving only the important measures pending. The Cuban question received brief and inconclusive attention early in the day. Mr. Call (dem., Fla.) read a telegram from Key West, as follows: Marquis’ Rodriguez was taken from steswier Olivette last Wednesday. Louis Samallien and son also taken at Havana. All American citizens. Get them out of grasp of Spanish authorities. Senator Call offered a resolution reciting the arrests and directing the executive authorities to "ascertaifi if any just cause for hte arrests existed, and if not, to demand their immediate release.

Senator Hoar suggested that the tone of the resolution was too imperative. There seemed to be an idea, he said, that the senate of the United States is a constantly loaded cannon, which can be touched off at any time by a senator. The Senator urged an inquiry of the state department before a demand. Senator Call answered that he wished to know whether the American flag afforded any protection to its citizens. He referred to the arrests of Americans in Cuba while citizens' of other conntries were not disturbed. Senator Sherman pointed out that such a resolution might give the senate trouble in other cases. It should go to the committee on foreign relations for appropriate consideration. Senator Cullum, a member of the committee on foreign relations, stated that he understood there would be a communication from the secretary of state, perhaps to-day, as to the arrest of United States citizens in Cuba, “and as to the general subject,” He urged, therefore, that there be no haste. Senator Call did not further press his resolution. Mr. Pugh’s resolution concerning silver payment of government obligations was allowed to go over. The following bills were passed: Pensioning tljp widow of Maj.-Gen. Carrol at $75 monthly, and the widow of Lieut. Frederick Schwatka (arctic explorer) at S3O monthly; increasing the pension of the widow of Col. Frederick Dent, sister of President Grant, from S3O to SSO monthly; pensioning the widow of Brevet Maj.-Gen. Doubleday at SIOO monthly; authorizing a bridge over the Mississippi river at St. Louis, between the city and St. Clai'r county, Illinois, amending the act of March, 1887, for the forfeiture of unearned lands. At 3:55 the senate went into executive session, and confirmed many executive nominations.

FOR A PACIFIC CABLE. Bill to Be Favorably Reported to Con- j greRH Soon/ Washington, Jan. 23.—From the ac-’ tion of the house committee on commerce yesterday there seems to be little doubt that a bill authorizing the Pacific Cable Company to lay a cable I from the Pacific coast to the Hawaiian Islands and Japan will be favorably re- : ported in a short time. The committee i greeted a subcommittee to prepare a i bill embracing certain changes consid- J ered desirable from the bill outlined I by the company. There will also be a conference between members and the | State Department officials regarding arrangements for a cable station on the , Marshall Islands, which are owned by Germany. The subsidy asked is SIBO,OOO a year j for a term of twenty years, the government to have free use of the cable during that time. In the course of the-dis- i mission it was argued that the subsidy ! asked was too large in view of the estimated cost of the work, $6,500,000 to $7,000,000, and the probable amount of government business, which the com- | mittee estimated at from $20,000 to S3O,- j 000. The suggestion was also entertained that subsidies might be granted ; by the Japanese government, and pos- | sibly China. The bill to be framed will probably reduce the subsidy. It j will also embrace provisions to secure to the United States government the right of way in the use of the cable. Quarterly Pension Payments. Washington, Jan. 22.—The secretary of the interior has issued a requisition on the secretary of the treasury for $12,450,000 for the quarterly payment of pensions at the following agencies: Topeka, Kan., $3,500,000; Indianapolis, Ind., $2,650,000; Knoxville, Tenn., sl,800,000; New York city, $l,G50,000; Louisville, Ky., $1,000,000; Columbus, Ohio, $50,000; Philadelphia, $1,800,000. Senator Peffer, from the committee on pensions, reported, without recommendation, his bill granting service pensions to soldiers of the civil war at the rate per month of 1 cent per day for the t!ime served. WILL NOT RETIRE. Justice Field Denies a Ruiuor His Health Is (iood. Washington, Jan. 22. —When Justice Field was asked regarding the report that he would retire at the end of his term, he said: “No such statement has been authorized by me. Of course, a man at my time of life might retire from the bench at any time. If my health should not permit me to attend

to my duties easily I should not hesitate to leave the bench, but so long as I can attend to these duties with ease, I have no intention of retiring. At present my health is very good.” It is generally understood that Justice Field is ambitious to exceed the term of service of Chief Justice Marshall, whose thirtyfour and a half years on the Supreme bench constitute the longest term of service in the history of the court. Justice Field was appointed by Presii dent Linciln in March, 1863. Brief Season of the Home, Washington, Jan. 22.—The house yesterday went into committee of the whole and took up the consideration of the urgent deficiency bill. Mr. Cannon, chairman of the appropriations committee, made a statement and called special attention to the enormous deficit of $3,242,58® for the expenses of United States courts, which showed an . abnormal growth of this branch of the public service of more than 100 per cent. There was, he declared, urgent necessity for a reform. The fee system ought to be abolished and fixed salaries provided for United States District Attorneys and United States marshals. Mr. Lacey (rep., Iowa) argued that the fee system was responsible for the bringing of man; frivolous suits. He declared that the whole system was honeycombed with fraud. As amended, the bill was passed. Then at 4:10 the house adjourned until to-day.

More Silver Dollars to Be Coined. Washington, Jan. 23.—About Feb. 1 the tr easur y department will resume i the coinage of silver dollars and continue until about 18,000,000 have been coined. The average cost obthe silver bullion purchased under the Sherman act was 71% cents on the dollar, which leaves a gain, or seigniorage, of 28% cents on the dollar. At this rate the seigniorage on the $18,000,000 to be coined would be $5,130,000, which will be accounted for in the available cash on hand, increasing it by that amount. The order for the resumption of the coinage at the mints at Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco is expected in a day or two. For the Parity of Gold and Silver. Washington, Jan. 22.—Senator Sherman yesterday gave notice of amendI ments to Senator Pugh’s concurrent , resolution providing for the redempi tion of United States bonds in silver j coin. Mr. Sherman’s amendments provide for the recognition of the law j declaring the policy of maintaining the ; parity of gold and silver and require i the observance of this principle in car- ; rying the resolution into effect in case it should pass. I Gold Reserve Very Low. Washington, Jan. 22.—The treasury ! yesterday lost $2,500,000 in gold bars for export, $68,000 in coin, and $14,000 j in jewelers’ bars, making a total loss for the day of $2,582,000. This reduces the gold reserve to $50,790,129. I