Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1893 — THE EXTRA SESSION. [ARTICLE]

THE EXTRA SESSION.

In the Senate, Tuesday, the greater part of the time was occupied by Mr. Mitchell, of Oregon, in an argument against the repeal of the Sherman law. The VicePresident laid before the Senate a letter from the treasury department which stated that $1,273,26? in the notes provided for by the Sherman act were redeemed in silver coin during Ajugust, 1893; that $174,001,242 (in coinage value) of silver bullion purchased under that act and subject to coinage is now in the treasury. Also a letter from the secretary of the treasury stating that there was available on the 7th inst. for the enforcement of the Chinese exclusion act $63,502. A spirited debate followed between Mr. Teller and Mr. Hawley. Mr. Hawley favored repeal and said, in answer to the silver Senator’s arguments, that if it was found that the country was about to be ruined by the cessation of silver purchases Congress could again be convened to undo the wprk. Mr. Stewart succeeded in gettile floor asa pnlC Pf “(l f *! V? answer the arguments of Hawley, but was inCorrupted by a motion to go into executive session. After a brief executive session the Senate adjourned.

In the House a number of bills were introduced by Indiana members, as follows: By Brookshire: A bill for the relief of Sanford Graham; a bill to pension Lorenzo Sink; a bill to make and correct the military record of William T. Gott; a bill to remove the charges of desertion against Willis D. Walker; a bill for the relief of Capt. John B. Dowd on account of injuries received by him on account of the collapse of the old Ford theater, June 9, 1893; a bill for the payment of Capt. Robert E. Bryant for his services as commissioner of subsistence on the staff of Brig.-Gen. Lew Wallace; a bill for the relief of Henry Ayer; a bill to. correct the military record of Charles E. Cregar; a hill to correct the military record of Henry Staff; a bill for the relief of Joseph H. Johnson; a bill to make and correct the military record of Sylvester Weaver; a bill to make and correct the military record of James D. Kalley; a bill to correct the military record of Samuel Hartman; a bill to correct the military record of Robert Osborn; a bill for the relief of Frank Denham; a bill to increase the pension of Scott Jewell; a bill granting a pension to John A. Kirkham; a bill granting a pension to Elivin Brown. By Mr. Bretz: A bill granting a pension to Margaret A. Cooper, widow of Thomas Cooper; a bill for the relief of Theodore B. Starr; a bill to increase the pension, of Clark McCrathy. Petitions were presented as follows: By Mr. Martin: Petition of J. P. Sarruff, of Salainonia, Jay county, for increased compensation of fourth class postmasters. By Mr. Conn: Resolutions of local assembly No. 8,852, Knights of Labor, of Laporte. requesting the free coinage of both gold and silver.

Senator Voorhees secured the floor, Wednesday morning, in the Senate, and spoke of the time consumed in debate of the Wilson bill—fifteen days in the House, and now twelve days had been lost in the Senate, besides Sundays, ne thought the most ardent opponent of the bill could not complain of lack of opportunity to speak on the subject, aud therefore suggested that the Senate close the debate and take the vote in ten days or one week. “Let us,” he said, “have an agreed day to close general debate and then give further time for tho discussion of amendments. I ask that one week from to-day the general debate on the bill be closed, and that the amendments to the bill be Open to discussion until Saturday, when a vote shall be taken.” Senator Dubois took the floor in opposition and argued against reoeal. He held that eight-tenths of the people were for silver, and that the Senators favoring repeal were determined to push the matter without proper debates Mt. VoorhecS denied that there was undue haste. Mr. Dubois asked if it would not bo necessary to supplement repeal by some additional legislation favorable to silver. “Yes, sir,” said Mr. Voorhees, “and I am ready to help to engage in it. Financial legislation will not cease with this repeal.’ Mr. Dubois, however, formally objected to the proposition to vote at an agreed day, and according to rules the matter remains Unsettled. Mr. Voorhees accepted the situation and said that he' would call up the matter at some future time. Mr. Allen, Populist, of Nebraska, speaking to the resolution of Mr. Stewart to inquire whether Senators werq interested in national banks, said there were hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people in the country who believed that much of the legislation of Congress was influenced oy the personal interests of Senators and members. If they were mistaken it was due to Senators and members that the people be enlightened upon the subject. In the House, Mr. Talbert, of South Carolina, offered a resolution instructing the banking committee to present a bill for the issue of 1150,000,003 in treasury notes for distribution among the people. A hundred objections brushed the motion aside and the House went into a committee of the whole for the consideration of the bill providing for the printing of documents. The balance of the day was spent in debating the measure. Senator Daniel, of Virginia, occupied tho time of the Senate in a carefully prepared argument against the repeal of the Sherman law. Following Mr. Daniel’s speech Mr. Stewart moved to take up his resolution to investigate whether Senators were interested in national banks. Mr. Voorhees opposed with a counter motion to proceed to the consideration of the repeal bill, which was agreed to by a viva voce vote which was almost unanimous, and Mr. Stewart sat down. . in the Houbo the Tucker bill to "repeal existing Federal election laws was considered. Partisan tactics were resorted to, to prevent its passage. Republicans under the lead of Gen. Barrows, of Michigan, filibustering to that end. He declared in justification of bis course that a measure so sweeping as the Tucker bill, driving the National government out of tho States and leaving no one on guard at the polls to prevent fraud and corruption in Congressional and Presidential elections, shbuld have no status in the House until thb Democrats produced their quorum. The debate Was Warni, niatij Democratic members joining Burrow* Iri his efforts against, the hill, /Several Democrats acted "Wtth tire’Republicans, arid tyey are. slid? 'tho admUifct^uob,' which so hettcve&td Btiebdwwt tolhj legislation at this time ardize the final success of the repeal of the Sherman law.