Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1893 — FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

7 In the Senate, Tuesday, the repeal of the federal election laws was discussed Senator Stewart spoke in favor of repeal. Mr. Cullom opposed repeal in a set speech He said: “As a Republican, I would rather hftve such a system of laws meant and intended solely for the proper protection ol the honest and legitimate voter even it every offitial agency for their enforcemeni shall be of the Democratic party. I have not so lost faith in American citizenship as to believe that the sworn officers of any political party will persistently ignore the retirements of wise and just election laws.” In the course of his remarks Mr. Cullom attacked the New York Democratic machine and severely reflected upon Judge Maynard, the recently defeated Tammany candidate. Senator Hill defended Maynard, and an extended and running debate ensued between Hill and Cullom. At 3:30 the Senate went, into executive session, aLd, at 4 p. m., adjourned. ■i In the Uouse, Tuesday, the bill for th< Admission of Utah was considered. The principal point at issue was whether the enabling act should contain a provision imposing pains and penalty for polygamous marriages, the contention on the one hand being that the State should come in on an equal footing with other States, unhandicapped by such provisions; on the other that, as polygamy had been stamped out by federal statute, and, as the admission of the Territory would repeal that statute, Congress should make it practically part of the enabling act. As most of the Republicans have withdrawn their opposition to the bill, it is expected that it will pass by an overwhelming majority. The day was consumed with speeches for and against the admission of the Territory and at 5:30 the House adjourned. When the Senate met, Wednesday. Mr. Cockroll, from the joint committee on the executive department, reported the House bill to improve the methods of conducting the Postoffice Departments.and it was placed on the calendar. The President pro tern laid before the Senate the message of tho House disagreeing to the amendments of the Senate on the New York and New Jersey bridge bill, and asking for a conference. On motion of Mr. Gorman, Messrs. Vest, Gorman and Frye were appointed conferees on the part of the Senate. The Hawaiian matter was, then discussed by Mr. Frye, who scored Blount, and by Mr. Vest, who defended, him, but declared that the restoration of the Queen would be an act of war, after which Mr. Morrill addressed the Senate on the tariff question. His speech was devoted mainly to a comparison of the practices of this country with those of Great Britain, on the question of the tariff and industrial conditions'of the two countries and to a criticism of tho Democratic party for its tendency to follow English precedents. At the close of Mr. Morrill’s speech the Senate, at 4:30, wout into executive session, after which it adjourned. In the Senate, Thursday, the House bill repealing the federal election laws was roported favorably and placed on the the calendar. Senator Voorhees introduced a bill for the coinago of tho silver seigniorage in the Treasury at the rate of $2,000,000 per month, and, when that is exhausted, for the purchase and coinage of a similar amount, of silver monthly. A House bill providing for two additional associate justices-of the Supreme-Court of Oklahoma Territory was also passed. The resolution offered some days ago by Mr. Peffer to rescind a recent order closing the Senatechamber to visitors was considered. It was provocative of much debate and was finally referred to the committee on rulos. Senate bill to repeal a clause in the last pension appropriation bill which prohibited the payment of pensions to persons residing in foreign countries was taken from the calendar and passed. The Senate then, at 4:15, went into executive session, and soon afterward adjourned until Monday at 13 o’clock.

The House, Thursday, was deadlocked for two hours by the refusal of the Republicans to vote on the motion to go into committee of the whole for consideration the Arizona statehood bill. The Democratic leaders decided to proceed with consideration of the Arizona and New Mexico bills and dispose of them before the holidavs. General Wheeler moved that the House go into a committee of the whole to consider the bill for the admission of Arizona. The standing vote resulted 70 to 4. Mr. Hooker, of New York, made the point of no quorum, and the yeas and nays were ordered. The Republicans, generally, refrained from voting. Word was passed around by Messrs. Reed and Burrows, the Republican leaders, to force the Democrats to produce their own quorum if any more Territories wero to be admitted into the Union. General Wheeler made a statement to the effect that, as the Republicans were filibustering, he would move an adjournment. Accordingly, at 3:40 the House adjourned. In the House, Friday, legislation was rushed through. Tno bills for the admission of Arizona and New Mexico wero well under way when a wrangle over Oklahoma ensued. The House went into committee of the whole and passed the bill for the admission of Arizona—lß3 to 61. As soon as the vote was announced Gen. wheeler moved to go into committee of the whole on the admission of New Mexico, which was done without dissent. The debate took a wide range, Republicans showing a disposition to admit all the Territories, provided a guarantee was given that Oklahoma, a Republican Territory, would also be admitted. Mr. Pence of Colorado called upon Gen. Wheeler, chairman of the Territorial committee, to say whether a bill for the admission of Oklahoma would be reported. Gen. Wheeler stated that tho difficulties in the way of the admission of Oklahoma afo the five civilized Indian tribes, whose treaties with us give them power to prevent the admission of that Territory, Mr. Wilson, of Washington, wanted to know whether it was not a fact that It was the ultimate purpose of the Democrats to bring Oklahoma and the Indian Territory into the Union together. Mr. Wheeler evaded this last question and Hr. Wilson declared that that was the Democratic Aheme. From that time until adjournment the debate touched more on tlm questlcm oi what was to be done with' Oklahoma than the admission of New Mexico. It was participated in by Messrs. Hatch, Simpson, Dunn, Springer, Washington and Clark, of Missouri. At the conclusion qj Mr. Clark’s speech the committee rose and the House, at 5:20, adjourned.