Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1894 — FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

Monday’s session of the United States Senate'was as exciting as a. war-time debate. The tariff bill was discussed. Mr. Harris, in charge of the bill, lost patience at the dilatory tactics of the opposition and abruptly moved that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the tariff bill. Mr. Hill spoke briefly in a way that displeased his Democratic colleagues. Mr. Sherman said the bill had never been read in detail. Mr. Voorbees said that the record would disprove this statement. A free-for-all colloquy ensued. Mr. Turpie, in replying to statements by Senator Aidrich, said: Three monstrous untruths had characterized the opposition, three gross, palpable lies of inconceivable mendacity. The first of those untruths was that a new bill was being prepared by the secretary of the treasury; the second, that three, or three hundred amendments (it didn’t matter which) were to be presented, and the third was that the bill reported from the finance committee wasn’t the bill to be passed. All these assertions had been categorically denied by four Democratic members of the finance committee. And yet the Senator from Rhode Island comes in here and says he believes they are true. There could be no sharper issue of veracity. I prefer to believe, and Ido believe, the Senators on this side, and I disbelieve the Senators—no I will not say Senators—l disbelieve the diminutive unit on the other side who asserts the contrary. Who is the author of these reports that aro being circulated here in the newspaper press? Who claims the paternity of the Senator from Rhode Island? I recollect the predecessor of the honorable Senator from Rhode Island,” he continued. with biting and venomo.us Irony, referring to the Senator Aldrich of 1890 as a different individual from the Senator Aidrich of to-day, “but even he couldn’t then have been the author of all three of these untruths. He might have been the author of one. but three would have driven him from the field. We who were here then will neveb forget the writhing of his distinguished countenance, hi 3 enormous development of cheek that extended from ear to ear and from chin to forehead. Wo will never forget his auricular appendages tltftt scraped the domo of the capitol. How can the present Senator hope to rival his predecessor in the hate of truth and in tho love of falsehood that has always characterized the cheats of protects?”

Tho personal character of Mr. Turple’s speech seemed to paralyze the Senate. Mr. Aldrich slowly arose and said that Mr. Turpie spoke for no one but himself. Mr. Quay then resumed his tariff speech, which ho began some weeks ago. A motion to go into executive session developed the absence of a quorum, and at 5:50 the Senate adjourned. At Monday s session of the House the army appropriation bill was passed after several amendments had been agreed to. The appropriation for the purchase of machine guns, improved musket calibre, was raised from SIO,OOO to 120,000. At the opening of the Senate, Tuesday, Chaplain Miiburn referred to the death of Senator Stockbridge in his prayer, with his usual pathos. Senator McMillan, of Michigan, then formally announced tho death of his colleague. The Vice President, in accordance with tho motion of Mr. McMillan, appointed the usual funeral committee, and the Senate immediately adjourned as a further mark of respect. In tho House, Tuesday, Mr. Dfngley called up tho resolution designed to reduco tho expenditures of the Treasury Department SIBO,OOO per annum, and explained that it was unanimously recommended by the committee. While Mr. Diugley was explaining the provisions of the measure, word came that the Commonweal army was advancing on the capitol grounds. In a moment the House was deserted. Consideration of the bill was resumed after tho Coxey incident, but was again interrupted by the arrival of tho Senate resolutions relative to the death of Senator Stockbridge. Appropriate resolutions wero moved by Mr. Burrows, and tho Speaker appointed the usual funeral committee. As a further mark of respect tho House, at 1:35, adjourned. The Senate proceedings were rather dull Wednesday, most of the afternoon being consumed by Senator Squire, who made a carefully prepared speech in general opposition to the tariff bill. Before he began, Mr. Lodge undertook to enact the role of tormentor. 110 threw out some exasperating challenges to the Democratic side, but the Democrats refused to be drawn into a controversy, and, fl nding his efforts unsuccessful, ho turned the floor over to Mr. Quay. Before tho tariff Dill was taken up Mr. Hoar tried to pass his antilottery bill, but it met with considerable, opposition from Senators Vest and Gorman, on the ground that it would interfere with raffles and drawing at church fairs and made participants guilty of felonies. Ultimately tho bill wentover without action. Tho House, Wednesday, passod the bill to improve the methods of accounting in the Treasury Department. The offices affected by the bill employ 759 clerks at a cost of $1,005,760. Under the bill just passed there will be 624 clerks at an annual cost of $886,000. The remainder o 1 the day was spent in considering the river and harbor appropriation bill. In the Sonato, Thursday. Mr. Quay resumed his speech against the tariff bill but soon yielded tho floor to Mr. Chandler, who gave his idea of what the tariff bill would have been if Democrats had been true to the Chicago platform. When Mr. Chandler took his seat, Mr. Quay resumed hisspecch. Mr. Quay at3:3op.m. becoming weary, asked the clerk to read a portion of his speech. Mr. Harris, who had been alertly watching, raised a point of order against the clerk reading a Senator’s speech. Mr. Quay said that he was somewhat fatigued, and thought a short respite would relieve him. Harris replied sharply that he was glad to afford Mr. Quay any relief in his power, but when the Senator from Pennsylvania insisted upon speaking for a week he would have to insist that ho make it himself. A dispute over tho absence of a quorum here interrupted Mr. Quay, and pending its settlement the Senator from Pennsylvania was permitted to rest. The hour for the Democratic caucus having arrived, the Senate, at 4:03 adjourned. Carl Jacobs, of Greensburg, is under arrest, charged with attempting to bribe a member of tho grand jury. Petfer Grow, a grand juror, is the complainant. He alleges that Jacobs approached him with a requost not to indict a certain saloonkeeper, saying that he (Grow) would bf well rewarded. Grow reported the mattei to his fellow jurors, and an Indictment followed. 1 A boat $1,500 worth of fishing tackle If ■old in Huntington yearly.