Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1894 — FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

In the Senate, Tuesday, after the transaction of routine business, Mr. Peffer spoke at length. He discussed his resolution which looks to the Government control of the raihvays and coal fields and the adoption of the doctrine of a single tax. He appealed to Senators to listen, for while he was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, nor an alarmist, yet he had often sailed the attention of the country to what seems to him to be within the range of an ordinary man's horizon—the public danger. All his propositions related to one fundamental error which the country had fallen into—the danger of allowing a few men here and a few men there to usurp the Governmental functions. All the public functions should be exercised by Government officers. Mr. Peffer said that when tha Pullman company established what the people of the world believed to be an ideal community, in which Kll should have equal rights and none special privileges, every one commended it for its philanthropy. But the charges for rent and for the necessaries of life were deducted from the men’s monthly pay, and when their wages were reduced, the men submitted, but asked that their rents and taxes be reduced, but found that they were in tho power of a corporation without a soul. He referred to the arrogant attitude of Pullman and of the Pullman officials, and read from

the morning papers and dispatches of the Interview of the Chicago aldermen with Vice-President Wickc3, during which the latter iterated and reiterated: “The Pullman company has nothing to arbitrate.'’ Mr. Hawley, interrupting, said: “The relations between Pullman and his men have nothing in God’s world to do with the situation in Chicago.” Mr. PefTer arraigned Congress for its defense of monopolies. Gen. Gordon, of Georgia, followed in a brief speech, saying that when a great city was threatened with bloodshed and tire, any representative on the Senate floor descended very low when he talked as did the Senator from Kansas. The woe which threatened was not sectional and he spoke not from a Southern standpoint, but as a citizen of this great nation, and he urged that the law be enforced. It was the right of the laborer to dispose of his labor without Interference from Debs or any one else. Senator Daniel, of Virginia, offered iTsnbstTtute for the resolution of Senator Peffer indorsing (he action of the President. There were many calls for a vote on the Daniel resolution, but Senator Gallinger asked that it go over, and this was equivalent to an objection. Th» postoffice appropriation bill was then taken up and passed. The Senate then took up the diplomatic appropriation bill, on motion of Mr. Blackburn. He yielded to Mr. Faulkner to move to take up tho bill for the admission of Utab Territory as a State. The bill was passed with the Senate committee amendment, and without debate or division. The Senate went into executive session and at 5:43 o'clock adjourned. The Senate, Wednesday, disposed of appropriation bills at a rapid rate. The discussion on the pension bill took a wide range. Senator Cullom led the attack on Commissioner Lochren and Secretary Smith, while Senator Palmer acted on the defensive. Mr. Daniels’ resolution indorsing the President’s action In the strike and commending his firmness, courage and patriotism, was adopted as a substitute for Mr. PefTer’s resolution. An amendment favoring arbitration was defeated—ll to 33, The Mcßae land grant forfeiture bill was passed by the House, Wednesday afternoon. The bill amends the act of Sept. 29,1890, which In substance declared the forfeiture of the United States lands heretofore granted to States and corporations to aid in tho construction of railroads to the extent only of lands opposite to and coterminus with the portions of such railroads as were not completed and operated at that time. The bill passed extends the forfeiture to tho portions of the several railroads, to aid in tho construction of which tho grants were made, which were uncompleted when the time expired within which the roads were respectively required to be completed by 'the several laws making the grants. It involves portions of the grants of twentyfive roads, the principal one of which Is the Northern Pacific, and will restore to the public domain about 54,003,000 acres aln the Senate, Thursday, more appro-

prialion bills were considered. An Interesting dlseussidn on the army bill took place. Several bills of minor Importance were passed. The House. Thursday, agreed to the Senate amendments to tne bill admitting Utah. No bills or importance were passed. At 3 p. A. the House adjourned.