Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1894 — FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

The Senate was in session only half on hour, Tuesday. Mr. Lodge introduced two resolutions, which were passed, calling for information concerning ths Hawaiian and Bluefield.matters. Tuesday’s House session was dull and the attendance was small. Bills for the dedication of/the Chattanooga military park, Sept. 19. 1895, and for the establishment of a military park at Shiloh battlefield were passed. Wednesday’s session of the Senate was brief but lively. Mr. Vest advocated the adoption of a cloture rule, whidh, he had become convinced, was imperative. Mr. Chandler spoke sarcastically of Vest’s sudden conversion. A sharp debate on the Chinese-Japanese question followed. Mr. Morgan thought the United States should not take any action at this time that might appear to favor either belligerent. Mr. Lodge also spoke against fcneddling, a.<d held that our Government had already meddled too much in the matter. Mr. Peffer arraigned the Secretary of the Treasury and other public officials for perfidy in the matter of issuing bonds, and offered a resolution calling for information which was adopted without division. Mr. Vest, gave notice that he would renew his efforts in behalf of a cloture rule on At 2:55 p. m. the Senate adjourned. In the House, Wednesday, the railroad pooling bill was considered. The printing bill; a bill to prevent the free use of timber on public lands; and a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to receiv« unsatisfied.military land warrants under act of 1858 at the rate of >1.25 per acre for land located under subsequent acts, were passed. At sp. m. the House adjourned, Thursday’s session of the Senate was brief/ The President’s message, submit-' ting information concerning the arrest of an American citizen in Peru, in response to a resolution, wasreceived. Mr. Turpie took tho floor spoke in behalf of nls

resolution favoring the election of United States Senators by the people direct. He said: “When we recall the harsh recriminations, the gross charges of pecuniary corruption and of fraudulent combination or intrigue, disgraceful and dishonorable to the whole body with which a prolonged senatorial contest is accompanied, whether in party confeeence or in the open assembly, the removal of such a procreant should be deemed a prime political necessity. It has, therefore, been said that the Granv Central railway has chosen a Senator in a certain State; that the Grand Central Bank lias chosen another elsewhere, and that the Grand Central Association of Mining and Manufacturing have defeated or elected a -third. Nothing is intended to be assumed here concerning the truth or falsity of these assertions. But these malfeasant charged have an existence. The way of this—riddance is plain. If the choice of the constituent members of this body were left to the mass of voters in the State, these perilous criminations would be infinitely lessened. They would altogether disappear. No reasonable grounds could be given for their support.” At the close of Mr. Turpie’s speech Mr. Morgan gave notice that on Monday next he would call up the Nicaragua canal bill, with a view to Explaining it and making some remarks. Mr. Dolph called up the bill exempting from duty foreign exhibits at the Portland, Ore., exposition, and the bill passed. A biff [passed for the national dedication of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park on Sept. 19 and 20, 1895, under the direction of the Secretary of War; and then, at 1:50 p. m., the Senate adjourned until Monday. The entire House session Thursday was occupied by discussion of the railroad pooling bill. No action was taken. The Speaker relieved a number of members from special committee service. Mr. Gresham, in speaking in support of tho pooling bill, said ho believed that the bill should become a law as framed with the clause giving appellate jurisdiction to the courts -incorporated in it, -because as soon as. a move was made to revoke a pooling ordqj for alleged discrimination it immediately became a judicial question which the courts should settle. The present law -enabled the larger trunk roads to cut rates and squeeze the smaller ones, and if the present system continued all railroads of the country would at no great distant time be controlled by a few greatcorporations. Mr. Morse spoke in support of the bill and Mr. Daniels'followed in opposition. At the conclusion of Mr. Daniel’s argument the House, at 4:55 p. m., adjourned.