Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1895 — FIFTY – THIRD CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

FIFTY - THIRD CONGRESS

In the Senate, Jan. 15, the income tax served as a text for an extended debate. Mr. Allen defended the Populist party from the repeated charges that jt was a Mos vagaries, Mr.. Voorhees, from nance committee, favorably reported the bill for coinage at the branqh mint at Denver, Col. Mr. Manderson secured the passage of two important resolutions calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for Information on the tariff. One asks for the quantities of spirits and high wines taken out of bond during the sixty days prior to Aug. 28 last, when the new tariff law took effect, the names of the parties or concerns who took the goods from the bond and all pther detailed information concerning the same. The other resolution calls on the Secretary for full information as to the amount of sugar imported durfng the sixty days prior to Aug. 88, the names of importers, amounts of imports, the country whence it came, etc. The debate was then resumed on the income tax item in the deficiency appropriation bill, and Mr. Call, of Florida, addressed the Senate in favor ot the approSriation, Other speakers were Messrs, [nay, Allen and George. Mr. Cockrell gave notice that he would insist on final iisposition of the deficiency bill, Wednesday. The Senate then held'a brief executive session, and, at 4:45 p. m., adjourned. Tuesday, in the House, was devoted, at - ter the morning hour, to the Indian appropriation bill, but no progress was made before adjournment. General Grosvenor presented a reply to a memorial sent to the judiciary committee by Mr. Richie, of Akron, O.', with supplementary charges against Judge Ricks and involving exSenator H. B. Payne and Judge Stevenson Burke. He asked for an investigation of the charges, The House went into committee of the whole for consideration of the Indian appropriation bill. The bill carried 8549,820. 8229,000 less than the estimates and a reduction of 8228,783 compared with the appropriation for the current fiscal year Mr. Holman, chairman of the Indian committee, who has charge of the bill, <explained the changes made. The changes included an increase in the appropriation for Indian schools of 8125.150, making the total amount 81,125,350. Of this amount but 80 per cent, was to be used for contract schools In pursuance of the policy recently inaugurated looking to the ultimate substitution of government or contract schools. The subject was further discussed by Messrs. Little, Bowers, Pickier and Brosius. but no progress was made with the bill and at 4:30 the House adjourned. The Senate, Jan. 16, voted down Mr. Hill’s proposition to refer the legality of the income tax to the courts, only five Senators joining with Mr. Hill in supporting the proposition. Although Mr. Hill (ailed in referring the income tax to the courts, he secured the adoption of an importantjamendment limiting the Interrogatories of the officers seeking to collect the lax. Mr. Lodge’s effort to have income tax officials placed under civil service rules was defeated. The income tax appropriation was then agreed to and the deficiency appropriation bill passed. Mr. Aldrich lecured the passage of a resolution calling on the President for information as to the pegotiat ons with Germany in regard to the tariff and retaliation.

In the Senate, Thursday, Mr. Sherman presented an emergency currency bill to meet the treasury deficiency and Mr. Pugh offered a meas ire in the same line, supplementing it with a vigorous speech on the impotency and inaction of the Senate In the face of a grave emergency. This was but the brief prelude to a day spent with appropriation bills. The pension bill appropriating 8141,000,000 was passed with two important amendments, one making 86 the lowest rate for pension disability and another repealing the present law cutting off pensions of non-residents. It was stated during the debate that the six-dollar amendment would increase pension expenditures not exceeding 81,000,000. The bill served.as a. text for sharp criticism against the administration of the pension office. The army appropriation bill was considered, but not completed, owing to spirited opposition to the abandonment of army posts in the far Northwest. Thursday, in the House, was again devoted to the Indian appropriation bill and fair progress was made. A number of amendments were adopted, the most important being to pay to the Cherokee nation 81.660,000. An amendment by Mr. Pickier to discontinue the services of army officers as Indian agents was ruled out of order.