Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1895 — THE NEWS OF THE WEEK [ARTICLE]

THE NEWS OF THE WEEK

The Brooklyn streetcar strike is over, tnd cars are now running without intertiptlon. The will of the late ex-Senator Fair was toolen from the clerk’s office at San Frantisco, Jan.'29. A Southern Pacific Express was,“held tp” near Wilcox, Ariz., Jan. 30, and the uprbss car Was robbeffroTßK>,floft — > “Commonwealer” J. S. Coxey was sued r tor 15,464 in Cleveland by Hannon &Trawey. alleged to be due on a restaurant. 4 Valentine Pieratt Richardson, merchant it Winchester, Ky., charged with the beirayal of his sister-in-law, ended his lite with a bullet, wile Left a note saying he was innocent. Judge E. Rockwood Hoar, of Massathusetts, died at Concord, Mass., Jan ft. Judge Hoar was born at Concord in B’6, and has been adistinguisbed citizen if the State for fifty years. The Republican legislative caucus, at, F Jlympfa, Wash., Thursday night, nomi- ■ iated Congressman J. Lr. Wilson for United States Senator. Mr. Wilson was * >orn at Crawfordsville in 1850, and is a traduate of Wabash College. - He served n the Indiana Legislature in~J.SBS; was ilected as the first member of Congress torn the State of Washington, and is noiv nerving his third term in that body. 5 The consular and diplomatic approprlftion bill as reported .to the Senate, prorides for the construction of a cable between the United States and Hawaii, and is a part of the cost, 8500,000 is hereby aprropriated. Another amendment appropriates 86,000 for the protection of tho iroperty of the United States in the Jamoan Islands, and “the execution ofobfgations of the United States in those ♦ slands.” The total a- pre iriation' is 83,<72,458, an increase oi *.>03,340 on the unount as passed by the House. Judgq Grosscnp, at Chicago, Jan. 30 ipon application of New York stocklolders, appointed J B. Groenhut and E. F, Lawrence as receivers for the whisky >rust. The concern has been unable to jay rebates, now amounting to 81,000,000, tnd stockholders deem liquidation neces lary to save tho property. Later, on the afternoon of the same ‘day, Judge Gross:up granted a stay of proceedings ’ecelvership case upon application of Levy Mayer, representing a committee of stockholders. .. . '■ Tho gradd jury ’at Savannah, Ga., Jan. 11, returned a sensational finding with ”* regard to the county chain gang convicts, nade. up of petty offenders. Twenty-one nen.are disabled, most of them perm.ij gently, from fearful exposure in the recent freezing weather. A number were com>elled to break ice in the canal and work br hours in freezing water without shoes, tnd with but their trousers to protect ‘.hem. Four of the men have been taken » the hospital, and seventeen, the report lays, now lie on hardboard beds in the tonvictcamp, wrapped in blankets? emanated and disabled. The report continues:“The, convicts in tho hospitals can~ lelthor stand nor walk. They are unable » Wear shoes; they lie chained and hudlied together, suffering from what in this flimato is a most unusual affliction, bu which at this time is slow and certain torture. Some of them will lose fingers and Loes. Their feet are swollen and discolored; large, gaping wounds are discharg- J ng blood and mucus, and in two or three nstances tho men show signs of prostra■.ion.” .... .... FIFTY - THIRD CONGRESS. The session of the Senate, Jan. 30, via; I iventfnl in giving expression to the fee - | tog aroused by tho financial question. Mr ! Vest said: “The President has declared war on sil ’ ter. He would make us accessories to jhis effort to fix the. gold standard Upon is.” The Sbnator asked if any man reallv Believed tho supposed emergency t joitld not bo met by Treasury payments in I lilver. And »yct tfic“imprcssion was con- j yeyed to the public that tho country was m the brink of ruin. If the President had I /»he power lie would force us to the single i ?«ld standard "But,” said Mr. Yost, iin- I jiressively, and, raising his right hand in I imphasls, “so far as I am concerned. I twill never vote to issue bonds to secure fold and place us on a single gold stand ird.”' Mr. Sherman mode a lengthy speech, in 1 the course of which he said: “We have reached tho point whorewor mere being told that no relief whatever would be given to the country unless wo conceded the free coinage of silver. I believe such an absolute concession would be a greater disaster to the country than tny other course that could bo adopted. And yet tho Senate is being brought face io face with tho alternative of taking free lilver or nothing. If there is to be a choice Detween the two coin standards, then I Dettevo in taking tho one which is recognized tlte world oyer as the best. But I io not believesueh a choice is Imperative. • I still believe that both metals could bo used. But lam bound tosay,”said Mr. “that tho finance committee is utterly helploss. Wo aro equally divided. Wo can roach no agreement. Wo are not able to report unless tho concession is made to free silver.” The people had plenty of money. They have now 81,600,100,000 in small savings tn the savingbanks. Give the plain people—the laboring people—a chance to meet this so-called emergency and they would supply the deficiency in two days.” , Hobogged the Senate to unlock the doors of the finance committee and endeavor to agree on a measure of relief. Mr. Stewart declared that no real emergency existed, and that all tho trouble that had arisen was duo to administration discrimination In favor of gold against silver. Mr. Hill has introduced a resolution directing the Secretary of the Treasury to inform eßio Senate whether it is necessary or desirable that legislation should bo had authorizing tho issuing of bonds, treasury dotes or other securities to realize moneys Mor tho pnrposp of paying current deficiencies in tho revenues and if so tho nature ■nd substantial duties of such legislation, ■dr. Hill asked immediate consideration, But objection being made tho resolution ■vent over. After a brief executive scs■lon for tho consideration of the Japanese ■treaty the Senate adjourned. ■ In the Ilouae, Jan. 30, Mr. Catchings ■submitted a report fixing the time for de■mte on Pacific railroad funding bill and ■spoke in its support. Mr. Holman disunited a statement made by Mr. Catch- ■ ngs. Tho .Southern blood of tho latter ■took fire at once. Ho turned to Father ■Holman, who was standing just behind ■him, and. shouted in a commanding tone: ■“Take your scat, air!” Mr. Holman, ■with an air of utter surprise, obeyed and ■?t down. This peremptory style of Mr. ■Catchings incensed not only the opponents of the funding bill, but also stirred ■ho ire of McMillin and other Democrats ■who aro In a state of perpetual hostility ■o the committee on rules. Half a dozen ■ll at once assailed him. The acting ■peaker used his gavel with such vigor ■hat the splinters flew, but without avail. ■Io then ordered the Sergeant-at-aruw to ■oat members and order was restored, but ■ho Republicans laughingly exulted at ■he display of Democratic friction.

At the opening of the Senate. Jan. 3), Mr. HUI presented a petition from tn • New York bide and leather trade, urgja;l the issue of 8500,000,000 gold bonds. Th* resolution of Mr. Allen was then taken up requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to -,< !eem Government obligations in stive.' us often as he is convinced that a systemau • effort is being made to deplete the gold reserve and force an issifb of bonds. He ; raised Mr. Vest for refusing to follow the l*resideni’s>dictatorship. Mr. Allen Bought to secure a yea and nay vote on his resolution, but after considerable par-i liamentary sparring, he failed iff this. During the discussion Mr. Gorman interposed with a motion to take up a pendingDistrict of Columbia bill. He said it was perfectly apparent that this discussion of financial resolutions was utterly fruitless. Appropriation bills were waiting and the days of Congress were flying fast. This brought Mr. Hill to his feet. lie suggested to Mr. Gormamthat there Were measures quite asjmportant as appropriation bills, and he considered several of these financial revolutions as among these. Mr. Chandler took occasion during the discussion of tho district appropriation bill to say some caustic things about government expenditnres in general. He said the ptesent Congress promised to be much more than a “billion dollar Congress.” That cry had been hurled against the Re publican party, and now, instead of the stern economy promised in stump speeches, this biliion-dollar record was to be far ■outdone. Mr, Harris said he had far greater respcctTbf tlio estimates of.officials as to their needs for appropriations than he had for Mr. Chandler. Mr. Gorman said the gold reserve was originally created to redeem greenbacks. Up to the time of the passage of the McKinley bill the government had plenty of gold and the gold reserve was intact.. But the McKinley.law started a dhangc and one year before Mr. Harrison retired from tho Presidency he was unable to meet tho demands of the treasury. The bankruptcy o! the government began at that time. Mr. Gorman spoke with great earnestness and appealed to Republican Senators to join in meeting the. issue. It was their duty as well as that of Democratic Senators. The financial resolutions were brought forward and agreed to within a few minutes, without a word of argument. The first resolution, proposed by Mr. Hill, calls on the Secretary of the Treasury to ■iofprm tho Senate if legislation is necessary or desirable toward the issue of bonds to meet deficiencies in revenue, and if so", what the substantial features of this legislation should bo. This was agreed to on a viva voce vote, only Mr. Allen voting no. Mr. Allison’s resolution, calling on the Secretary for information as to the amount of tho gold reserve used for current expenses and the amoun t of the proceeds from bonds similarly used, was also agreed to with an amendment by Mr. Gorman. Tho latter’s amendment is very comprehensive and calls on the Secretary for details on every possible detail oi revenue, reserve, deficiency, assets, ete., that can shed any light on the financial situation. The amendment and resolutions were adopted without dissent, aftej Mr. Teller had suggested that Mr. Gorman ought to ask for information as tc why the Democratic President and the Democratic leaders in the Senate could not agree on what was the trouble. With the resolutions passed, the Senate, at 5;28 p. tn., adjourned.' In the House, Jan. 31, tho Pacific railroad funding biil was debated for six hours, and a number of unimportant bills were passed. The financial question came before the Senate, Feb. 1, as an incident to the con sidcration of tho pending District of Columbia appropriation bill, and Mr. Tellei made an effective speech to give the warning that he would see to it, that sc far as the present session of Congress Was concerned there’should bn ho hasty bi weak legislation on the lines now proposed. Referring to the proposed new bond issue. Mr. Teller said it would be about as- effective as pouring water Tn a sieve. And these bonds are being put oul when the administration was claiming tc have ample revenue for expenses. Mr. Teller added with great force: “The administration of our financial affairs has never before been in absolutely incompetent hands, but if the Senator from Maryland is right thev are in such hands now.” In the House, Feb. 1, an hour was devoted to debate on Pacific railroad bill, Mr. Byanopposed the measure. Mr. Hitt then submitted from the committee on foreign affairs a privileged report on Mr, Storer’s resolution calling, on the President to transmit all correspondence oi information regarding the report that the rebels against the Hawaiian government were incited, supplied witli arms and partly led by persons who claimed to be British subjects, and that the Minister ol Great Britain intervened in order to prevent tho application of martial law tc those concerned in the rebellion whe claimed to bo British subjects. Mr. Heard then demanded tho previous question. Il led to the banding of epithets and a personal encounter between Mr. Breckinridge and Mr. Heard. Tho episode was unusually exexciting. Mr. Heard, who was in charge of-the District of Columbia business, cut off Mr. Breckenrldze. who was attempting to address the House on the Hawaiiar resolution, by demanding the prevlom question on the adoption of the resolution, Mr. Breckinridge immediately moved around from the side aisle in which he was standing to tho tier of seats when Mr. Heard was located, and hot word? followed. “Impertinent puppy!” shouted Mr. Breckinridge. "Liar!” hurled back Mr. Hoard At tho word “liar,” the whitehaired Brock inridge, who Isa heavily- bull: stocky man, put Ills foot on thh step or which the benches arolocated and let drive a right-hand blow at Mr. Heard. Mr. Heard, whp is a slight and apparqntly not strong man, but rather tail, with a brown beard, streaked with gray, dodged The House was in an uproar. The men were separated but continued to shout offensive epithets at each other. Finally the bellicose members wore brought tc the bar ©f tho House, mutual explanations followed and all offensive word: wnra withdrawn by both parties. Mr Breckinridge apologized to Mr. Heard an< to tho House in a brief and eloquent speech and was heartily applauded. Thi entire affair, on motion of Air. Goodnight was stricken from the records. The Houst took a recess until Bp. m. Tim night, session was devoted to a consideration o private pension >biils.