Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1895 — FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

In the House, Feb. 18, tho bill to equalize the pensions of Mexican veterans by making them all sl2 per month, was passed under suspension of rulos. The bill wii) benefit about 17,0CX) pensioners, and increases their pensions about $1,000,006 per annum. In the Senate, Tuesday, a statement from Secretary Carlisle was read. The diplomatic appropriation bill was reported. An agreement was reached on all the items except the $500,060 for the Hawaiian cable. A further conference was ordered on this item. Mr. Jones of Arkansas moved that the Senate proceed with the regular order. Mr. Hill objected. Attbi* point Mr. Voorhees presented the credentials of Mr. Wilson, thp new Senator from Washington, ami he was sworn in. Mr. Jones then moved tp take up the silver bill, and it prevailed—yeas, 36; nays. 27. Mr. Hale asked Mr. Jones if he meant that it was deliberately Intended to displace the great appropriation bills and to keep this silver bill beforeshe Senate without regard to conse3uence*. with the attendant dangers of efoating «oira es the appropriation bills

and compelling ah extra session of Congress. Mr. Jones rejoined sharply that if any appropriation bills were retarded ft would: bd because a vote on the silver bill not promptly taken. He reasserted that the friends of the measure were ready to vote as speedily as possible. Mr. Vilas spoke at length and said it was the fault of the Senate that the condition of the Treasury was so critical. Mr.- Vilas also defended the members of the administration from the damaging personal charges thathave been made. Mr, Vilas closed at 5:15 with a brilliant peroration, having spokofour hours. Shortly after 6 o’clock Mr. Aldrich moved to adjonrn, but did not press it to a vote, pending the absence of Mr. Jones, in charge of the bill. At 6:20, Mr. Aldrich pressed his motion for adjournment. Mr. Jones called for the yeas and hays. There was a hurrying ol Senators from committee rooms. The motion was defeated— yeas, 15; nays, 32 two more than the necessary quorum. Vigorous efforts to preserve a quorum were, used after this untllß:ss. Mr. W’olcott then introduced resolutions stating that it was the sense of the Senate that further agitation of the silver question be discontinued at this session. Mr. Jones asked that t|ie resolution lie over. Then he added, somewhat wearily, “I move that the Senate now .adjourn.” At 9:02 the Senate adjourned. In the Senate. Feb. 30, Mr. Chandler created a sensation by outlining some important steps to be taken by the next Congress, including a Congressional investigation of the recent purchase of gold by the President of the United States. The speech camo unexpectedly, as an incident to the debate on tho Indian appropraition bill. During the early hours of the day, the silver bill made'its exit from the Senate, Mr. Jones, of Arkansas, in charge of the measure, announcing That Its friends would make no further effort at the present session to pass it. The dis posal of the measure was emphasized by the decisive vote of 55 to 12 on Mr. Gorman’s- motion to take up the Indian appropriation bill, the effect of which was to displace the silver bill and send it. back to the calendar. Mr. Wolcott’s resolution declaratory for silver, but postponing action, also went to the calendar without- final action. Mr. Higgins opposed it as meaningless. Mr. Manderson proposed an amendment, urging an international bimetallic agreement. The speech of Mr. Chandler significant! v urged that the time was near at hand when the Republican party must take affirmative action on bimetallism. Most of the day was given to the Indian.appropriation bill, final action not being taken. oThe Senate, Feb. 21, considered the Indian appropriation bill. An acrimonious discussion on the sectarian school phase of the Indian question resulted Mr. Hawley urged that in abandoning sectarian there should be no abandonment of Christian teachings in the government schools. He would rather have a school run by Jesuits than have one with no God In it. Mr. Cockrell, chairman of the appropriation committee, said he was a Protestant of Protestants, but he would not deny to Catholics what he took for Protestants. Seven Catholic schools were stricken out of the House bill and two Protestant schools retained. At the night session an attempt was made to consider the Washington City sewer bond bill, but therewas jio quorum.- - The House. Feb. 21, devoted the day to consideration of the Senate amendment to the diplomatic appropriation bill appropriating SS(X),(XX) for a cable to the Hawaiian islands. Messrs. Ryan. Bartlett and Sickles. Democrats of New York, -kpoko in favor of the amendment, which was defeated by a vote of 114 to 152, sixteen Democrats voting for the cable. The bill was then sent to further conference.