Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1895 — FIFTY – THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY - THIRD CONGRESS.

The Senate, Feb. 26, continued the consideration of the sundry civil appropriation bill. A vote was reached on the proposition for bounty on sugar produced prioi to the passage of the tariff act, and it was agreed to—yeas, 46; nays. 20. The vote was then taken on the second branch ol the sugar bounty amendment for an aggregate bounty of $5,030,060, and it was agreed to—yeas, 36; nays, 25. The session of the House, Feb. 26, was, until 3:30 p. m., occupied in consideration and passage of the bill providing for a board of conciliation and arbitration (it -caso- conciliation failed) to mediate and settle differences between common carriers and their employes. A bill was alsc passed to provide for the. publication oi the bulletins of the Department of Labor, and also one to aid t he Baltimore exposition, to be held in 1837. Tho remaindered the day was devoted to eulogies on thelate Representative Post, of Illinois, The Senate, Feb. 27, resumed consideration of tire sundry* civil bill. The financial uiinendnmnt providing for an issue of SIOO - 000,but) eertillcatoj of indebtedness bearing 3 per cent, precipitated a long impending contest. Nir. Hill offered—a ’ further ~amendnii!ilt t IrauTr oasury notes shalfire' ca ne e 11ed wh e h “pf esr n t ed. Hu~satl thr amendment for certificates of indebtedness and for bonds was clearly general legislation and contrary to the settled, rule that general legislation could not, be added to appropriation bills. If these propositions were not ruled out, then the Senate was launched on a sea of discussion—on certificates, bonds, greenbacks, etc.—for the next week. Nir. Hill was interrupted with frequent suggestions that debate was out of order. Nlr. Mills insisted that the point of order raised against the amendment by Nlr. Berry should •be submitted to a vote. The Chair then directed a roll call. By a singular parliamentary situation the -orderfor the vote made the amendment subject to debate, and Mr. Gorman addressed the Senate; He said it had become evident that there was to bo no financial relief unless it was made a part of an appropriation bill. He regretted that it had not come as an independent measure from a co-ordinate branch of the Government. —But such action had no; been takeir anA-the. plain question.now was: "Is it necessary that the Treasury of tlie United States should have this legislation?” On the point of order Mr. Gorman said tho same question had been raised two years ago, and the Senate had voted. 28 to 18, that a bond amendment could gw on an appropriation bill. He desired to restrict the question to the simple needs of -the treasury and no’, to go into a broad discussion of currency and financial questions. Mr. Gorman submitted elaborate figurbs to demonstrate that there Would be a deficiency and that the proposed certificates would bring relief. Ho contended that tho government would always maintain its gold payments. Mr. George suggested that the Secretary of the Treasury ought to know what ho wanted without hpvipg a guardian. "I am not tho guardian of the secretary”, said Mr, Gorman, "but I am sent here by a state which has never repudiated a debt, and the people would not keep me here if I failed to stand for the honor and integrity of tho credit of onr government.” Mr. Voorhees opposed the amendment. Finally after an almost interminable debate in which Senators Mills, Sherman, Hill and Gorimin took part. Mr. Gorman withdrew the financial amendment. Mr, Mills at once offered an amendment repealing all laws giving authority for tho issue of bands. Mr. Aldrich made a point of order against tho amendment as general legislation. Chair sustained the point of order. Routine business was then considered until adjournment. Nonight session was held.

i The Senate, Feb. 28. passed tho sundry civil appropriation bill, including the item appropriating over $5,0i)0.0.)0 for sugar bounties, and tlie provision for a commission to-represent the United States at an international monetary conference. Thu latter feature brought out a wide difference of opinion among the silver men of the Senate as to tho advisability of participating in an international Confconec. Nlr. Stewart sou.-lit to have tlie United States delegates instructed not to make, any agreement short of a recognition qf silver at? the ratio of 16 to 1. This was opnosed by Nlr. Wolcott, who has always hcre-tofore co-operated with Mr. Stewart outlie silver question. Mr. Wolcott severely arraigned’the Nevada Senator for his intolerance on financial questions. Nir. Stewart commanded only ten votes on his 16 to 1 ratio amendment. Most of the lending silver men. Demo, crats and against it. At the night session an extraordinary exchange Of personalities occurred. Mr. Chandler personally arraiirncd many Democratic Senators. Mr. Hili responded, characterizing Nir. Chandler as a hyena for having dug up the private record ol Senator Roach. Mr. Martin, who had been arraigned by Nlr. Chandler, replied with intense bitterness, characterizing Mr. Chandler as a “buzzard,” and decihring that if ha.lf was true that was charged against Chandler he should b« in tlie penitentiary instead of tlie United States Senate. At- times there was great confusion and excitement in tho galleries, and the Vice-President threatened to dear them. The mingled confusion, debate and excitement on the floor of tlie Senate and in the galleries lasted until after midnight. Tho rush of the 1 clo'lng hours of Congress showed itself In tire House, Thursday. in the miscellaneous characterof tlie business transacted. An attempt to pa-s a bill to pension Hiram Rlina, an alleged member of the Tenth Regiment of North Carolina Infantry, over tho veto of tlie President failed—M to 153—both the veto and the report of tho Secretary of the Interior showing that Rhea was alleged tn have been at the time he was wounded a member of an armed band of guerrillas. The House, by a vote of 117 to 153, decided to furlhef Insiston its disagreement, to il>« Senate amendment to the consular and diplomatic appropriation bill providing for the Hawaiian cable.