Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1895 — FIFTY – THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY - THIRD CONGRESS.

In the Senate, March 1, the Bering Sda difference between "England and the United States provoked an animated debate. Mr. Cockrell hadoffered.an amendment tq the pending deficiency bill, appropriatingtso,ooo for the expenses of anothercommission of arbitration to adjust claims of Canadian seaeers .seized byothO United States. It was in the line with the suggestions of a letter just received by Secretary Gresham, Mr. Sherman opposed this second arbitration, saying it was dishonorable and unwise; that the United States had not paid these claims through the .compromise of J 425.000 heretofore urged by the President. Mr.. Sherman prophelied much trouble as a result of reopening this subject. Mr. Morgan declared that this plan to pay Great Britain a lumpsum for the Canadian seizures was in violation »f the honor OLthe United States and to the administration. The contest was so effective that Mr. Cockrell withdrew the proposition for another commission. The deficiency bill was kept steadily before the Senate throughout the day, and was passed after a struggle of three hours. The claims of California. Oregon and Nevada against the government aggregating about $5,000,000 were passed without the formality of a yea and nay vote. The appropriation of $1,800,000 to the Southern Pacific railroad and another of about $1,030,000 for French spoliation claims and war claims were also passed. Eulogies were pronounced on the late Representative Lysle of Kentucky. Wright 9f Pennsylvania, Post Of IJRuois, and Houk of Ohio. In the House, March 1, the entire day was devoted to consideration of bills on motions to pass them under suspension of the rules. Five recognitions for this pnrpose were made by tho Speaker, of which three passed and two failed to secure the 1 necessary Those passed were: A substitute for Mr. Dingley’s bill to authorize the President to arrange for a joint commission’ to consist of three representatives of this Government, Great Britain, Russia and Japan, to investigate the condition of the fur seals and the regulations necessary to their preservation, and pending the report of the commission to negotiate fora modus vivendi to protect the seals during the approachIng seuson. and -ia ease Auch a mmliis vi- . vend! cannot be negotiated, to give the Secretary of the Treasury authority to I kill seals found on the Pribyloff islands; the Senate anti-lottery bill and the bill to pay the State of West Virginia its share t)f the direct tax the act of 1891. Tho attempt to pass the Senate bill to impose penalties oh corporations and railroad companies for violation of the inter-state commerce law exposed an alleged scheme to secure action on the pooling bill in the Senate, it being claimed that the Senate would attach the pooling tilt as a: rider. So effective was the alleged exposure that, although the bill Itself was given nothing but commendation on the floor, it was defeated. Mr. j Hatch made a.motion to pass his bill to j publish the dairy tests made at the Col- I ambian Exposition, but, it being claimed that the publication was in the interest of »f a particular breed of cattle, it. too, was lefeated. The sundry civil, legislative i tnd deficiency appropriation bills were lent to conference without debate.

The, Senate March 3 considered the Baval appropriation bill. Mr. Morgan •poke of tho needs of a strong American navy. W.e could not, Le said, have a great commerce with the world unless we took care of it by a navy worthy of the name. Mr. Hill spoke from carefully prepared manuscripts on the needs of ah American navy. He differed, he said, from the distinguished naval authority, Mahan, that no nation could become treat without a great sea-going navy. Different items brought outspeeches from iifferent Senators until 5:45, when the Senate took a recess until 8 o’clock. Conlideration of the naval bill was then returned. Mr. Squire resumed his speech an the Puget Sound naval station and. after speaking an hour. Mr Gorman contented that the item remain at $275,000. I'he Senate conferees on the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill reported it this point that they were unable to igree on the appropriation of $500,000 for beeinning the Hawaiian cable. Mr. Blackburn said the most strenuous effort tad been made for many days to retain this appropriation. He said the struggle '.onld be continued no longer. If the bill vas to be engrossed and sent to the executive, it must be passed tonight. Rather than clog the wheels of our foreign service, stop tho salaries of our ambassadors ind ministers, Mr. Blackburn said ho vould move "to recede from the cable imendrtient. Mr. Pettigrew urged that the Senate recede. This $506,000 was only the first step toward a vast outlay. Let England build tho cable. There was po ear of England. Let her enter upon! a •ontest with the United States. Tlie United States would sweep her commerce ,'rom the seas and overrun and capture 'anada. Senate adjourned till 2 p. m., Sunday, without disposing of the naval iporoprlation bill. The chaplain, in tho House, March 2, nvoked the divine blessing on the work »f thedying Congress. A bout twenty-five Senate billsand resolutions were laid bc’ore the House and most of them favorably acted upon. Among them was the Senate bill to grant to tho State of Kanias the Fort Hayes military reservation comprising 6.009 acres) for tho establishnent of a Western branch of tho State Agricultural College. Pension bills were sassed at the rate of one every half minite. Tho general deficiency bill was sent ;o conference. Messrs. Breckinridge, Sayers and Gannon were appointed con'erees on the part of tho House. Mr. Hatch presented the, conference rebort on the agricultural bill showing i full agreement on all disputed joints. The report was agreed to. Mr. Holman presented tho conference re>ort on tho Indian appropriation bill, showing a partial agreement. The report vas agreed to and the bill sent to further inference. At 6 o’clock the House took i recess until 8 o’clock. At 8 o'clock, vhen the House reconvened, tho galleries cere crowded with visitors, and the scene »n the floor was an animated one. Mr. layers presented the conference report on .he sundry civil appropration bill. Jnexjlanation of the report Mr. Sayers said he Senate hod added $9,972,00) to the bill ts it passed the House- Of litis the Senate had receded from $1,061,391, and the House had agreed to $2,453,000. leaving I bout 15.800,0f® still in dispute. When tho Vico President called the Innate to order at 2 p. in., Sunday March I, it was still Saturday according to iogisativo fiction and the records will merely ihow a continuous session. Mr. German :alled up tho pending naval appropriation •ill. Mr. llansborongh of North Dakota irguod that the United States had notJing to fear from foreign nations. Englund vonltl never make war on a country that laid her such uro venue. Ills argument was igainst an liicreTased naval appropriation. A resolution looking to participation of ,'ongress in dedication ceremonies at /hiekamauga was concurred in. Mr. Hunton spoke in favor pf a liberal appro>Hation for the navy. Mr. Call presented • third conference report on the Indian appropriation bill. A general debate then msiied an tho naval appropriation bill. At this point Mr. Cockrell of Missouri •resented the report on the undry civil appropriation bill. Mr. Frye repressed regret at the action of the coneronco relative to tho retirement of fhA evenne marine officers, being a distinct liscrimlnatlon against and an injustice to •hose officers. Mr. Cockrell remarked that ‘it was that or Mr. Stewart 4 Nevada uttered a warning against the •rejected monetary conference, holding, that It was a deviftc of theenemv to defer tie day when silver should b-) rohabilitac d. Mr. Wolcott ot Colorado defended the monetary conference amendment as it raa reported, holding that the House

amendment relative to the appolntmen of tho House members of the conference by the next Congress should be- concern in. At 10 o’clock the vote was taken oi the amendment firing the numbej of battleships at two instead of three, and it was agreed to —33 to 29. From this time on all manner of busin< «i appears to have been before the Senate until 1:50 a. m., Monday, when the Senate |n executive session 1 selected Senators Teller, Jones and Danielas its representatives in the international conference. The regular session was resumed and at 2;J5 a. m. all the Items in the appropriationhills had been agreed to and the bills passed. They reached the President Monday forenoon,' • In the House, March 3, the same legal fiction prevailed, ihe session beifig regarded as continuous from Saturday. The appropriation bills were considered item by item and the debate continued until 3:15 a. m . Monday morning, when, on motion of Mr. Talbott, the rules were suspended and the Senate amend men ts te the appropriation bills were agreed to, A bill to pension Gen. John A. McClernan 1 was passed l under suspension of the rules, Gen. Sickles made a telling speech in McClernand’s behalf.

When tho Vice-President rapped for order at 9 o’clock, M outlay mpnjLngZAfter'a recess of less than five hours, only three Senators were at their desks. By 9:15 a sufficient number of Senators had appeared and business was resumed. At 9:45 the Vice-President announced his signature to the deficiency bill. Business was confined to conference agreements. At 10:15 Air. Voorhees offered the usual resolution to inform the President that Congress had completed its business anti was ready to adjourn. Resolution was adopted. A resolution thanking the Vice-President—wiio left the chair temporariiy—for his impartial discharge o' his duties as a presiding officer wa4unaijimotisly and enthusiastically adopted. At 16:30 Mr. Call came to the front with his -Jottory-investigation and veliemenily aG tacked Mr. Gorman for his course in suppressing an •investigation demanded by the religious element Of the country. A final vote eould not be reached. At twelve minutes to twelve the last enrolled bill received the Vice-President's signature. but it was impossible to secure the: President’s signature, that official re--maiu-huf-at-Uu>--Wh it»-lliiiise T .juu.--tir 1 ing t n his previously-announced At tills moment,, Mr. Voorhees and Mr. Sherman, the Senate committee to wait on the President, appeared at the door. “The committee lias waited on the President.” said Air. Voorhees, “and has notified him that the worlt of Congress was a t an end. The President states that he has no further communication to make, and he tenders his congratulations to Congress on -the -conclusion—iff- its labors.” . The Vicc-Presitlent announced Senators Cockrell. Davis, Daniel. Gordon, Quay and Sherman as the senatorial members of the committee to take part in the dedication of tlio Chicamauga National Park. Tiie Vice-President, who had now taken the chair, rose as the . clock pointed to 11:38 fora parting word to the Senate. He said: "Senators, the hour has arrived, fixed by law. for tho termination of this Congress. For the. courtesy uniformly extended to me, and tho resolutions just adopted, my gratitude cannot be meas- ■ ured by words. I would do violence to my feelings if I failed to express my thanks to the officers of this body for the fidelity with which they have discharged their important duties and for their assistance aasl courtesy to tiie presiding officer. It urJy remains to make official announcement that the Senate stands adjourned wlv'uout day.” As the last words were uttered by the Vice-President he brought hie gavel down sharply and declared the session at an ehd. The House reconvened at Bo’clock, Monday. The Speaker was at his post. Bill to pay Margaret Kennedy’s war claim of $4,100 was passed. At 9 o'clock Chairman Sayers, of tho appropriation committee, entered tiie hall from his committee room. Although he had been almost constantly at work for forty-eight hours, he was buoyant and light of step, overjoyed that the last appropriation bill had passed. Mr. Grosvenor (Republican) of Ohio, created the first flurry, by a brief, but sharp speech, contending that the Republicans were the true friends of bimetallism. The repeal of the Sherman act two years ago, he said, had accomplished more than any other influence to bring about tiie hopeful condition of silver wo now observe tho world over, He predicted great results from the proposed monetary c/>nference. Other members joined in adobate on the silver question. Wahger (Republican) of Pennsylvania, aud Simpson (Populist) of Kansas crowded in a few words before tho, debate was ent off. ami at 10o’clock Mr. Dockery moved a recess until 11 o’clock. Mr. Simpson of Kansas made tho point of nd quorum. Finally Mr. Simpson surrendered, and the recess was taKen until 11 o’clock. At 11 o’clock when tho House reconvened, the noise in the galleries and tiie confusion on the floor ceased, The usual committee, consisting of "Messrs. Catchings of Mississippi, Onthwaiie of Ohio and Reed of Maine, was appointed to join a similar committee from the Senate and inform tlio President that Congress was ready to adjourn. TiieSpeaker appointed Messrs. Rusk of Maryland, Meredith of Virginia and Coffin of Maryland outlie committee on accounts, to serve during the recess. Under the concurrent resolution providing for tlio participation of Congress in the dedication of the Chickamauga Military Park, the Speaker appointed ropresen tativos of other armies, as well as of those encaged in the battle, to participate in ihe exercises. Mr. Cannon (Republican) of Illinois th« n obtained recognition, and in a graceful speech offered a resolution of thanks to tho Speaker. Such a resolution usually comes from one of the leaders of the majority. The resolution was as follows: “Resolved. That the thanks of the momlxirs of the House bo extended to the Speaker of the House for the able, impartial and dignified manner in which ho has presided over tho deliberations of til's House and performed the arduous duties of the chair.”

A great burst of applause greeted the presentation of Air. Cannon’s resolution, and as soon as order was restored. Air. . Hatch, of Missouri, who was in tlio chair, ' recognized Chairman Wilson, of tiie ways and means, committee. “Responding, on the spnr of the moment," said he. "1 desire to say that we. on this side, are duly i appreciative of tho graceful and courteous ' m-lionof the gentleman from Illinois.” Air. Simpson also testified to the kiiidiicss ami ■ fairness of tiie Speaker: A moment inter I Speaker Crisp ascended tiie rostrum and i bowed his acknowledgements and delivered bls valedictory. Thon the ini came. Tho hands of rhe clock pointed to ? twelve. "I now declare th'-' third'session of the Fifty-third Con.-ress.” said the Speaker, “adjourned wiihJiit <iav.” 'lhe silver mace was lifted from its malachite pedestal, the flag above tinHouse was lowered, and. amid cheers and i cat eajls from the galleries, a rush was made for the doors. From the press gal--1 lory Camo the sound of music. The nov. s- | r>:»per correspondents were singing il>o Doxology. “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.” . /