Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1896 — WORK OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS.

THE WEEK’S DOINGS IN SENATE AND HOUSE. ' —h- *■■■' 1 - -- - : ' A Comprehensive Digest of the Proceedings in the Legislative Chambers at Washington —Matters that Concern the People. Lawmakers at Labor. "' After two days’ debate the House Saturday by a me of 160 to 5S passed the Grosvehor “fiiled-eheese” bill. Practically the only amendment adopted was one reducing the tax on retail dealers from S4O to sl2. The bill requires the manufacturers of filled cheese to pay a tax of S4OO annually, the wholesale dealers $250 and the retail dealers sl2, and for failure to pay such tax imposed upon manufacturers a fine of from S4OO to $3,000, upon wholesale dealers from $250 to SI,OOO and upon retail dealers from S4O to SSOO. It also requires the branding of “filled cheese” and its sale only from original packages. The “George" bill to establish a uniform «ystem of bankruptcy was reported to the Senate Monday from the Judiciary Committee. The most important amendment made by the committee was that providing that where any debtor who, being a banker, broker, merchant, trader or manufacturer owing SSOO makes an assignment or conveyance of his property, or gives any lien or incumbrance thereon, contrived or devised with the actual intent on his part to defraud his creditors, such act ghall be jeemed bankruptcy.' The measure provides for Voluntary bankruptcy. At the same time Mr. Mitchell, of 'Oregon, submitted the views of the minority of the committee in the shape of the measure agreed on by the House Committee on Judiciary with some modifications. The latter provides for voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy. The proposition to secure the passage of a bill providing for an additional United ,States district judge in the northern district of Illinois comes too late to accomplish anything during the present session. A pronounced sentiment exists in the House against creating any new judgeships.

The house Tuesday passed without amendment the fortification appropriation bill carrying appropriations and authorizations involving an ( expenditure of sll,884,613. The appropriations for fortifications since the Endicott commission in 188 G reported its plan for the defense of twenty-seven seaports, at an approximate cost of $100,000,000, have averaged something over $2,000,000 annually. It was made apparent after a lively colloquy in the Senate that there was no disposition among the silver and Populist Senators to allow the resolution for a Senate inquiry into recent bond issues to lapse. Mr. Squire (Itep„ Wash.) made an elaborate presentation of the pressing peed of coast defenses, pointing out the defenseless condition of our great sea-coast harbors. In the House Wednesday Mr. Hull, chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, called up the resolution for the reappointment of William B. Franklin, of Connecticut, Thomas J. Henderson of Illinois, George L. Beale of Maine and Geoj W. Steele of Indiana as members of The Board of Managers of the national sob diers’ homes. Mr. Blue made a sensational speech against Gen. Franklin, charging Win and Col. Smith (for whom he said Gen. Franklin jwns responsible) with cruel and brutal treatment of the inmates of the home at Leavenworth, Kan. He moved to.substitute the name of Gen. O. G. Howard for that of Gen. Franklin. Mr. Blue said his purpose was to free the Leavenworth home from the drunken and bfutal maiT'how 51 Tfs Head. Mr. Blue read a telegram from E. J. Anderson and others urging him to fight Gen. Franklin’s reappointment and telling him that 60,000 soldiers in Kansas were behind him. He claimed that Gov. Smith maintained the biggest saloon in Kansas under the shadow of the flag the soldiers fought to save. Last year, he said, the profits of the beer hall alone were $13,000. Mr. Blue also read an affidavit chnrging that a contract existing whereby the Keeley cure was given to inmates for $6, while outsiders were charged S2O. “Has not the board made an investigation of Gov. Smith’s administration?” asked Mr. Hull. “Any investigation made by the Board of Managers,” replied Mr. Blue, “is a roaring farce.” With the understanding that a vote should be had Thursday, the House adjourned. The Senate ratified the Bering sea arbitration treaty. The treaty provides for a commission to arbitrate the claims made by citizens of England against the United States for seizures of vessels engaged in the capture of fur seals prior to the Paris award. Mr. Blue’s fight against the reappointment of Gen. William B. Franklin as a member of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteers, which was the feature of the proceedings In the House Wednesday, terminated unsuccessfully Thursday, when his amendment to substitute the name of Gen. O. O. Howard for that of Gen. Franklin was rejected, 149 to Gl. Several minor bills were passed. The speaker announced the appointment of Mr. Cobb (Dem.), of Alabama, on the Ways and Means Committee in place of Mr. Tarsney, who was unseated; Mr. Aldrich (Rep.), of Illinois, on Banking and Currency, and Mr. Van Horn (Rep:), of Missouri, on Labor. Debate of the resolution for au investigation of recent bond issues consumed the time of the Senate. The Senate continued debate of th» bond bill Friday, and incidentally Mr. Allen called' Mr. Gear a liar. He was compelled to subside, nnd his words were “taken down.” The net result of five hours’ work on the private calendar in the House was the passage of four pension bills, one to pension the widow of Rear Admiral Foote at SSO a month; the rejection of a hill, to retire a hospital steward as a Second lieutenant of cavalry and the passage Of a war claim less than S6OO. The latter was the first war claim brought before the House for consideration and naturally provoked a general debate on the policy of paying war claims.