The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-06-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON, June w, 1917
! Some surprise is expressed at the very larg,
majority vote by which the legislative appro
pration bill was passed in the House on yes
terdav. Il had deem urged against the bill
that its provisions were not clearly defined
and that it would he difficult Of construction
Some members, democrats as well rs republi'
cans, were IN favor of the vetoed bill, with the
repeating section and appropriation for court
expenses omitted, and there was an endeavor
To have this substituted for the committee bill
Gen. llawlcy was of opinion that a sufficient
number of democratic votes could be secured
TO carry a bill to this effect through the House.
In the late democratic caucus the speaker OF
the House proposed and advocated new bill
but he was voted down, the caucus voting IN
favor of a continuation of the present law
with certain additions General Hawley final
" voted in favor of the committee bill, rs dld
all the republicans, The twenty-five opposing
votes were cast by democrats, some OF whom
were not willing to favor the bill denudcd OF
the repeating legislation Originally proposed ,
and by others who objected to the form of the
bill Mr. Cox refused to vote for the bill, Civ
ING AS his reason thai his constituents insisted
upon the first stand taken by the party and
were unwilling to abatc their demands The
army bill will be brought before the House
by the committee on appropriations today
and will be passed Immediately. Yesterday
Mr.. Ryan, republican, of Kansas, moved TO
pass the army bill as reported by the commit
tee, containing the clause iorbldding the send
ing Of troops to the polls The Democrats
moved and carried an adjournment, because
they were unwilling to allow the republicans
to have the eciH of passing their bill. The
supplemental sundry civil bill, containing ap
preparations for judicial expenses will certain
" be passed as soon rs tomorrow and it will
probably get through to-day.
The impression generally expressed among
members now is that Congress will adjourn
by next Saturday or Monday at latest. Con
grcSs is anxious to get home, and since both
houses practically are unanimous on the ar
bills, in their present shape there
will be little or no debate, and the only work
expected will be the routine of passing the
bills. The Senate will take up the legislative
bill today, and it Is expected will ret through
with the other appropriations by Saturday.
Yesterday immediately after adjournment
there was another Causus Of democratic sena-
tors. 1t renamed IN session nearly three
hours. The Warner silver bill was extensive
" discussed. 1t was not proposed to make
the bill caucus measure except to the eX-
tent Of insuring prompt action upon it, but the
discussion yesterday developed such immov'
able opposition to the bill on the part of some
senators, and such irreconclablc differences off
opinion as to the question OF eXpediency that
no proposition whatever was pushed to votel
and consequently the caucus adjourned with
out taking any action and without its members
being any nearer an agreement than when
they assembled. The speakers III favor of theI
bill were Senators Thurman, Beck, Voorhees,,
Garland, MaXey, Hereford, Coke and Pendle-
ton. Senators Bayard, Eaton and kernanl
made the principal speeches i'll opposition tol
lhc DlI, Inc ultI us VI tiit ulIl "tic hcbdIcu
only incidentally there being evidently mo-
hope of changing opinions concerning them.
But the question of the probable effect of its
passage by the Senate, in connection with its
anticipated veto by the President, was the sub
ject of very animated discussion.
On the one hand it was argued that the eff:
feet would be TO give increased strength to the
democracy in the West, and especially IN the
coming Ohio contest. On the other hand it,
was insisted that aside from the doubt whe-
ther the bill would obtain majority vote in
the Senate, its passage by the dominant party
in that body would tend to ALLEVIATE Democrat
ic votes in Eastern states, and notably in New
York and Connecticut
1t vas also earnestly argued in opposition TO
the demands for immediate action upon the
bill tiat the friends Of the bimetalic system
would most eftectually promote the permanent
cstalihment of double standard in this coun-
try by deierriug the present measure until the
next s,sslon, and thus avoid an alleged threat
ened Embarrassment to the efforts IN progress
to establish an international common ratio of
values between the two precious metals The
in the caucHs were that at least
eight pr nine democratic senators will vote
againh Mr. Coke's pending resolution, and
that twill therefore be defeated C. \. 5.