New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-12-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.

hov0I0A Sc6SlOuS SuOulU Dc ne1u curing
the vacation, in order that something
might be done with the navy appropria-
ton on which the two legislative bodies
are dead-locked. They met again to-
day but only to adjourn.
Both the Senate and the House Of
Representatives had an active week
prior to adjournment, the senate voted
for Dakota to come into the Union; dis
cussed Naval appropriations, and the
Silver dollar question, spoke briefly on
Indian Land Leases, received, read and
referred new bills, petitions and meme
orials, and turned the public out and
barred its doors half dozen times,
while it whispered about the Spanish
and Nicaraguan Treaties. It also con-
frmed some presidential appointments:
among them that Of Hon. Hugh Nc
Outlook for Secretary Of the Treasury
by vote of fifty against one-that of
Senator Riddlebarger, of Virginia.
The Senate began consideration Of the
Interstate Commerce bill, the ques-
ton with which the House has been
wrestling for three weeks. unable yet
to reach vote. The House has be-
sides, given passing attention, during
the week, to mass of miscellaneous
minor matters, received its share of new
measures, passed number Of unim-
portant bills, and decided to establish
q Department of Agriculture, thereby
changing the name Of the Commission
er, to that of Secretary of Agriculture,
an elevation to Cabinet position.
In the House Interstate Commerce
debate the color line issue was the fea-
ture Of the week. Members on both
sides became greatly excited at its re-
vival, the Democrats charged that the
question was brought up to kill the
bill, and bitter speeches ensued. Mr..
O'Hara, acolored congressman from
North Carolina, proposed an amend
ment to the effect that passengers trav-
cling from one State to another should
not be relegated to '.jim crow cars on
account of their color when they enter
ed certain States, Georgia, for instance,
If they had paid for first-class tickets.
Before they knew what they were do
ing, about forty Democrats voted for
the amendment. Hero the trouble be-
gan. The announcement of the result
threw the Republicans into q state of
delight. The opponents of the bill
saw chance to defeat the entire mea-
sure, and the Democrats were dismay-
ed. Motions were made to reconsider
the vote, to table this motion, to adj
journ, and great excitement prevailed.
On the following day the color ques-
ton divided the House so that the
Southern Democrats voted steadily
against amendments having q tenden-
cy to social equality in travelling privi-
liges, while the Republicans and about
thirty Northern Democrats voted tho
other way, Smalls, the colored mem
Der from South Carolina, said in an
impassioned speech that he hoped the
Member who had said ''this great, good
man Cleveland meant good to the col
ored men,, would not stand up for the
'.jim crow car of Georgia. Representa-.
tive Reed, of Maine who is heardless
| and decidedly rotund, made an anus.
ing speach about classifying and as
sorting passengers on railroads, and
wanted to know whether the as.
sorting was to be based on the size
height, beard or complexion of people
He objected to whimsical basis. Mr.
Regain, who felt that his long cherished
measure was about to be Handicapped
took Mr.. Reed to task for his humor
Gus handling of the serious subject
Mr.. Reed thinks the drawing of thu
color line will result in the defeat 0
the bill. Says it is another case Q
.Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion.
| Whether it becomes law or not it ha
served to show that the Democrat,
ainched form scoring q good point il
the line of its late professions.
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