St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-24
THE WHISKY BILL.
The Representatives Have Another
Lively Debate on this Bill.
A Large Grist of Reports from the Several
Committees.
The House of Representatives..

The House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, March 22.-The house is in
committee of the whole on the bonded ex-
tension bill. The regular order being de-
manded Mr. Bedford appealed to the house
to allow one hour to be devoted to the senate
bills on the speakers table, and the appeal
proving Intellectual, he solemnly declared
that no more bills could be passed the re-
mainder of the session.
Under call of committees the following re-
ports were submitted:
By Mr.. Nichols, from the committee on
coinage, weights and measures, to establish
an assay Office at Deadwood. Referred to the
committee of the whole.
By Mr.. White, from the committee on foreign
affairs, for the return of the balance of the
Chinese indemnity funds. Referred to the
committee of the whole.
By Mr.. White, from the committee on
patents, reported adversely, to reduce the
time of patents to two years.
By Mr.. Dockery, from the committee on
accounts, to provide for one months extra
pay to certain employees of the house. To the
committee of the whole.
By Mr.. Cox, North Carolina, from the COM
mittee on foreign affairs, reported resolu-
ton, calling on the president for informa-
ton as to what action had been taken in
Venezuela under the provisions of the joint
resolution, providing for new mixed COM
mission, and whether Venezuela declined
to make payment afterwards. Referred.
The house than went into committee of
the whole, Mr.. Reagan in the chair, ON the
bonded extension bill.
Mr.. Herbert resumed his argument against
the bill, asserting that it was only by hold
ing to the law that congress could expect to
equalize the production and consumption.
Permanent relief could only be accorded the
distillers by compelling them to conduct
their business on sound basis. The pass
age of this bill would lead to an overwhelm-
ing demand for the repeal of the tax on
whisky.
Mr.. Clay said, the whisky business was
made legitimate by the government, and de-
mands the protection from congress which
was grBnted to any other business or associa-
ton. He denied the pending measure en-
bodied special legislation, and maintained
on the contrary that its object was to make
general law, and put whisky, beer and tobac-
co on the same footing in regard to taxa
ton. 1t was measure of relief which would
prevent crisis in the west. When congress
interest, it should be done.
Mr.. Thompson supported the bill, which,
he said, presented the question, whether the
government would bankrupt one class of
citizens when it did not require for any pur-
pose the money which would fall due for
taxes. He was not in favor of demanding
the "pound of fesh," and expressed his sur
prise that his friends from the south, Blount
and Herbert, should uphold the policy of say
ing, Gin the name of the law we demand
the bankruptcy of these people," The ques-
ton of temperance was not involved in the
measure, but if the few temperance cranks
in the house would vote for the bill it would
result in keeping the whisky in bond and
out of consumption.
Mr.. Milliken, while denying he was tenn
perance crank, inquired whether even if the
bill passed the whisky would not be taken
out of bond in the course of time, to which
Thompson replied, that it would pass into
consumption when it was called out by some
temperance cranks, for he had never seen
one of that class, who, before making a
speech would not step behind door and wet
his whistle.
Mr.. Clements opposed the bill.
Mr.. Breckenridge favored it. He made an
exhaustive speech, in which he went into the
history of the legislation affecting the whisky
industry, described the hardships under
which that interest now suffered, and main
tanned the equity and justice of the govern
ment stepping in and saving it from utter
bankruptcy. His speech received a good
deal of attention from his party associates.
Mr.. York expressed his desire to see the
entire internal revenue system wiped out.
Mr.. Hiscock opposed the bill
IF
the nation into great whisky storehouse,
declaring that the bill asked the government
to become the wet nurse of the big baby
whisky interest.
Mr.. Cutcheon said the question was tri-
angular one. He considered it from its bus
mess, revenue and moral aspect. He had
expected some one to say the question was
institutional. The legislation making an
appropriation for the food sufferers had been
pronounced uncon stitutional. 1t is uncon-
stitutional, he said, to save men from being
drowned in water and constitutional to save
men from being drowned in whisky.
Mr.. Hepburn opposed the bill, and made
an onslaught upon the achievements which
the whisky interest had performed, declaring
it had kept in the field, not armies, as has been
alleged, but armies of paupers, crime and
drunkenness.
Mr.. Findlay said, If the bill passed,
whisky would be made cheap, as cheap, per-
haps as gin was once in London, when adj
vertisements were displayed, asserting that,
"a man can get drunk here for penny,
dead drunk two pence" Before the con-
clusion of Findlay's speech, the committee
rose.
Mr.. Hancock, from the committee on ap-
preparations, reported the pension appropria-
ton bill. Referred to the committee of the
whole.
Mr.. Beach offered resolution, calling on
the secretary of the interior for copies of all
leases made by him for the use or occupation
of any ground in the Yellowstone National
park, and also information whether the les
sees complied with the conditions of the
lease, and as to the provisions made to pre-
vent the wanton obstruction of fish and game
in the park. Adopted. Adjourned.
Banker Roots Arrest.
VALLEY CITY, D. T., March 22.-It appears
that Banker Root was arrested for grand lar
ceny instead of embezzlement. The warrant
was sworn out by Attorney Pollock of Fargo
The circumstances are said to have been as
follows: Captain Northrop,s client of Pol
locks, gave him chattel mortgage and then
bill of sale of quantity of wheat at Kib-
by, in the western part of Cass county. Two
young men whom Northrop owed went to
Root for advice, and are said to have been
told to take the wheat and sell it, This they
did, and Pollock arrested him instead of the