The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-22
THE F0RTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
hr. Harrison Introduces q Resolution of In
curry as to Gen. Blacks Statements.

In course of erection which may interfere with
the free navigation Of the navigable waters of
the United States.
Mexican Veterans Association, praying the
passage of a bill pensioning the veterans of the
Mexican war. Referred.
Among the bills favorably reported and
placed on the calendar were the following:
BY Mr.. Edmunds, from the committee on
judiciary: In reference to bigamy and polyg-
amy in Utah. Mr.. Edmund said he would ask
the Senate to take up this bill Immediately after
the holiday recess.
By Mr.. Hoar, from the same committees: An
original bill TO establish a uniform system Of
bankruptcy throughout the United States. Mr..
Hoar said he would ask the Senate to take up
this bill as soon as possible after the holiday re-
cess.
Among the bills introduced and referred were
the following:
By Mr.. VanWyck: To establish an additional
and district in the State of Nebraska. to be
called the Cheyenne district; also, to provide for
the sale of a part of the reservation in the State
OF Nebraska of the Winnebago tribe of Indians;
also. to provide for the organization of that part
of the territory of the United States known as
the Indian Territory and public land strip,
into a territory to be known as the Territory of
Oklahoma, and to provide a temporary govern
ment for the same, for the allotment of home
teads to the Indians in seVeralty, and to open
Inoccupied lands to Indian settlers.
Mr.. Vest offered a resolution strongly COM
mending the course Of Secretary Bayard in the
Kelley matter, and moved the reference OF the
resolution to the committee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Plumb thought the incident showed how
utterly useless the whole diplomatic service was.
He hoped that the committee would report that
that service could be dispensed with altogether.
Mr.. Vest then addressed the Senate in regard
TO his resolution, and at the conclusion of his re-
marks the resolution was referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Harrison offered the following preamble
and resolution, for which he asked immediate
consideration:
Whereas, 1t is stated, in substance. in the last
annual report of the Commissioner of Pensions, that,
under the administration of his predecessors, or some
Of them in that Office, other tests than those of law
were applied to applicants for pensions, and that APP
plicants were required to show, in addition to service
IN the field, submission to the support of a party be-
fore pensions were granted; therefore,
Resolved, That the committee on expenditures of
public money are hereby directed to inquire into such
statements. and TO report the facts to the Senate, and
that said committee are empowered to send for per-
sons and papers, and to employ a stenographer.
On the objection Of Mr.. Cockrell, the resolu-
tion went over, under the rule.
Mr.. Hoar offered a resolution, which was
agreed to without debate, authorizing the com
mittee on finance to investigate the New York
custom house, especially as to underva.uations
and reappraisements
Mr.. Beck called up the resolution heretofore
offered by him, directing the committee on
finance to inquire whether the officials of the
United States had complied with the laws re-
curing that the coin paid for duties on imported
goods should be set apart as a special fund and
applied to the payment of the interest on United
States bonds, etc. Mr.. Beck spoke at considera-
BILE length in support of his resolution. The
laws of the land, he said, were equally binding
on the highest executive officer and the
humblest citizen. Yet the laws to which
his resolution referred had not, for
many years, been complied with by the Treas
ury officials. No more statesman-like message
has ever emanated from the executive mansion
than President Clevelands first message. but he
MR.. Beck did not agree with the position of
that message regarding silver. Three-fourths of
our business troubles arose from the fact that
the laws of the United States were not carried
out by our executive officers. Combinations of
bankers and bondholders, and their we'll paid
press, were opposed to silver; and their present
crusade against that metal was another evidence
of the audacity of the organizations of wealth:
organizations which had always secured
whatever they had demanded. Mr.. Beck ex-
pressed the opinion that there was not an
obligation existing that could not lawfully be
paid in gold or silver coin of the United States.
The bondholders of the United States, he said.
controlled enormous amounts of money and the
best talent of the press, and having now cap
tured the executive branches Of the government,
they were clamoring for gold, and gold alone, in
settlement of their claims. How was the sur
plus silver to get out Of the Treasury if the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury would not call in the
bonds that ought to be called in, and pay out the
silveri The people, and their representatives
however, support silver. No executive officer
should be allowed to disregard the law. He
would, if he could, take from the banks their
political power and their influence on the cur
rency.
Mr.. Morrill, remarked that Mr.. Beck's speech
. seemed to be a very elaborate assault on the
Secretary of the Treasury and the President,
and if the resolution in support of which it was
delivered should pass the Senate, it would be
equivalent to a vote of want of confidence in the
President and his administration He regretted
that the Senator from Kentucky should have
represented the Secretary of the Treasury as lit
tie better than a common thief. and the President
and Secretary together as having been bought
MP by the bondholders; but as probably no sem
ator ION the left was prepared to enter into a
defense of the present administration he would
move a reference of the resolution to the COM
mite on finance. 1t was so referred.
Senator Buffers recent resolution relating to
Dakota was referred to the committee on Ter
ritories.
The Senate passed the House concurrent reso-
luton providing for a holiday recess, and then
went into executive session, and, when the doors
were re-opened, adjourned until Jan. 5, next
More than Que Thousand New Bills.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2l.-On motion of Mr.. Nor
rison, the resolution offered on Monday last by
Mr.. Burleigh, of New York. calling on the Sec
A. Al T..