The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-06
THE HOUSE.
A Refusal to Suspend the Rules and Pass the
Mexican Pension Bill.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-Mr. Smith, of Penn
John A. Swepe to fill the vacancy occasioned by
the death of W. A.. Duncan, of the Nineteenth
district of Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Swope took the
oath of Office.
The following preamble and resolution was
read:
Whereas, Itaprears that the President of the United
States has empowered Hon. John A. Kasson and Gen
eral W.. >. Sanford to represent this government al
what is styled the international African Conference
at Berlin, to consider the question of the erection and
maintenance OF a state in the basin of the river
Congo;
Whereas. Such an alliance as the conference seems
to import is a departure from the traditional policy OF
the government of the United States, and as the
House of Representatives is without official informa.
ton as to the reasons which may have induced the
President to accredit representatives to take part in
such conference, therefore be it
Resolved, by The House of REPRESENTATIVES.
That the President be requested to inform this body,
if not incompatible with Che public interest, whether
he has so accredited Hon. John A. Kasson and Gen.
w. S. Sanford as delegates to represent the United
States at said conference, and if so, he is respectfully
requested to state the reason which inpelled him to
tale such step. If he has so accredited said Kas-
son and Sanford, he is further especially requested to
inform the House whether in Che letter of authority
to them, or otherwise, there were any conditions az
fixed to, or limitations placed upon the exercise of
their authority AS such delegates, and il limitations
and conditions are prescribed, whether such dele
gates made known to the conference the limitations
Of their authority. or whether they appeared uncon-
ditionally and apparently with fun powers to act as
delegates representing the United States, in a confer
ence assembled to discuss the question of erecting
and maintaining "a new state on the continent
of Africa; and the President is further requested to
impart to the House such information as NAV be in
his possession tending to show whether the new state
to be erected and maintained by the powers taking
part in the conference is to be republican or mon
arehical in form. The President is also respectfully
requested to give his opinion as to whether the APP
roaapa1pan of AQlA0afac fPapo khA TJns4oA &kokoo - e~.ok
an international conference would not estop this gov.
eminent from denying the rightfulness of any future
upon the American continent a government of such
form as to them might seem wise, whenever the oc-
casion for such interference might arise.
Referred.
Mr.. Hiscock moved to suspend the rules and
pass the bill abOllShlng the internal revenue tax
on tobacco, cigars, stuff, cigarettes and eheroots,
the tax on distilled spirits used for mechanical
and manufacturing purposes, the special tax on
dealers in tobacco and the tax on liquors distilled
wholly from fruit.
Mr.. Mills demanded a second to the motion,
which was seeonded-86 to Is.
Mr.. Hiscock said the bill would reduce the
revenues of the government nearly 500, GOO, 900.
and he believed it to be a good thing to have the
revenues decreased that amount
Mr.. ONeil, of Missouri, said the purpose OF
the bill was to protect a certain peculiar set OF
industries which were already robbing the people
1t was meant to protect the salt interest of the
gentleman from New York Mr.. Hiscoekl. Il
was meant to protect the sugar of Louisiana
This Congress would do nothing OH the tariff
question. 1t would, at least, avoid the sta
pendous blunder of passing this bill.
Mr.. Thompson contended that the bill would
cause the entire destruction of the internal rev
enue tax on distilled spirits. and would operate
as a coniscation on so, 900, 900 gallons Of spirit.
now in the hands of dealers.
Mr.. Blount opposed the bill.
Mr.. Willis said that as there was no probab;li
ty of the bill becoming q law, he had less EN-
barrassment in announcing his intention to vote
| against It. 1t contained many provisions which
he cordially approved, but propositions to de
crease the revenue to such a large extent coult
not be properly considered in the thirty minute,
allowed in this debatb.
Mr.. Mills regarded the measure as an extra
ordinary one to be brought forward at this time
The report OF the Secretary Of the Tfeasur,
showed that the public debt was on the increase
and Jet the House was proposing to give ava,