Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-08-31
THEY'RE WAGGING ALONG
OUR WEARY STATESMEN GRINDING
AWAY AT THEIR GRiST,


Benedict and Rounds-The Foreign Mail
Senators Agree on the Tariff-Interest-
ing statistics on Tanglefoot.
WASHINGTON CRY, Aug 3l.-A resolution |
was offered in the senate yesterday by Blair |
instructing the interstate commerce COM
mittee to inquire into the Craig system of |
telegraphy, by which it is claimed 1900
words can be sent at a cost OF 2 cents. If |
this was so Blair wanted to secure it for the |
people. George then finished his speech in |
defense of the presidents fisheries message, |
and Cullom took the floor in opposition |
thereto. When Cullom had concluded, |
the Notifications bill was taken up |
Amendments were adopted, pro-
viding for board of army officers to super
| wise gun, motor, torpedo and other tests;
appropriatng 100000 for dynamite gun
tests; reducing the house appropriation for
gun factory at Watervliet arsenal to $3.50,
600; increasing the appropriation for steel
for heavy ordance to s., 500 900, and provid-
ing for the use of American steel only. The
bill then went over, and Cullom offered a
resolution in9uiring of the treasury whether
Canadian goods have been transported in
bond across United States territory since the
VI tLo W dSuIilStou titotgf anu
if so by what authority of law. The senate
then adjourned.
The house released Tracey of New York
from further duty on the Pacific railways
and coinage, weights and measures commit
tees at his own request, The Oklahoma bill
was briefly discussed, laid aside and the re-
taliatory bill, slightly changed from Wilson's
proposition, reported The Oklahoma bill
was again taken up, but no quorum voted on
the first proposition put to the house. Spring
. er offered a resolution directing the sergeant
alarms to telegraph absent members to re-
turn, but it was declared out of order and
the house adjourned.
The report to the house on the retaliation
bill was unanimous The Republicans in
committee wanted an amendment-on the
ground of courtesy to Great Britain-that
the British government should be notified of
the abrogation of article 90 of the Washing
ton treaty, but it was defeated by strict
party vote On the final adoption by the
committee of the bill the vote was unani-
nous the Republican members do not ex-
| pect that the bill will meet with any opposi-
ton from their side of the house when it is
: | called up, although the proposition which
;, was rejected in committee may be renewed
>. and serve as the basis of some speeches in
~ which the position will be taken that the
| president has sufficient power to do what he
: desires in the way of retaliation.
> When Blair proposed his inquiry into the
Craig telegraph system in the senate yester-
day he spoke of the Western Union Tele
: graph company as gigantic monopoly thai
owned every telegraphic invention and every
telegraph line and wire in the country, and
thus had practical mortgage over the tele-
graphic business of the country, against
; which there was no redress until congress
= saw fl to interfere and buy out that com
:, pany at an extrayagant valuation. Hers
was an opportunity to introduce system
that would supplant the other at compare
:, lively 81 ght expense. He did not know
whether there was anything in it, but ht
wanted to have the matter considered
y The reason that Tracey of New York re-
- signed his committee positions is that thert
:, is eoolness between him and Speaker Car
:. lisle and the action of the house on the army
" appropriation bill is at the bottom Of tn.
trouble. The bill was amended in the sen
- ate by the provision for gun factory a
= Watervliet arsenal, New York, and as tn
:, house had the provision in the fortifcation
" BILL number of representatives were wroth
| because they said its introduction into tn
\ army bill was a discourtesy by the senate t.
- the house. Consequently. when the confer
ence report was presented in the house witt
an agreement on the gun factory provision
N there was kick, and Carlisle, in AT
" pointing another conference committe
- the house having rejected the re
"a "a port-put two vigorous kickers agains
~ the senate's action on the committee in plac
!. of two who had no objections thereto. Trace
" was very much interested in the gun factor
provision, and desired to make sure of it
y thereforefore be was not a kicker against til
~ senate. He says that when the report wa
rejected he was induced to withdraw hi
= point of no quorum in consideration of
promise that he would be afforded an oppor
- tunity to secure his object later on. He say
that this opportunity was denied him by til
~ action of Carlisle. In the course OF an intel
a view with the speaker some sharp lauguag
u passed, and Tracey felt called upon to declin
- to continue to enjoy any privileges q con
b mitteemau which it might be supposed tina
t he owed to the speakers favor.