Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-22
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE SINKING FUND LAWS.
Senator Beck's Bill to Repeal Them
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The Conference Report in the House.
The Senate.
INFORMATION IN RELATION m CANA,

ialOnS, reported "a considerable mass OF 1nforma-
| tion" accumulated by that committee in relation
to Canada in execution OF instructions OF the 9th
| OF March last, and asked that {as the same sub
ject had since been referred to select committee)
| the documents and papers be turned over to 1t
| and the committee on foreign relations be dis
charged from its further consideration. So Or
dered.
Mr.. Morgan offered resolution (Which was re-
ferred to the committee on contingent expenses)
instructing the committee on foreign relations to
take testimony and hear arguments In the matter
OF the Claim OF the La Abra silver Mining COM
pany against Mexico.
The Senate bill appropriates 5000 for public
granting pension OF So, 500 a year to the widow
OF Genera! Sheridan. were reported and placed on
the calendar.
AGAINST TRUSTS.
Mr.. Reagan introduced q, bill to define trusts and
provide for the punishment Of persons connected
with them (being substitute for his former bill
on the same sub1ecp and 1t was referred to the
judiciary committee.
AR. BECK PROPOSES TO REPEAL THE sINKING-FuND
LAWS.
Mr.. Beck offered, as an amendment to the House
tarn bill, an additional section suspending until
further orders OF Congress all laws relating to the
sinking fund, and had IL referred to the committee
on finance.
Mr.. Beck also introduced bill to repeal all laws
relating TO the sinking fund.- and asked that 1t lie
on the table until he could see what would become
there was enough money lying idle In the Treasury
to-day to pay of every one OF the Az per cent
Donds without any embarrassment to tue Govern
ment. The requirement OF the SINKING FUND, which
nad Oeen fraud for ten years, was designed
simply TO maintain taxes. He could name ten men
to-day in the Uuited states who, by a combina-
tion, could purchase up bonds and hold them, and
the Secretary OF the Treasury would De forced (as
the law now stood) to pay $500, 600 600 for every
$loO,oOO,OOO or bonds he obtained The sinking
Iund was maintained for no other purpose than to
Keep up taxes and TO put money IN the pockets OF
pondholders by enabling them to combine to-
getner. They had already [wiJhin five months)
put up the price OF bonds per cent, and they
would put IT up TO so per cent within year unless
the sinking-fund law were repealed This was an
outrage On the taxpayers OF the country and an
outrage upon decent legislation. He wanted his
Dill to lie on The table until he would see whether
Tue nnance committee would not agree 10 suspend
the operation OF the sinking fund. II 1t did not
he would ask the Senate to pass his bill.
MI: IelIer-IS this proper subject to debate
now?
The Presiding Oficer-It is not
Mr.: Ieller-lf 1t is propose to take part in the
Mr.. Beck-I would be glad to have you do so.
would like to hear somebody deny that the sinking
fund law ought to be repealed.
After some further discussion the bill was read
nrSt anu second time and laid on the table.
AREsoLUrIoN TO MEET AT NOON.
Mr.. EdmundS offered resolution liking the
daily hour OF meeting at noon
Mr.. Sherman-The resolution had better go over
TN tomorrow. Personally l have no objection
to 1t.
Mr.. Hoar-I offered the resolution for IL O'Clock
meeting Of the Senate, and, under 1t, the Senate
mas Deen aole TO accomplish great deal OF busi-
ness. But am content agree 10 the proposition
or the Senator from Vermont.
The resolution went over Till tomorrow.
THE COREAN MASSACRE.
Mr.. Mitchell offered resolution (Which was
adopted) calling on the State Department for in
formation touching the reported massacre of
CoreanS In the streets OF Seaul Corea
r. offered W tvo
adopted) calling on the Treasury Department for
certain correspondence between the First Comp
troller or the Treasury and United States CON-
inissloners or SUPERVISORS OF election, toucnIng
the pay OF those officers.
AGAINST CHOLERA AND YELLOW FEVER
Then senate then, on motion OF Mr.. Call, pro-
ceeded to the consideration OF the Senate Joint
resolution appropriating $500 600 to suppress in
lection in the interstate commerce OF the United
states The substitute, as reported by the CON-
mlttee on epidemic diseases Is as follows: That
In addition 10 the uneXpended balance OF the con-
$500 600 is appropriated to be Immediately yail-
abie to be ended In the discretion OF the Presi-
dent OF the United States In aid or state or munlc
pal boards OF health, or Otherwise, to prevent the
Introduction OF cholera or yellow fever into the
United States from foreign countries or into one
state or territory from another.
MI. Call addressed the Senate in advocacy OF the
olli as introduced by hun, which proposed 70 allow
paymsnt Ior Infected property destroyed in order
10 prevent the Spred or Infection.
House OF Representatives.
Mr.. Townshend QlL) presented the conference
report upon the Army appropriation bill
Mr.. TOwnShend explained that the bill as IL
passed the House, appropriated S24 629 600. AS
PASSED the Senate II carried s3l, ,53l OOO and as
agreed upon Dy the conference Committee, it ap-
proprated SIS, ,3Sl 900. The increase was Ior the
most part uue TO the Senate amendments for the
establishment or gun factory at Watervliet Ar
senal and for the purchase Oh steel for guns
MI. Tracy IN. ~ said that theOppositlOn to the
conference r.port came from those who thought
Slhlpct hav ho.r
the appropriations committee; from those who
dislked 10 vote large appropriations for any pur-
lkeiihood OF war, and Oy those who professed to
lack confidence In the Ordnance Bureau.
THE NEED OF COAST DEFENsEs AGAINST POSSIBLE
ATTACK
1t was indisputable that the military committee
had jurisdiction over the subject OF ordnance, In
that 10 that committee was confided the duty OF
providing for the public defense This disposed OF
the nrSt objection. TO those gentlemen who op-
posed large appropriations and who thought that
there was no danger OF war, he appealed
that they give earnest consideration 70 the
Question, and he gave assurance that the
people Of the Eastern cities and coast would
feel deeply grateful TO Congress for provid ng some
defense against possible attack. The nations Of
Europe, and even OF South America, possessed war
nothing could be done to prevent It, What conso-
latlon would 1t be that the United States could
march into Canada Or capture cuba? He defended
the ordnance Bureau from adverse criticism. and
declared that its officers were perfectly capable OF
attending 10 all ordnance duties He then pro-
ceeded to point out the advantages OF Waterviet
arsenal as the site for the proposed gun factory.
OPPOSING THE CONFERENCE REPORT.
Mr.. Sayers (Tex.) in opposing the conference re-
port sent to the clerks desk and had read an ex-
tract from q speech of Senator Hawley TO whom
he alluded In parliamentary language as ga gen.
tleman not member OF this b0dy0, to the effect
tnat though the principle was vicious, it was
sometimes necessary for the Senate to place new
legislation on an appropriation bill
Mr. Blopnt tGa) inquired whether the remarks
had not been made by q Senator.
Mr.. TOwnshend Oily objected that the question
was hot parliamentary, as q member OF one house
had no right to refer TO what occurred In the
remarks Of o Senator.
Mr.. Blount retorted that the FIRST discourtesy
had been done by the Senate In amending the
Army bill In violation of the rules OF the House.
Mr. Sayers then proceeded 10 criticize the con.
ference report, and was replied 70 BY Mr.. Town
shend.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BuM
Pending debate the further consideration Of the
report was postponed until tomorrow, and Mr..
Herbert. OF Alabama, presented the conference re-
port on the naval appropriation bill
The District I'm COngreso,
THE LEXINGTON RAILROAD.
The Senate District committee hate not yet
taken any action on the resolution relating to the
electric motor Of the proposed lexington Railroad.
It Is probable that the contractors who were to
supply the motive power will be given hearing.
as they have requested.
Capitol Topics.
SENATOR RDNuNps' LETTRR
to the republican national committee, Informing
them that he win not bs able to enter actively into