Helena weekly herald., 1888-04-05
IN CONGRESS.
Treaty Matters Under Consideration in
Secret Session.
Riddleberger is Unsuccessful in Carrying
His Resolution for Open Session
Action.
A Debate in Which Several Prominent
Senators Take Part.
The Direct Tax Bill Brought up in the
House as Special Order.
SENATE,

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April 3.-Stewart with
drew his motion heretofore made, to recon-
slider the vote passing the bill for the re-
lief of the purchaser and other grantees
of swamp and overflowed lands, and to re-
imburse and indemnify certain States. The
bill goes to the House.
The resolution heretofore offered by
Riddleberger, to suspend so much of the
rules as provide for executive sessions dur
ing consideration of the fisheries treaty,
was taken up. He gave notice yesterday
that he would call up the resolution in order
that those opposed to the bill might absent
themselves and draw upon the courage
which they lacked to vote for it. His
proposition had been beaten from time to
time for five years by just the same kind
of parliamentary practice that had been
tried to-day by interposing other morning
business He called for the yeas and nays. In
agreeing to the resolution Edmunds said he
desired to submit some observations to the
Senate which he did not care to submit to
Her Majesty's minister just at present. He
therefore moved that the galleries be
cleared and the doors closed.
The motion was agreed to and the order
executed.
The senate after two hours spent in
secret session, opened the doors. During
secret session Senator Riddleberger's reso-
luton to consider the fisheries treaty in
open session was the only subject of
debate. Senators Edmunds and Hoar
made strong fight against the resolution.
Upon motion of Senator Butler the resolu
ton was ordered to be referred to the
committee on foreign relations, only eight
voting in the negative. The senate then
resumed the consideration of the bond bill.
A vote was taken on Palmers motion to
recommit the bond purchase bill, and the
motion was rejected-yeas, 20; nays, 81.
A substitute for the bond purchase bill,
declaring that the authority to purchase
bonds given in the act making appropria-
tions for sundry civil expenses for the year
ending June 80, 1882, was intended to be
a provision of law, and is declared as such,
and to be now in full force and effect, was
offered by Spooner and was agreed to with
out a division.
Beck then offered an amendment as an
additional section, providing that when
ever the circulation or any portion thereof
to any bank not in liquidation shall be
surrendered and shall not be taken up by
other national banks, the Secretary of the
Treasury shall purchase at the market
price an equal amount of silver bullion in
excess of the minimum monthly silver
coinage, which shall be coined and used as
provided for in the silver coinage bill of
February %, 1878
Stewart proposed an addition to the
amendment, and Beck accepted it, pro-
viding that nothing in the act shall alter
or repeal the silver coinage act of 1873.
Sherman approved fully of the substi-
tute as agreed to, and thought it an i'm
provement ON the House bill, but thought
it best to postpone consideration of BeCk's
proposition till more convenient season.
He was clearly Of the opinion that it was
not wise to continue the coinage of silver
when purchased. If the proposition was
stripped of that feature, and if it applied
only to the purchase and deposit of silver
bullion it would be relieved of objection.
Would it not be best to let the bill as it
now stood in an unobjectionable form 60
to the President and be approved and car
ried into execution, and let the proposed
amendment and all propositions as to the
silver question 90 to the committee on
finance and be carefully considered
Allison suggested some verbal changes
in Beck's amendment so as to make it
read: "That whenever the circulation or
any portion thereof of any national bank
not in liquidation shall be surrendered by
a deposit of U. S. notes in the treasury.
Otherwise if the same or any equivalent
amount shall not be taken by other ma
tional banks within thirty days. Secre-
tary treasurer shall, etc" After further
debate by Beck, Mcpherson and Plumb
and without action on the amendment
offered by Beck, and with the substitute
for the bill still to be reported from the
committee Of the whole, the Senate ad
journed.
Culbertson called up the special order of
the Senate, the direct tax bill.
Foran moved that the House 60 into
committee of the whole on the pension ap-
preparation bill. Lost.
Wheeler moved to reconsider the vote
ON the motion of Reed. The motion to re-
consider was tabled.
The House then went into committee of
the whole for consideration of the special
order.
E.B Taylor, Ohio, said while the bill
was important on account of the money
involved in it, the facts of the case were
so simple he did not think any extended
discussion necessary. The bill proposed to
relinquish the amount of direct tax un-
collected and to provide for repayment to
states and individuals who had paid any
of the money.
Oates, of Alabama, in opposing the bill
argued that under the constitution con-
gress had perfect right and power to levy a
direct tax, but he denied the constitutional
right of congress to refund tax which
had been legally levied and applied. If
the house was determined to pass this bill
it should include within its provisions one
for the revising of the cotton tax, a tax
which had been nconstitutionally levied.
After further debate the committee rose
and the house took recess until 8 p. M,
this evening, the session to be for consid-
Grafton of the bills reported blythe commit
tee on military affairs.
AT the evening session the House pro-
ceeded to the consideration of measures
reported by the committee on military
affairs.
The following bills were passed: Provid-
ing for the promotion of officers of the
army after twenty years continuous service
in one grade.
House bill, introduced by Mr.. Morrow, of
California, appropriating $4,000 for the
construction and repair Of roads
from the entrance of reservation
of Presidio, San Francisco, to the national
cemetery on the same.
The bill introduced by Grain, of Texas,
was passed, for the retirement of Alfred
Pleasanton, with the rank of Colonel.