The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-04-05
FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Voor-
hees introduced bill for the issue of
specie certificates redeemable half in gold
coin and half in silver bullion.
On motion of Senator Sherman
house joint resolution accepting the in
vitation of the French republic to take
part in the international exposition in
Paris from May to October, 1899, was
passed with amendments.
The senate then proceeded to the con-
sheraton of bills on the calendar that
were not objected to.
Among the bills passed were the fol-
lowing: For the celebration at the ma
tional capital, IN the spring of 1889, in
honor of the centennial of the constitution
of the United States; to secure the Chero-
kee freemen and others their proportion
of certain proceeds of lands under acts of
March 3, 1888; to amend the act of March
3, 1887, as to removing the disabilities of
these who, having participated in
the rebellion, afterwards enlisted
in the army and became dis
abled; repeating the law which barred
CATER a continued time) the claims to the
pension of state militiamen, and also ex-
tending the law so as to include those
who served in the Indian wars. The total
number of bills passed to-day was 1874. A
large majority of them were pension
cases, one of them being for an increase
of pensions for widows of soldiers of the
war of 1912. In all of the cases of house
bills, with amendments, committees of
conference were appointed.
Senator Henderson, from the commit
A,n iknnn frnfn H-tn LII 10
confer brevet promotion of army officers
particularly distinguished for heroic &C.
ton in the Indian wars.
Senator Evarts, from the library COM
mittee. reported a bill appropriating
$4,000 for the purchase, from Miss Vir-
ginia Lewis Taylor, of sword that once
belonged to Washington. Miss Taylor is
described in the bill as direct descendant
of George Lewis, to whom the sword was
devised, and the sword as being worn by
Washington on the occasion of his resign
ing his commission at Annapolis and at
public receptions while president After
executive session the senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
In consideration of the morning hour
discussion was resumed upon the Union
Pacific railway funding bill. The meas
ure was opposed by Mr.. Anderson, of
Iowa, who regarded it as one of the most
important propositions ever brought be-
fore congress, whether considered from a
financial or moral standpoint; that the
career of the Pacific railroad companies
had been criminal, land that they had robbed
the treasury of hundreds of millions of dol
lars 1t was, he said, conceded everywhere. In
reference to the Union Pacific company
he declared that SO far from its being
under new management, the direction OF
the road to-day was in the hands of, and
controlled by, the old Credit Mobilier
gang. The political party which did not
think it important enough to dignity the
matter of control of the Pacific railroad
by resolution in its national platforms
would not be entitled and should not re.
ceive the confidence of the American
people.
Mr.. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, advocated
the passage of the bill, which, he con.
tended, dealt in manly, courageous and
business-like way with both the material
and moral aspect of the problem pre-
sented. That problem was how to collect
the government debt and some time
punish those, if any there were, who were
deserving of punishment. 1t was con
ceded that the railroad company would
not be able to pay its in
debtedness when it fell due
At present the government had beer
upon trunk without head or feet Of
arms or legs. 1t was lien which, if en-
forced, would induce no bidders to the
SALE. 1t was upon property which would
be utterly useless. In order to seour,
payment of the debt the government
must get additional security. This wa
accomplished by the pending bill, which
gave the government additional securit.
to the extent of S8O,485,0OO.
The morning hour having expired, tn
bill went upon the calendar.
Mr. Blanchard, of Louisiana, from tn
committee on rivers and harbors, reported
the river and harbor appropriation bill
and it was referred to the committee o
the whole.