The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-05


member of the House had, by himself or in COM
bination with others. sought. by persuasion, in
timidation, or corrupt or improper means, to in
fuence J. L. Smithmeyer, the architect, in the
selection, acceptance or approval Of inferior or
improper material to be used in the c~oustrue-
ton of the building.
In response to q question by Mr.. Blount. of
Georgia. Mr.. Kelley stated that he madeleine
proposition to the House on information which
hehad received In the early part of the session.
and which had been corroborated by increasing
testimony ana additional facts. He would name
the member when he appeared before the COM
mittee. MIR. Blount suggested that the investi-
CATION should be carried on by q special COM
mittee, distinct from that which was investigat-
ing the conduct OF the persons engaged In the
construction Of the library building. While
that committee was Investigating Mr.. Smith
meyer and others, Mr.. Smithmeyer, through his
friend, brought in q resolution to investigate
the conduct of members of Congress.
Mr.. Kelley declared that the offering Of the
resolution was his own act, the result Of his
own cool, calm, longintended purpose to have
the country know some OF the facts that had
come to his knowledge early in the session.
| Neither Mr.. S~mithmeyer nor any other human
being than himself was responsible for the con-
ception of the charge or the manner 10 which it
had been made. He alone claimed all the honor
or all the disgrace.
It was finally decided that a new committee
should be appointed, it being intimated that the
member referred to by Mr.. Kelley was Q mem
Der of the present committee.
On motion Of Mr.. Chapman, OF Michigan, a
bill was passed for the sale Of two lots in De-
troit and the restoring of the purchase money
to the appropriation for the public building in
that city.
In the consideration morning hour the House,
on motion Of Dir. Culberson, of Texas, too up
and passed a bill to abolish the Circuit Court
powers OF the District Court for the Western
district Of Arkansas. the Northern district of
Mississippi, and the Western district of South
Carolina.
The morning hour having expired, Mr.. Towns
end, of Illinois, submitted the conference re-
port on the army appropriation bill An agree
ment has been reached on oil the amendments
except those relating to the establishment of q
gun factory and the manufacture OF ordnance.
A further conference was ordered on those
amendments.
On motion of Mr.. Culbsrson, a bill wa.
passed for the establishment of a district and
circuit court at Johnston City, Tenn.
On motion Of Mr.. Culbersona bill was passed
Furnishing. by q fine of not more than 81. 900 or
Imprisonment for not more than three years.
dealers and pretended dealers in counterfeit
money or other fraudulent devices for using the
United States mail.
The House then proceeded, as the special
order, TO consideration of the retaliation bill.
Mr.. Belmont, of New York. chairman of the
committee on foreign affairs, opened the debate
by recalling the fact that he had introduced q
pill last year similar to that under considsra-
ton. approving the terms of the pending meas
ure and recommending its D assage.
Mr.. McCreary. of Kentucky, said that the
message OF the President sent to Congress on
Aug. % last and the tariff message of Presi-
dent Cleveland should be recorded together in
history. One sought to reduce taxation and
tighten the burdens of the people; the other
sought to maintain the right and dignity OF the
American citizen, and both would be remem-
bered forever. PROMPTED by patriotic pur-
puted questions. the President opened negotia-
tions and concluded a treaty with Great
Britain, and submitted il TO tho United
States Senate for ratification. That was the
proper course, the course which intelligent
opinion sustained. If the President had resort
ed 70 re.aliatory measures without any attempt
to make a treaty, there were those who would
have criticised him. The treaty, so carefully
prepared by able gentlemen, was rejected by
the unanimous vote OF Republican Senators,
without an effort to amend It. While the mo-
tive that prompted tins action might not be pop
ulsrly understood, It was equivalent to giving
notice to the President and to the country that
no treaty which could be negotiated in regard
to the Canadian troubles would be deemed salts
factory by a Republican Senate; that the time
for negotiation was over. and that the time for
retaliation had come. There was nothing left
the President now but retaliation. This was no
new issue. The policy the President now pro-
posed was the policy inaueura;sd by him a year
and q half ago. and the policy which Congress
4 pEdCtlCdi.y AnQDrseQ IN Inc 8cG OF Marcl
3, 1887. Mr.. McCreary explained and de-
Tended tire bill and controverted the
statement that the President already had sufi-
Gent authority to act under the law Of 1887. He
believed that Art;cle 20 Of the treaty died when
the articles of the fisheries treaty Of 1871 died.
The President hai been criticised because he
had not rushed along to issue q proclamation
under the act of 1887, but history showed that
General Grant followed exactly the same line Of
policy. The power granted to the President in
the pending bill was no stronger than it ought
to BE- 1t was time that Canadian wrongs should
be resented by the United States and suppressed
by Great Britain. The bill should be passed
promptly. The treatment of American fisher
men by the Canadian authorities was in viola
ton of that comfy, hospitality and good feeling
that the civilization Of this age required between
neighborinR nations. The bill under considera-
ton was no war measure. 1t was . peace
measure. It was a public announcement to the
people Of the United States and Great Brit
ain that the government Of the United
States proposed to maintain its dignity and pro-
tect the rights of it's citizens. The President
would exercise the power confded to him in
diligently and coursgeously. The President
bad a proper appreciation OF the dignity and
honor Of this great Republic, and any power
placed in his hands would be used for the pro-
lection Of American dignity and American
rights. Ii was by no means certain that he
would be REQUIRED to issue the proclamation
authorized by the bill He hoped and believed
that when the bill was enacted into law the
usual good Judgment OF the English and Cana
dian authorities would be manifested, and all
difficulties would DO arranged without anything
which would break mp the cordial relations
which had existed for many years between Great
Britain and the United States. But, let the re-
suit be what it might, the President would be
supported by the people Of the United States
without regard to party. There would be no
division on sectional lines, but tho men of the
South and the men of the North would stand
shoulder TO shoulder in solid phalapx to defend
American rights and American honor. lap
plausel
Mr.. Hite, of Illinois, commented upon the
fact that the Presidents fisheries message had
been received with partisan applause. and that
one Democratic member had declared that 1t
was a good campaign document He was not
willing to accept the proposition, coming even
from a friend of the President, that the message
was On electioneering device. The gentleman
from Kentucky MIR. McCrearyl connected the
as the free-trsde message. II was an apt com.
bination. The treatment of our fishermen and
the tendency toward free trade had gone hand
in hand since the day Of Inauguration. Was
there any one who could forget the indignant
feeling in the United States in 1886 at the re-
current scene from week to week of American
ships tied up and OF inhumanity to American
fshermenl The whole story was one OF wrong
and outrage, wrong unrsdressed and insult un-
avenged. Congress had taken the MISTER mp
and passed the retaliation act. 1t stood on the
statute book still, and eighteen months had
passed by and none of the powers conferred
oy 1t had been exercised. The system
OF outracss had been checked in part, largely by
the influence of the passage Of that retaliation
bill. Then regulations went on and blossomed