Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-21
WORK OF THE SENATE.
Chandler Brings Up That Army and Nava
Bill-The Sioux Disconted.

Chandler Brings Up That Army and Naval
Bill-The Sioux Disconted.
WAsHMaroN, Dec. 19.-In the senate the
house concurrent resolution for q holiday
recess from Saturday next till Monday,
Jan. 6, was concurred in,
Stewart, from the committee on military
affairs, reported resolution directing the
examination by the secretary, OF the war
claims OF the state OF California, growing
out of Indian hostilities and disturbances;
agreed to.
By COLON, TO provide for the celebration
OF the 4OOth anniversary OF the discovery
of America by an exposition OF arts, in
dustry, manufactures and products in
1892.
By George, to permit the states to tax
national bank notes and United States
notes.
| Chandler called up the resolution offered
by him in regard to ORGANIZATIONS among
among the naval officers and influence OF
the congressional legislation and made
statement on the subject. He desired, it
| possible, to protect the naval officers from
beine levied on, an6 when invoiced or com.
PEELED to pay money (Which they could
poorly epare) for thepurpose otinfiuencing
legislation. He said year or two ago.
Thomas J. Cowrie, passed. assist nt-pay-
master in the navy, prepared bill for the
increase OF the rank and pay OF officers OF
the navy. 1t was q very comprehensive
hill. It contained no feature of economy
whatever. That bill had not
been introduced in either house;
hut it had been fitting around privately in
print. In connection with that bill there
has been q movement organized to secure
money from the naval officers. That
movement had taken the shape OF certain
printed circulars. One OF these circulars
IChandler sent to the clerks. desk and had
read. It was from Cowrie and was dated
Dec. 2, 1889. It stated that John d.
Thomas OF Illinois had been engaged as at
!, torney to take charge OF and advocate the
massage of the bill framed by him Tor the
reorganization and equalization OF the pay
Of the personnel OF the navy, and it ex.
, pressed the hope that all the officers would
respond promptly to Thomas communica
tions. In connection with circular one
from Thomas himself was sent to thu
: clerks desk and read. 1t states that n
has been requested to act in ths
matter: that expenses must neces
! sarily be incurred, and TINT
t and labor must be developed to the work
J. and his (ThomasO acceptance OF the propo
!, sition depended upon its approval by tn
officer addressed upon his sending re
tanning fee Of S. and signing contract 70
Which iorm was sent) to pay the contingen
!. 10 DER cent. on the increase pay for on
% wear. Chandler added that there wer
800 naval officers, and this attempt II
get them into movement had taken 81
D. extremely offensive shape. 1t was extremei
objectionable and an discreditaoie attemp
to influence legislation. He did not believ
J. that such q contract, even il entere
q into, would be legally binding; bu
II at any rate it was q contfac
w which would absolutely paralyzs the con
mittee OF congress, who would have th
10 bill under consideration, who have sui
Of norted the resolution was, he said, q ma
ter of deep regret and OF some mertifici
tion to know that pu lie legislation an
outside efforts in the direction OF accon
OF pl;shing it, were being hawked about b
ng the attorneys at Washington. There we
no a great many men living IN Wasningte
land living pretty well) whose source OF !
come was derived from their supposed !
70 fiuence in the legislature. He hoped Il
al resolution would be agreed to, al
,d promised when the information vas
m. ceiyed. the naval committee would give 81
70 matter q thorough Investigation.
70, Mcpherson defended the action OF "a
ne master Cowrie, and said if that officer hs
en discovered q method by which the pay
the officers OF the navy could be equaliz
NO to the satisfaction of all the naval Officer
"a. he should be regarded as public ber
he Butler said that while he suggested t
Ior other day q resolution to be referred to
fic: committee on naval affairs he had no 9
or. lection to it's being adopted nor to
m. fullest investigation OF the whole gubie
"a. The spirit of reform was abroad in
the land-political reform, educational refor
ect temperance reform, and now there was
lat he a Lobby reform. He supposed that
sep WAS better late than never; t
ING | Is appe .red to him to be q tempest IN
OF teapot. An officer OF the navy, because
to chose in the exercise OF his rights as c
mi. zen OF the United States, to employ col
sci. sel to represent him before congress-,
denounced, and il he has been doing
on very improper thing, and d reputable
torney, because he cht sc to make O. @
,icb tract with the naval officers, was held
az to the country as violating the same CT
dis. of propriety and rectitude. He thou
the the whole performance was unnecessa
q. and he wished the effort to drive aN