The Helena independent., 1889-01-03
SENATE AND HOUSE.

SENATE AND HOUSE.
The rarln and the River and Harbor Bill the
Principal Points OF Discussion.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-When the senate
met to-day these was more than quorum
present Among the petitions and memorials
presented and referred was one by Ed
munds from branch of the Woman's Re
lief Board OF Salt Lake CITY, remonstrat-
ing against any action OF congress looking
to the admission OF ctah as a state. Ed.
munds said he was happy to think there
was not much danger Of any such action at
this session. By Hoar, 10 prohibit disiran-
chisement ON account OF sex. by Sher-
man, from the Boston board Of trade. FOR
the suspension OF the purchase OF silver
bullion and the coinage OF silver dollars.
The senate then resumed consideration Of
the tarifi bill,
Allison, going back 10 paragraph "a. as
10 chains, moved 10 amend Il by reducing
the rate on chains less than three elghths
of one inch In diameter from 10 2N cents
per pound. He stated that this was the
rate under the existing law. The amend
ment was agreed 10 without division. The
bill was then taken up at the point At
which II had been left when last before the
sehate, schedule I, cotton manufactures.
the question being on the amendment Of
fered by Vest 10 reduce the duty on cotton
thread, yarn, warps, etc, valued
at not exceeding 25 cents per pound,
from 10 cents pei pound 10 IS per cent
adyalOrem. Vest confessed his objection
10 N high protective tariff was the en0rmOu
price which the people OF the west, the real
producers, had IA pay under Il In order Ia
increase the profits OF the New England
manufacturers. Stewart said he found the
tarid question so intimately connected
with the question OF money, that he was
unable 20 separate the two. lie thereupon
proceeded 10 read speech on the subject
Of silver coinage. At the close OF Stew.
arts speech Jones, Of Arkansas, read from
the testimony OF cotton manufacturer
in Georgia, Mr.. VIM. II. Young, showing
that his h.ills had been earning average
dividends OF IL per cent since 1870; that the
tariff WAS OF no advantage 10 him, and II
he were 10 make the same class ot coarse
cotton goods that are sold In England he
could sell hem In England and make good
profit ON them. AldTch suggested that the
reason why the southern cotton mills paid
such large dividends was that some of
them did not pay more than two
in New England. Jones stated In reply
that the testimony showed the southern
operatives were content with their wages,
and did not 20 ON strikes, while strikes
were c0umon In New England. Aldrich
said he did not know of any cotton mill
strikes in Rhode Island In five years, and
that there had been very few strikes there
In q generation. The debate was then con-
tinued at some length regarding various
sections Of the country, being participated
In by salisbury, Morrill,, Teller. Vest,
Vance, Coke, Allison, uoar and Chandler.
Finally the bill was laid aside without ac-
tion on the pending amendment
The presiding officer laid before the
senate a message from the president In
regard TO correspondence on the subject OF
the treaty with China that was pending
last September. The reading ef the mes.
sage was interrupted by Sherman, who
suggested IL be referred 10 an executive
meeting. Presiding Officer Ingalls, said IL
had been sent 10 the senate in legislative
session and that II would be laid on the
table for further examination. The senate
then adjourned.
The message mentioned above contained
nothing new except the translation OF a
cipher message, dated Sept 2l, saying that
Chlra would not consent tO ratify the
treaty unless further time was given for
discussion OF the proposition to lessen the
term OF restriction.
THE HOUSE.
Nh more tnan seventy-hve members
were la attendance this morning. After
reading the Journal the speaker proceeded
10 call the committees for reports, but none
were submitted. A bill WAS passed grant
ing an annual leave OF absence OF thirty
days 10 employees Of the bureau Of en-
craving and printing, In place of fifteen
days In consideration of the morning
hour Matson, OF Indiana, called up the bill
prohibiting any agent from recovering n
fee for securing pension on account Of an
increase from the pension originally
granted, or Tor securing special act Of con-
gTess In cas's where pension might be
obtained under the general pensions laws.
Peters, OF Kansas, offered an amend
ment providing the applicant for pension
may contract with any person In the state
In which the applicant lives, 10 pay not ex.
ceeding 50 for services rendered, should
the increase be allowed. The amendment
was adopted and the bill passed. Springer,
OF Illinois, introduced Joint resolution
for the admission OF Arizona and Idaho
Referred. Sayers, of Texas, reported the
iortlhcations appropriation bill. The house
then went into committee of the whole on
the river and harbor appropriation bill.
Sowden, of Pennsy lyanir, made an attack
upon the bill as being eKtrayagant and
wasteful. and directed his criticism espe
cially against the appropriations for I'm
pr0vemenis Ia Texas. Cram and Stewart,
Of Texas, defended the committee report
and described the national importance Of
tbe proposed Improvement In Texas. Grain
moved 10 increase the appropriation for
Arkansas Pass from S65,O00 TO sl57, 900
Sowden objected and after some debate the
amendment was rejected. Grain made
various endeav0rs TO increase the apprOpri-
atiDns for Arkansas Pass, Sabine Pass aud
Galveston harbor, but was in every case
voted down. Finally the committee rose
and the house adjourned.