Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-12-18
THE NATIONAL SOLONS.
SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRE-
SENTATIVES.
Our National Law-MaIers and What They
Are Doing for tho Good OF the Country
Various Measures Proposed Discussed
and Acted Upon.

Are Doing for the Good OF the Country
Various Measures Proposed Discussed
and Acted Upon.
In the Senate, the election bill was again
taken up on tho 8th, and Mr.. Hoar of Mas
sachusetts moved to terminate the debate
on Friday. Mr.. Gormon of Maryland op-
posed the motion. and said: awe stand to-
day, Mr.. President, on volcano. We
have heard the discussion as to the starving
Indians. but we take no note, IL appears, OF
the fact that the farmers OF the land are
meeting and resolving that there is danger
and trouble, IL not starvation, among them.
The labor of the country appeals to
the administration and to Congress to
stay this awful wreck The faces of the
bankers and merchants are blanched with
fear No man can tell whether tomorrow
or next day every bank In the great centers
OF commerce will not be closed by the sus-
pension of payment. And now in the midst
of such state of affairs, we who came
here flushed with victory had the
hope that the majority party in
the Senate woald give us an op-
portunity TO Join with IL in preventing the
wreck which Is now impending. But the
Senator from Massachusetts,, since the Sec
ond day Of the session, has continued to
keep this bill before the body day by day
and hour by hour, refusing even the usual
time of adjournment from Friday until
Monday. He asked that the Republic
cans lay aside this partisan measure
and join with the Democrats In some meas
ure of financial relief In the House, Mr..
Mckinley reported from the Ways and
Means Committee and the House passed
the bill providing for rebate on tobacco
In stock equal to the reduction made In the
internal revenue tax by the last tariff bill
(Sec. 30), which had been omitted In the en-
rolling OF that measure, and on the declar-
alton by Mr. Mills, of Texas, that 1t was
GALL right" no opposition was made to its
passage.
In the Senate on the 9th Senator Plumb
(Rep,) of Kansas introduced bill for the
free coinage of silver. Mr.. Plumb also Of
fered an amendment Tin the same terms) to
bill now on the calendar, so that the
matter can be brought before the Senate
Independently Of any report from the FL
nance Committee. In doing so he gave
notice that IL the election bill were not dis
posed OF at an early day he should move
to lay 1t aside for the time being in
order that the bill Just introduced
by him and all other measures relat-
ing TO the financial condition OF the
country should be considered. Something
he said, ought to be done. Congress had on
IL responsibility which, In his Judgment.
1t could not avoid for any great period Of
time without letting go by great oppor-
tunlty for helping the country, and one
which, I'm his Judgment, would not occur
again In very great many years.
IL something was not done within
the next two or three weeks IL might
as well be postponed indefinitely. In the
morning hour the House resumed the
consideration of the Plumb resolution look
ing TO the removal of the remains of Gen.
U. s. Grant TO Arlington. Mr.. Quinn, OF
New York, regretted the presentation OF
this resolution, which could have no other
object than the tearing asunder of the
heartstrIngs of the devoted family of the
illustrious dead. The resolution was finally
beatcn-yeas, 02; nays, 153.
In the Senate, on motion OF Mr.. Aldrich
the House bill to authorize the payment Of
drawback or rebate on tobacco Ito correct
an omission in the tariff bill; passed on the
10th, and IL now goes to the President for
his approval. The Senate then resumed
consideration of the election bill. and Mr..
George spoke in opposition TO IL. Mr. George
occupied just four hours In the delivery of
his speech. all of which he read from manu-
script Senator Farwell introduced a bill
to amend Section 1 of the act of July, 1890.
@directlng the purchase of silver bullion
and the issue of Treasury notes thereon, ~
so as to read as follows: sThat the
Secretary OF the Treasury is hereby
directed to purchase from time to time all
the silver bullion that may be offered at the
market price thereof, not exceeding 81 for
871.25 grains of pure silver, and to issue I'm
payment for such purchases of silver bull
ion Treasury notes of the United States to
be prepared by the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, in such form and of such denomina
tions, not less than 81 nor more than 81 900,
as he may prescribe. And sum sufficient
TO carry into effect the provisions Of this
act is hereby appropriated. Congressman
Abner Taylor introduced I'm the House
bill 10 restore the law in rela-
ton to importation OF tlnplate as it was
before the Mckinley bill was passed. He
proposes to reduce the duty TO 1 cent n
pound He says he does not ask thnt tim
plate be put on the free list, because he is a
protectionist, but he thinks cent will give
all the protection needed. He would like to
have the Mckinley act amended by reduc-
ing duties that It increased on some other
articles, but he does not seem to be hopeful
the Ways and Means Committee will con-
sent to any change In the law.
In the Senate, the resolution offered by
Mr. Plumb for daily meetings of the Senate,
with reccsses from to $3.50 p. M, was
taken up on the 11th. Mr.. Cockrell sug-
gested that IL IL a. m. were fixed for the
hour Of meeting there would be an oppor-
tunity to attend to some committee work,
whereas IL the Senate met at 10 no commit
toe work could be done. He also questioned
the advisability of night sessions and the
probability OF an attendance OF a quorum.
No vote was taken. On motion of Mr.. Nc
Kenna, OF California, the House passed the
Senate bill acproprlating $4,000 to reim-
burse CharlesgJ. FELTON,, formerly Assistant
Treasurer OF the United States at San
Francisco, for losses incurred in the pay
ment OF forged checks.
TIVE Senate decided on the 18th to hold
longer daily sessions. The resolution
offered by Mr.. Dolph instructing the COM
mittee on Privileges and Elections to in
quire and report whether the right to vote
at any election for Presidential electors,
members of Congress, or State legislatures
Is denied to any male citizens of any State,
or is abridged, except for participation In
the rebellion or other crime, was taken up,
and Mr.. Dolph stated the reasons which
had induced him to offer It, What he de-
sired the committee to give special atten-
tion TO was whether some States had not
provided In their constitutions or laws such
voting qualifications as we're not permitted
by Section of the fourteenth amendment
to the Constitution, without an abridgment
of representation. He claimed that the
constitution recently adopted In Mississippi
did impose such qualifications and that,
therefore, the representation OF that State
should be abridged. The reapportion-
ment bill, based on a representation of 356
members OF the House OF Representatives,
as originally proposed by Mr.. Frank OF
Missouri, was favorably acted ON by the
House Committee on Census. The agree
ment to report the bill was unanimous,
served the right 20 vote for different num-
ber than 856. The only vote taken was on
a motion made by Mr.. Holman to Ak the
| number at 332, and IL found no second.