The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-26
YESTERDAY IN CONGRESS-.

YESTERDAY IN CONGRESS-.
WAEHsoros. July 25.-Blair presented a
memorial from the headquarters Of the
Grand Army expressing abhorEence at the
action of congress in allowing pension
agents Tee Of SO in each case under the
recent depsndent pension act, and enclos-
ing circular Of Warrington claim agent
offering to active mon in localities half the
fee in all cases sent to him. He said he
concurred with the memorial in its express
Esions Of abhorrenoe. Cookrell presented q
memorial from st. Louis protesting against
the passage by the senate Of the federal
election bill; stating that the masses Of peo-
pie were 80 dazed with the enormity of the
proposed outrage ON the santcity of the
ballot that they had not found words to ex-
press that condemnation. Other memqr-
ials against the bill were pre-
sented from Adrian, Mich. Sher-
man offered resolution instructine
the committee on printing to report
whether any abuses exist in printing mat
ter in the congressional record that ought
not to be printed therein, and report such
bill or regulation as will limit such print
ing to actual proceedings in both houses.
Also whether it is expedient to edit debates
of congress by the omission of such parts
as are immaterial and of such papers as are
resolution gave rise to some discussion, but
it was finally referred to the committee on
printing. Morrill, moved to proceed to the
consideration of the tariff bill. Gray an
tagonized the motion with one to resume
consideration of the house bill to transfer
the revenue marine service and the life
saving ioe to the navy department..
Agreed to.
The tariff bill came up as unfinished bu-
siness and Vance addressed the senate. The
Mckinley bill was an outrage on human pa-
thence and an insult to the intelligence of
mankind. He quoted from Blaine's letter
to Frye and said the unmistakable wisdom
of what that distinguished man had said
illustrated the wisdom of what he had left
unsaid. 1t it were important to extend
American trade to Central and South Amer
ica it could not be less important to extend
it to the, European continent. which, in
wealth and population, was ten times great
er If free trade with the people Of the
Latin race was desirable and profitable, NO
reason could be shown that a little free
trade with the people of Teutonic blood
was not desirable and profitable. Plumb
said that before proceeding to the consid-
he Would S ike fhe 70 know ny %baf ehs
finance committee believed would be
the effect of the bill on the revenue. He
complained that no detailed statement had
been made as to the effect that would fol-
low the passage of the BILL If there should
be deficit within the next eighteen months
it would be pretty serious matter. He
thought the senate ought not to err on the
side of deficit. Going on to enumerate
expenditures for the next fiscal year, he gave
it as his opinion that the dependent pen
sion bill, within the next two years, would
he costing the people $50, 100000 year.
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expenditure of the government and referred
to the possibility of there being next year q
deficit of nearly $50, ,000, 600 that would have
to be made up of new taxes, and asked who
was interested in producing that state
Of things: He thought that in
been overlooked. It seemed to him as if
somebody interested in the rate of duties
had said, I'VE do not care what the effect
on the revenue may be. That is not our
concern. Congress has got to mind that.
We want pound OF flesh" He gave no.
tice that he would offer amendments to the
bill to increase the revenue from other
sources. He would never vote for bill
that he thought would be cowardly eva
sion of the duty imposed upon the senate
to provide adequate means to meet the ex-
penses of the government. He would pro-
pose duty on incomes. He would pro-
pose an increased tax on alcoholic liquors,
and he would propose amendments that
would prevent the formation of trusts.
The house committee on appropriations
reported the sundry civil bill with the SEN
ate amendments. With certain recommen-
dations the bill was sent to the committee
OF the whole. Cannon, of Illinois, moved
that the house go into snch committee for
its consideration. This was antagonized
by the democrats in the interest of the
private calendar, but it prevailed by yeas,
1O4; nays, 81. A motion to reconsider was
tabled, and the house accordingly went into
committee. On motion of Payson it was
agreed that general debate on all portions
of the bill, except the irrigation amend
ments, should be closed in thirty minutes
and on those amendments half
hour should be allowed. Cannon op
posed the senate irrigation amend
ment. If adopted it opened 5000, 600 acres
not only to homestead settlement but to
desert land, timber culture and pre-emp-
tion settlement, under which any citizen
could take up ], 200 acres of land. One acre
of this land upon which water could be OBJ
tanned was equal to at least three acres of
land in Illinois. If it were adopted all res
ervoir sites would be opened under home
stead, pre-emption, desert land and timber
culture laws. Pending further debate the
committee rose and the house took recess.
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