Connecticut western news., 1891-02-11
THE NEWS OF CONGRESS.

THE NEWS OF CONGRESS.
 Proceedings of the Week in Senate and
 House.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-Somewhat of @ sensation was caused in the senate yester- day afternoon when MT. Ingalls,, rising to 8 personal statement, said that during his absence from the senate the closure rule and the elections bill had been acted upon, and that his attitude on both these Ques- tions had been the subject of comment, of censure and of animadversion. He said that on the day of his departure he had left with MT. Casey (who had charge of the pairs of absentees) 8 note saying that he should vote against the closure rule, and should vote to proceed to the considera- tion of any other than the elections bill, and was paired with MT. Allison, who was at liberty to vote to make quorum. He had been unalterably opposed to the adop- tion of the closure rule. There were those present who knew that many months ago, while occupying the chair in the absence of the vice president, he resisted many UT gent importunities and many strenuous solicitations to cooperate in that direction by methods which he then believed and now believes were revolutionary and sub versive of the fundamental principles of constitutional government He had not since seen any occasion to change or mod ify his conviction.
 He was in favor of an impartial elections law, but the proposed measure did not meet his approval. It appeared to him to be cum brous, complicated, obscure in many of it's provisions and difficult of application. It subordinated the judiciary to political con- trol, and opened the treasury to indefinite expenditure, without requisite supervision and in violation Gin his judgmen) of the spirit, if not of the letter, of the provision of the constitution that declared that no money shall be drawn out of the treasury except in consequence of appropriations made by law. He had no arrangement to have his vote counted against the passage of the elections bill. He was as ready now as he had always been to proceed with it's consideration and (with notifications believed essentiaD to support it to the end.
 In reference to the criticisms that had been passed upon him, MT. Ingalls, said that the leaders who had conducted the most powerful organization known in American history to the most stupendous and overwhelming disaster recorded in it's annals, might well pardon those who were disposed to doubt the infallibility of their judgment.
 The pension bill, with all the amend ments, was passed, and the eight hours bill reported The pension appropriation bill appropriates for pensions for the year $13S, 173, ,OS5; for fees and expenses of exam ming surgeons, $1, 800, 900; for salaries of eighteen pension agents, S72,OOO, and for clerk hire, $500, 900. The latter item is in- creased, on amendment of the committee nrso f0 Gd00 hoy amendment reported from the committee strikes out the proviso limiting to 8 the compensation of a pension attorney and inserts in lieu of it proviso limiting such compensation to s.
 WASHINGTON. Feb. 6.-The special com mittee of the house that investigated the charges against Gen. Raum, commissioner of pensions, has completed it's report of the inquiry, and Representative Merrill, chair man of the committee, submitted it to the house today. The report was agreed to by the three Republican members of the com mittee, and a minority report will be signed by the Democratic members of the com mittee.
 A resolution finding that the charges against Commissioner Raum are entirely unsupported by the evidence is submitted with the report.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-In the house the senate bill amending the land forfeiture act of Sept. 29, 1890, was passed. The post office appropriation bill was reported and placed on the calendar. The house then went into committee of the whole on the sundry civil appropriation bill. The pend. ing question was the decision of the :hai1 (Mr. Payson) upon the point of order raised against MT. Bland's free coinage amendment. The point of order was sus tained and MT. Bland appealed. Before the vote on the appeal was taken there was great excitement in the house, and nearly every member arose and anxiously watched the count. The decision of the chair was sustained, and when the vote yeas, 134; nays, 127-was announced there was an outburst of applause on the Re publican side.
 The general opinion concerning the ac tion of the house in sustaining MT. Pay sons ruling against the silver bill is that there will be DO more silver legislation this session. The vote is consider ed fail test of the strength of free coinage in the house. and it is believed that the same re suit will be had if vote is taken in ths lower body on the senate bill. The Repub lican senators who are advocates of the free coinage will not admit that the bil has received it's death blow, and they say they are prepared to make every effort tt push the measure in the face of the un favorable conditions confronting them. WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-In the senate th' naval appropriation bill was reported. A resolution was adopted calling on the pres l ident for the correspondence in reference I to the killing of Gen. Barrundia MT. Mor gan addressed the senate in support of thu bill to aid in the construction of the Nicar agua maritime canal The balance of tn, session was occupied in discussion of thu | eight hour law.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-When the hous committee on coinage, weights and meas ures met MT. Bland's proposition to clos
 hearings on Thursday next was voted o1 and defeated by a vote of to 4, as wer
 amendments to it to close hearings on Fri day and Saturday of next week. MT. Blanc said that he considered the bill smotheret
 now. He then picked up his hat and lief
 the room, followed by MT. Bartine. MT ] Williams moved to instruct the chairman