Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-04-08
CONGRESSIONAL WORK.
A Record OF Proceedings in the
senate ana House.

4
president presented a petition from
Benjamin B. Harris of Maryland,
on behalf of himself and othe,
citizens OF that state. asking
congress TO secure COMPENSATION
for the slaves taken by the gen.
eral government or emancipated by a
state convention at the instance and
desire OF the general government An
| executive message from the president
was delivered by Mr.. Pruden. one OF
his secretaries, and was handed to the
vice president. The army appropria-
ton bill was presented and referred to
the committee on appropriations.
Inc Indian appropriation bill
was taken up for action. The
first important amendment reached
was that striking out of the
bill the proviso requiring army officers
to be detailed as Indian agents. Mr..
Morgan moved as n substitute the
house provision directing the presi-
dent 10 appoint Indian citizens of the
United States as Indian agents. when
in his judgment such appointment
contributed to attach the Indians to
civilization and to the government of
the United States. Without action
the senate adjourned. In the house
the silver bill was under discussion.
Among other speakers was Mr.. Nc
Keigham OF Nebraska who said that
before entering upon the discussion of
the bill ne wished TO discuss the mi
nority report which had about it the
perfume of banking house.
The report was begotten of av-
arice and its fruition was the spoiia-
ton OF industry. The cry about a 70
cent dollar was a deliberate attempt
to suborn public conscience. The stan
oard silver dollar was of 100 cents and
the clap trap about 20 cent dol
lar was simply an assault on the die
tiouary. Free coinage would wipe out
the disparity between the coin and
bullion value OF n dollar and our silver
dollar the world over would be of the
same value as the metal in it. What
the value of a dollar would be as en-
pressed in gold may be another uues-
ton. Competent students insist that
1t would restore the old ratio between
gold and silver bullion. The gentle
man from Ohio. Harter, had sent out
notices to the Grand Army posts ask
ing them to protest against the pas
sage of the bill. He (McKeignan) had
been an OLD soldier and he could
not forget that he had enlisted
when gold and silver were the
only legal tender currency. He re-
ceived deprecated paper and never
heard howl from the fellows who
represented tho banking interests of
the country. This duplicity did not
fool the old soldiers. The people that
he (McKeighan) represented were not
anarchists. They were not opposed
to the accumulation of wealth, but
they believed that wealth distribution
II permitted to follow the natural laws
would be proportioned to the skill,
economy and labor employed. That
man must be blind who did not see
that wealth was becoming u great
political power in this country. The
people were organized and would
never cease this agitation until cor
porations and monopolies bowed in
obedience to just laws.
In the senate on the oath Mr.. VOL
colts resolution of yesterday as to gov
eminent employees not appointed under
civil service rules. was taken UP, dis
cussed and agreed to, and on motion
OF MIR. Sherman the senate proceeded
to executive business. When the doors
were opened the senate adjourned. In
the house the silver question was I'M
DER consideration and there was a
large crowd in attendance. Messrs,
Williams, Cochran, Bum, Bartine,
Hatch, Patterson and many other con-
gressmen made addresses. Mr.. Butler.
democrat of Iowa. closed the debate
IN one-minute speech. in which he
SAID that he was in favor of the bill.
He was cut off sharp at o'clock by the
speakers gavel. Mr. Bland of Mis-
souri, then demanded the previous
question. and pending this Mr.. Bur-
rows of Michigan moved to lay the bill
on the table and demanded the yeas
ana nays, which were ordered. The
vote was seen TO be very close. ana
the excitement grew minute TO minute
ana the call was proceeded with under
great difficulties. 1t was almost i'm
possible to hear response and the |
former order, but
seldom resorted to. gave but little sat-
sfaction. 1t afforded time. however.
% learn the exact status of the case
which was that without vote of
he speaker the motion to law the
Dill on the table had prevailed by
'ne majority, Messrs. Enloe of Ten.
lessee and Herbert of Alabama,
Who would have voted no. asked to be
accorded, but they could not answer
yes to the speakers query. Were
he gentlemen in the hall and failed TO
lear their names called?" Their re-
uest was not entertained. Mr.. Bland
sked to have his vote changed from
no" to yea" in order to move a re-
consideration, but withdrew his re-
luest upon hearing the speaker saw.
Tine clerk will call my name no. ~
nd then amid the silence that sue
eeded the previous disorder the vote
n the motion to lay the DILL on the
able was: Yeas liS. nays 14S. So the
notion failed. In the excitement tho
eading OF the vote was overlooked. but
eing called for was read by the clerk.
he vote was recapitulated by unani-
nous consent and was announced as:
cas-. 100; nays, las. and the result
Ias loudly applauded by the anti-sil-
critics. The question was then on the
notion to lay the pending motion on
ne table. and after wild scene tho