The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-21
IN CONGRESS-.
An Important POtition-Tho Antl.optiou
BilI Agnlu.

IN CONGRESS.
An Important POtition-Tho Antl.optiou
Bill Agaln.
WASHINGTON, y. O., Dec. 20.-After
the routine morning business was dis:
posed of in the Senate today the army
appropriation bill from the house was
presented and referred to the commit
tee on appropriations. Mr.. Hawes said
that he had been requested to p resent
to the senate petition sent to him
from St. Louis. He did not know why
he should have been asked to presentit,
except perhaps it was because the irst
name to it was that of citizen Of
Massachusetts. All tho other signers
were citizens OF Minnesota, Missouri,
Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Ar
kansas and Texas. 1t stated that after
years Of robbery and oppression tho cry
of "stop thief" was raised by the
authors and supporters of tho Wash
burne-Hatch anti-option.
Mr.. Washburne, Republican, OF Min.
nesota, remarked that million OF such
petitions had been circulated, all OF
them originating in the Chicago board
of trade. This petition should 90 to
the committee on agriculture, where oil
that rubbish had gone.
The house concurrent resolution for
the holiday recess from Thuraday, Do
cember 29, to Wednesday, January 4,
was also reported back tavorably, but
on objection of Mr.. Sherman 1t was laid
over without action.
A bill for the reappointment OF James
B. Angel, OF Michigan, on the board OF
regents OF the Smithsonian Institution
was reported and passed and the Vice
President announced lin that connec-
tion) the appointment OF Senator Gray,
Democrat, OF Delaware, as regent OF the
Smithsonian Institution in place OF
Senator Gibson, Democrat, OF Louis
lana, deceased.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill to ex-
tend to tho North Pacific ocean the pro-
visions of the statutes for the protection
Of fur seals and other fur bearing anil
mails. It was referred to a committee
on foreign relations.
A resolution for the assembling Of the
house on Wednesday, February s, to
witness tho count of the electoral votes
was offered by Mr.. Teller, (Rep.) Col.
orado, and referred.
At the close OF argument in favor OF
the Bates bill to repeal all statutes re-
lating to supervisors of election and
special deputies, the McGarahan bill,
entitled 10 consideration, was laid
aside.
The house bill to provide for the sale
of navy yard lands in tho city OF Brook.
lyn lat not less than $4,000 an acre)
The house amendment 70 the senate
bill, authorizing the sale OF the Fort
Miifin reservation in Delaware, was
concurred in and the senate proceeded
to executive business. When the doors
were re.opencd the anti-option bill was
laid before the senate, but Senator
Blackburn, (Dem.) KY, antagonlzed 1t
with motion to take up the New York
and New jersey bridge bill. This
would displace the options bill. The
vote was taken and resulted: Yeas Is;
Nays Al. Mr.. Blackburn's motion was
defeated.
The anti.option bill was then taken
up and Mr.. Palmer, of Illinois, addressed
the senate explaining and defending
his objections to the bill. He argued
that the effect of the proposed bill was to
give to the collectors Of internal revenue
absolute authority over all contracta
made BY any person for the sale and
future delivery OF property. 1t gave a
most extensive and alarming jurisdic.
ton to collectors of internal revenue.
It gave them an authority to look into
the business OF every and any man in
the country-a power which had been
heretofore only permitted under very
limited and restricted circumstances for
mere revenue purposes.
The Democratic party, when 1t comes
into power, will not tolerate fraud OF
the character of tho pending bill.
After further argument in the same
limo, but without concluding his speech,
Mr.. Palmer yielded, the anti-option bill
going over without action aud the sem
ate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
There were bakers dozen leaves OF
absence granted in the house this morn
ing, somc of them being on account Of
illness, but the majority being granted
to members from distant states who do.
sired to leave In time to celebrate Christ.
mas at their homes.
On motion Of Mr.. Lind, Of Minnesota,
a resolution was adopted calling on the
secretary Of the interior for information
relative to the action taken by the state
Of minnesota to annul the charter Of
the Hastings & Dakota Railroad com.
pany.
Under the special order the floor was
then accorded 10 tho committee on pub
lie lands through its chairman. MIR.
McRae called up the bill adjusting the
claims OF Arkansas and other states un-
der tho swamp land act, No action was
taken on the bill, no quorum beng So
cured to vote upon II, and the house
adjourned.