Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-11
For Argument, the Speaker Placing
Ii on the House Calendar.
RAUM IS ONCE MORE TO BE TRIED.
lie Finds Only One Defender on the Floor Of
the Lower House.
THE SENATE HAS A VERY DULL SESSION

cctioH was not one winch 1nVolVeu uepaIe,
as the bill merely went on the calendar, 10
be taken up in the order fits consideration,
but it indicated the intention of the Tree
coinage men 70 force the bill with all pos
sible haste. Indeed, Representative Pierce,
Chairman Bland and other leaders OF the
silver movement in the House, assert that
the measure will be pressed to vote and
actually passed by the House within the
next 60 davs. In this event there is no
doubt the Senate will have an opportunity
of passing upon the Bland bill long before
the date of either of the great National Con-
ventions
The House also to-day ordered an inves-
tiration of the Pension Bureau as managed
by Commissioner Raum The scope of the
Investigation is made much broader than
that of previous inquiries, and Messrs
Enloe. of Tennessee, and Cooper, OF In
diana, as the instigators of the lnvestlga-
tion, will be expected TO furnish the evil
dence and practically conduct the light
against the present administration OF the
bureau.
Economists again Come to Grief.
After the reading of the journal nearly
an hour was consumed in debate over reso-
luton recommended bv the Committee on
Accounts for the employment of two addi-
tional messengers for the House The
resolution passed, after affording opportu-
nifty for several lively speeches by economic
members.
On motion of Mr.. Seerly, of Iowa, bill
was passed extending the time for the con-
structIon of bridge at Burlington.
Mr. Catchings, of Mississippi, from the
Committee on Rules, reported resolution
for the appointment of q select committee of
five members to investigate the methods of
business in the Bureau Of Pensions; whether
use has been made by the Commissioner of
his official position to promote his private
affairs or for partisan political purposes;
whether there has been discrimination made
between applicants for pensions or practlc-
ing attorneys; whether any OF the clerks
have taken advantage of their position to
make profits, and whether the civil service
law has been violated by the Commissioner.
Mr. Enloe, of Tennessee, offered an
amendment extending the scope of the in
quiry so as to include the methods followed
bv the Board of Pension Appeals. In ad-
vocating his amendment Mr. Enloe criti-
cized the administration of the Pension
Office, and reiterated the charge against the
Commissioner and his son which he made
last Congress.
Commissioner Raum Defended.
Mr.. Smith, of Illinois, could see no reason
why the Pension Office should be made the
general target for a number of gentlemen on
the floor He did not know why this bureau
should be singled out for political speeches
and political buncombe. General Raum
was not afraid of an investigation at this or
any other time in regard to the workings
and conduct of his Office. Never since the
establishment of the Office had there been
such high order of work done as had been
done since Commissioner Raum had taken
charge of it.
The amendment was agreed to, and the
resolution as amended adopted.
Mr.. Bland. of Missouri, from the Commit
tee on Coinage, Weights and Measures, re-
rorted the bill for the free coinage of gold
and silver and for the issue of coin notes.
In substance, it provides for the free coin
age of silver at the present standard of 41212
grains to the dollar; for the retirement of
gold and silver certificates and Treasury
notes and the issue of coin certificates in
lieu thereof and that as soon as France
shall open her mints to free coinage at the
present ratio of 15% to l, the President
shall make proclamation that the United
States adopts that standard, and thereafter
the silver dollar shall consist of 400 grains,
and the present silver dollar shall, as far as
practicable, be recoined.
The minority was given leave to file a
minority report not later than Monday
next.
Disposition of the Bland Bill.
Mr. Bland wished the bill to be placed
upon the House calendar; but Mr.. Dingley,
Of Maine, made the point that the bill must
inevitably involve an expense upon the
Treasury, and should go to the committee
OF the whole.
Mr.. Bland said there was no charge made
upon the Treasury.
The Speaker held the matter in abeyance,
stating he would examine the rule upon the
subject. He afterward placed the bill on
the House calendar.
Mr.. Cummings, of New York, from the
Committee on Naval Affairs, reported bill
for the establishment of a dry dock on the
Government reservation near Algiers, La
Committee of the whole
Mr. Bacon, of New York, from the Com
mittee on Banking and Currency, called up
the bill for the better control and for pro-
noting the safety of national banks.
Mr.. j. D. Taylor, of Ohio, thought the
bill WAS wholly unnecessary. The laws
now, if properly administered, were suf-
ficient to remedy the evils complained of
In his judgment this measure would block
the wheels of business and would do no
good whatever. No law of Congress had
ever made dishonest man honest; and if
wished to be dishonest he could be so under
this legislation as well as under the present
law.
In Favor of the Bank Bill.
Mr.. Walker, of Massachusetts,, favored
the bill, as providing safeguards against i'm
proper borrowing from the banks.
Pending demand for the previous ques-
tion the morning hour expired, the point of
no quorum having been made against the de-
mand. This gave rise to little pleasant
colloquy between the Speaker and Mr..
Reed, of Maine, the latter contending that
no business could be transacted until
quorum had appeared, and the Speaker tax
ing the view that the morning hour having
expired the business pending in it went
over until tomorrow, without respect to a
quorum. In the course of colloquy the
Speaker said that (with the greatest respect
to the gentleman) the gentleman was dodg-
ing the question, as he had been accustomed
to do during the last Congress. The laugh
ter caused by this remark was renewed when
Mr.. Reed smilingly suggested that COM
paint had been made against him because
he had not lodged any question.
TIE House then went into committee of
the whole, Mr. McCreary, of kentucky, in
the chair, on the military academy bill.
One Place Where Economy Fails.
Mr. Bowers, of California, made humor-
Gus speech, in which he described his
efforts (seated in an easy chair in the lux
urious room of the military affairs COM
mittee) to reform the military academy bill
and to cut down expenditures. He was
taking his leisure at the rate of S14 day,
and he was wondering at the large aggregate
of appropriations for the support of the
academy when a picture arose before him