Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-14
The WEEK AT WASHINGTON,
what Senators and Representatives Have
Done in tho Way of Public Business.

who have lost limbs or the use of them.
Mr.. Gallinger offered a resolution, which
went over, directing the the committee on
| education and labor to make an investigga-
ton in connection with the outbreak at
Homestead, Pa. The House filibustered
ard did but little business.
In the Senate Thursday Mr.. Gallinger's
resolution was the subject of an animete ted
discussion, the Pinkertons being denounced
for interfering in the trouble, A number
of conference reports on pending bills were
presented and agreed to, after which the
sundry civil appropriation bill was taken
up. In the House the Senate free silver
bill was referred to the committee on coin
age, weights and measures. The trouble at
Homestead, Pa, was then discussed after
which the Indian appropriation bill was
passed
In the Senate Friday Mr.. Hill introduced
bill, which was passed, changing the date
for the dedication OF the buildings of the
worlds fair from the 18th to the 2lst of
October, 1892, Mr.. Gallinger spoke on his
resolution relative to the Homestead con-
fiict and the sundry civil bill was
considered for q time. In the House
motion was put TO suspend the rules and
pass the the Senate bill to establish q mill
tary post on the line of railway between
Highgate and Burlington, Vt. The motion
to suspend the rules and pass the bill was
lost-yeas, 1885, nays, 04-not the necessary
two-thirds in the affirmative. The tin plate
bill was passed, after a brief politi-
cal discussion over the Homestead troubles.
1t provides that on and after Octo Der l.
1892, the duty on tin plates terne plates
and taggers' tin shall be one cent per pound
and that on and after Oct. /, 1894, tin
plates terne plates, ami taggers' tin shall
lie admitted free of duty. 1t further pro-
vides that block, bar and pig tin shall be re-
tained on the free list and contains the usual
rebate, or draw back, provisions in the in
terest Of our foreign trade. The
lead ore bill was then passed
The bill provides that ores containing sill
yer and lead in which the value of the silver
contents shall be greater than the value of
the lead contents, according to sample and
assay at the port of entry, shall be coDsid-
cred silver ores, and as such shall be exempt
from duty. A few bills Of minor import
ance were then passed and the House ad-
1ourned for want of a quorum.
The Senate was not in session Saturday.
In the House the Stewart silver bill was re-
ported from the committee on coinage and
placed on the calendar.
In the Senate Monday Mr.. PETER intro
duced joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the constitution that nc person
shall hold the Office OF president OF the
United States more than one erm and ask
ed that it lie on the table; SO ordered.
Mr.. Chandler gave notice of his intention
to offer to the sundry civil appropriation
bill, an amendment appropriatng $3.50, 000
to meet any extraordinary emergency that
may arise between tho ad ournment of Con-
gress and its next meeting in December, in
connection with epidemic diseases.
Mr. Hiscock introduced Joint resolution
(which was referred to the committee on
civil service reform providing for a leave OF
absence for every federal soldier in the gov
erment employment during the Grand Army
encampment next September.
Mr. Washburn spoke on the House bill de.
fining options and futures, imposing special
taxes on dealers therein, and requiring such
dealers and persons engaged in selling GER
tain products to obtain licenses
Mr. WashDurn said he had introduced
Dill having for Its purpose and intent the
putting an end to the system of dealing in
options or selling futures or lin common
parlance short selling The bill was
aimed al system OF gambling of tho most
outrageous, insidious and perncous char
actor, and which brought the most wide.
spread and disastrous results of any scheme
Of gambling which the wit and faculty of
man had been able to devise Ninety per
cent of all the business of the produce ex-
changes and boards of trade in the United
States was of that fictitious character
whore property was sold without ownership
and without any intention of delivery
on the part either OF the seller or of the
buyer. The great agricultural products Of
fln do
gamblers. Between the grain producers
and the loaf eater there stepped in a party.
saying at what price the one should sell and
the other buy-a parasite that robbed them
both.
lie asserted that the prices of agricultural
products were made artiicinlly and ar
bitrarily by the boards of trade, and most
notably, on the board of trade in Chicago
Mr. Washburn had the clerk read para
graphs from Chicago newspaper dcscrib-
ing Partridges bear operations in grain
and Associated Press dispatches from
Europe stating the depressing effect on the
prices there of those operations. In view Of
these facts it was not hard, he said, to un-
dorstand why farmers were selling wheat at
~ cents a bushel, instead of 30 cents The
farmer got no advantage whether it was
bear market or bull market.
Mr Washburn read letters from cotton
brokers declaring that three -fourths OF the
decline in cotton prices was due to dealings
in futures.
Mr.. Washurn said he could count on the
fingers Of one hand those who had become
immensely wealthy from manufacturing.
1t wns not the tariff barons, or the business
men who had SO absorbed wealth, but the
creatures whom tho system of speculation
had evolved.
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the snndry civil bill, the pending question
being on the committee amendments as to
tho Columbian exposition, and Mir Quay's
amendment to it requiring the exposition to
be closed on the Sabbath day. lie believed
it would be well to have some portions of
the exposition open on Sunday. He would
therefore offer an amendment when it
would be in order to have the mechanical
portions of the exposition closed on Sunday.
MIR. Quay modified his amendment by
making it read: The first day of the week,
commonly called Sunday
Mr.. Pettigrew argued in favor OF Mr.
Quay's amendment. Consideration wos
due, he said to the petitions presented to