The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-05-03
BINDING TWINE BILL PASSED.


The Democrats at Last Succeed in secur-
ing Quorum.
WASHINGTON, May 2.-In the House
today, Mr.. Bryan of Nebraska, moved to
suspend the rules and pass the free bind
ing twine bill.
Mr.. Burrows demanded second and
objected to Mr.. Bryan's request that the
second be considered ordered.
Messrs. Burrows and Bryan were ap-
pointed tellers, but no Republican
passed between them pro or con. After
a brief wait, the Democrats managed to
muster quorum and second was or
dered.
Mr.. Payne of New York, in opposing
the measure. said that no good reason
could be advanced for placing binding
twine on the free list which did not apply
to every manufactured article in the
United States. The tariff on binding
twine was but seventeenth of cent a
pound. The abolition of this small duty
was intended only as sop to the farm
ers who had been injured by the bill to
place wool on the free list.
Mr.. Covert of New York opposed the
measure and denied that there was any
trust to enhance the price of binding
twine where jute was an ingredient part
of its manufacture.
Mr.. Bryan asserted that there was a
binding twine trust. He advocated the
pending measure as being in the interest
of the farmer.
pass the bill was agreed to-yeas, 173;
nays, 47.
On motion of Mr.. Blount of Georgia
the rules were suspended and the bill
passed appropriating $15O,0OO to enable
the President to fulfill the stipulations
contained in the treaties between the
United States and Great Britain signed
February 20 and April Is, 1892, in regard
to tribunals of arbitration at Paris.
There was neither opposition to nor dis
cussion of the measure.
Mr.. Belknap of Michigan moved to
suspend the rules and pass the Senate
bill to provide for the permanent preser-
vation and custody of the records of the
volunteer army. There was some ill-or-
ganized opposition to the measure, but
it passed by large vote.
The House went into committee of the
whole on the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill. MI. Hit made va
rious efforts to restore the salaries of
consuls, but his efforts were of no avail.
Pending action on the bill, the commit
tee rose and the House adjourned.
UNDER THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
Messrs. Foster and Roosevelt Differ as to
Its Enforcement.
WASHINGTON, May 2.-The House civ
il service reform committees investiga-
ton into the conduct of employees in the
civil service at Baltimore was resumed
today. Secretary Foster testified that
the Roosevelt report accused Messrs.
Fensley and Ray, who are in the customs
service in Baltimore with violating the
civil service law. The report charges
Ray with mendacity and Fensley with
collecting campaign funds. The witness
conferred with the Baltimore collector
on the subject. He had been told that
Ray was one of the best clerks in the SER
vice and Fensley had not Intentionally
violated the law. The witness left the
collector to deal with the matter. TAX
ing into account the good character of
the employees, they were let off with q
reprlmand.
Chairman Andrew read from the COM
missioners report, extracts showing by
the admissions of Hoover and Reed Gus
tom house employees, that ch heating and
other demoralizing practices prevailed in
the Baltimore Republican primaries to
which federal Office holders were parties.
Secretary Foster said that he knew
nothing of the practices.
Mr. Roosevelt stated that only Raw and
Fensley were accused by the commission
of violating the civil service law. The
commission had found that although
Reed and Hoover had not violated tie
law the attention of the Secretary should
be called to their conduct. Mr.. Roose-
velt asserted that all these men were
plainly guilty upon their own confession,
If they had not deserved punishment.
then it was impossible that men could do
anything in violation of the civil service
law which would deserve punishment.
Passed by the House.
WASHINGTON, May 2.-This being sus-
pension Monday in the House Dir. Eow-