The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-18
ASKING AMNESTY.
Petitions for Pardon for the
MOrmOnS.
Arguments Against Home Rule In Utah
Territory.
Proposed Income TaX-SymplthY for Rus.
sian SufererS-The THlne TruSt-The
Interstate Commerce Hearing.
Special to THE MoRNING CALL

WASHINGTON, Feb. II. AT the Cabi-
net meeting yesterday the proposition
to grant general amnesty to the polyga-
nous MormOns was considered. petit
tion praying for such amnesty was cir
culated and was very generally signed by
the n0n-MOrmOns of Utah, including Gov
ernOr Thomas, one or two of the Federal
Judges and other public officers The dis
position was to grant the amnesty If 1t
could be done consistently with the sixth
section OF the Edmunds anti-polygamy law
Of 1882. Senator Paddock to-day introduced
a bill authorizing The President to grant am
nesty to all polygamous MormOns-nOt only
those who were living in polygamy before
1882, but after as well.
THE UTAH QUESTION.
The House Committee on Territories gave
hearing this morning to the opponents of
the proposed legislation to give local govern
ment to the Territory Of Utah, as proposed
In the bill introduced by Caine, the Delegate
from that Territory. The committee was
addressed by o. w. Powers, representing
the Liberal party of Utah. That party,
Powers said, IS composed Of Democrats and
Republicans, who for the time being had
cast aside their national political prefer
ences and had joined hands for the purpose
OF building up an American State in the
mountains. 1t was because the Mormon
people were not honest and sincere that the
Liberal party opposed the measure. The
time has not come, in its opinion, for il.
Much OF Powers argument was in refutatiOn
Of the several statements made on the other
side of the question by II. w. Smith before
the committee last week. lie read TO the
committee a letter from NJ. a. Brreden, an
attorney OF Ogden City, stating that Smith
told him before leaving for Washington
that statehood in Utah would be a great
calamity that If the Teller bill should be-
cumr law no Gentle could live i'm the
Territory; that he mad no faith in the
Mormon people; they were simply decev-
ing the people to gain power, aud as soon as
the conditions changed the brethren would
have another revelation, Te-estdblisn pOlyg-
amy and drive the Americans out Of the
Territory. The statements made in the
letter were denounced by Smith as false
lie denied having been in Ogden before
coming TO Washington, or having any con-
versaton with Breeden. Ia refutati0n OF
the statements made by Smith calling in
question tile honor and prUUity of United
States Judge Miner Of Utah, Powers read
numerous kilograms from Influential people
denouncing as false all charges and imputa-
lions against the moral and judicial integ-
rity OF Judge Miner
TIE BINDING-TWINE TRUST.
Bryant of Nebraska has prepared a re-
port TO a company the free bindIng-tWiue
dill, which will be reported TO the House
some uGy this week. The report says in
part: The tariff on bluding-twne cannot
be Justified. except upon the principle that
the taxing power should be used to prevent
impOriations entirely, and that principle
besides being unsupported by constitutional
authority, would destroy all income from
imnOFtg and cOmpnl IN look IN eop1a Otbar
source for tile necessary revenues. Twenty
nine Of the cOTdage and binding twine fac
tories out Of the thirty-five in the country
are owned by the National COrdage Com
pany Of New York and produce 80 per cent
Of the total output. In 1890 there was con-
sumed in the United States $4,000 tons of
tWine. all Of which but 1000 tons was made
from foTeign-gIown fbers. If 40 Of a cent
per pound tax was added 10 the price, as is
probable, this tax cost the farmers Of the
country in the year 1890 alone 100000, and
this does not include the large additional
sum charged for profits on the Increased
price by the various middlemen. Not one
dollar OF this large tax reached the Treas
ury, and there eau be no excuse for allow
ing this trust TO continue the exactOn of
this tribute.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce listened this morning to the argu-
ment by Rch ,rd Oiuey of the Chicago, Bur
lington and Quincy road, on the measure
before the committee known as the proceed
ure oil, which contemplated definition of
the method Of procedure in hearing railroad
eases before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission lie held the measure was unc0n-
stituuOnal and should not be enacted.
George CrOcker Of Boston spoke in favor
of the car-cOupler bill now before the COM
mittee
Haines, President of the American Rail-
ROAD Association. opposed any interference
by Congress in the determination of the
type OF car-coupler to be used by the rail
roads.
Wilkinson, Grand Master of the Brother
hood Of Trainmen, said the swltchmen were
IN favor OF prompt action, but believed that
no coupler had yet been invented which
gave satisfaction.
Sargent OF indianapolis. representing the
locomotive engineers and fremen's asSOcia-
ton. thought commission could be APP
pointed OF railroad officials and mechanical
employees to make a thorough investigation
into the devices proposed
PROPOSED INCOME TAX.
The Committee on Ways and Means to-
day devoted attention to the principle of
the income tax as q means of raising revenue
In the event that a reduction of the tariff
should ever bring the revenues of the cOun-
try below the legitimate expenses Of the
Government. : few days ago Representa-
tive Wlke of Illinois introduced a series Of
resolutions ndOrsing the income-taX theory
and recommending legislation in that direc-
ti0n by the Fitty-second Congress. These
resolutions were referred, and the commit
tee to-day accorded Wike a hearing in ad-
vOcacy Of his resolutions.
SYMPATHY FOR SUFFERING RUSSIA.
The subcommittee to whom the Foreign
Affairs Committee referred their several
Russian Hebrew resolutions introduced in
the House have reached an agreement upon
the following resolution to be repOrted
Resolved That the American people, through
tile Senators and Representatives 10 Congress
assembled, DO hereby express sympathy for the
Russian Hebrews and their depressed condition,
and hone that the Government Of Russia, power
with which the United States has always been
on terms OF amlty and goodwill, Will mitigate, as
far as possible tie DEGREES lately Issued respect
ing them and the President is requested To use
his good offices TO Induce the Government OF
Russia 10 mitigate said DEGREES.
THE FINANCIAL CONDITION.
Secretary Foster said this afternoon that
there was nothing IN the financial condition
OF the treasury 10 cause uneaSineSs, and IL
was silly TO suppose that he contempt ated
the use of the 500, 600 gold reserve to
meet the current obligations of the Govern
ment. lie said also that while the present
net cash balance OF S27.500,000 consisted
almost entirely OF subsidiary coin and money
on deposit with the national banks it did
not Include the national bank redemption
fund Of S5,500,000 and the disbursing Off
Wis CoihhOCo aHlOOhClllS " SGOIOOV'VOus Outu
OF which were subject to the action of the
department and should not be regarded as
demand liabilities.
INTERSTATE COMMISSIONER.
The President will in a day or two ap-
point eX-Representative JudsOn &. Clements
OF Georgia a member of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, vice Walter l.. Bragg of
Alabama, deceased. Mr. Bragg was
Democrat, rs Is Mr.. Clements, who Will sue
ceed him. The President stated TO an intl-
mate friend this afternoon that he had fully
decided 10 make the Georgian member of
the commission. Mr.. Clements was elected
10 the Forty-seventh, Forty eighth, Forty
ninth, Fftieth aud Fifty-trst Congresses
He was educated in the schools of Walker
County and in the law school Of Cumber-
land University at Lebanon, Tenn. He
commpuppd thu nra,.t ga nf la y in 1890