The National tribune., 1892-04-21
CONGRESS-
An Abstract of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.
Tuesday. APRIL 10.

The Senate took up the resolution offered
bv Mr. Stewart, in relation to the pur'
chase of silver and the coinage OF silver ool
lsrs. and Mr.. Stewart argued in favor OF the
resolution at great length. At the conclusion
OF RTr. Stewards remarks the resolution went
over and the joint resolution introduced by
Mr.. Palmer, proposing a constitutional amend
ment for the election of United States Senators
bv the people. was taken up, and Mr.. Chandler
addressed the Senate in opposition to IT.
Nr. Palmer replied at length TO Mr.. Chan-
eler's remarks, and Mr.. Cullom also spoke. Inc
resolution was referred to the committee oh
Privileges and Elections.
The Senate then passed number oil olIls,
among them being an amendment to the oe-
pendent pension act of March 4, 1S90, whlch
SLOWS pensions not exceeding $50 per month,
proportioned to the degree of disability.
The Senate adj ourned at 5;10 T. IN.
In the House. on motion of Mr.. Peel lArk,
d., Senate amendments TO the Indian appro-
priation bill were non-concurred in.
On motion of Nj. Raiues n. y, r., bill
was passed to ccdify, simplify and amend ex-
listing pension laws relative 10 the execution
Of declarations and other papers in pension
claims.
Mr.. Allen Miss, d. asked unanimous con-
sent for the present consideration 0! agent res
elutiOn apPropriating $4,000 for the purchase
and distribution OF subsistence stores TO the
sufferers from the overflow OF the Tombigbee
River and its tributaries, but Mr.. kilgore lex,
D. objected, and the resolution was referred TO
the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr.. Cooper (Ind d. rose TO personal ex-
PLANTATION relative to testimony taken by the
Pension Bureau Investigating Committee,
which was TO the effect that his Private Sec
retarv, Hersey. had received compensation FOR
forwarding claims for pension, and he was rEo-
ceeding to criticize the action OF the Cohmls-
sioner of Pensions when lis was called 70 order
by Mr. Lind Mimi. r. }, who said Mr.. Cooper's
remarks were not only in bad taste, but against
every rule of courtesy and dlceucy. and against
the rules of the House. 20 discuss questions
which were under Investigation. Mr. cooper
was finally allowed to proceed, and said that he
had never been charged with receiving pecu-
mary recolnpense FOR forwarding cases. it had
been charged that the gentleman who had been
denominated as his Secretary had taken Pc
pecuuiarv consideration, and had taken the
authority of using his (Mr. CoopeT'5) name for
carrying on that business. No man here or
elsewhere dared TO say that ne (Mr COOPER
had ever received anything in this connection.
Whatever Mr.. Hersey did as to those things
be Mr. Copper knew about was proper, ana
what Hersey did that he did not know ought
not TO be charged to him.
After some little discussion Mr.. Cooper was
permitted 10 continue. bat only after request
from the Chair that he should confne himself
70 tie question Of personal privilege. But he
had not proceeded far when be entered upon
criticism Of Commissioner Raum, when he was
promptly called to order by Mr. Hopkins Ill,
r.. and the Speaker ruled that the gentleman
from Indiana was not addressing himself to
the question of privilege and again requested
him to proceed in order.
But after two or three sentences Mr.. Cooper
made an aluson to the "spies and creatures"
Of Commissioner Raum, ard be was again called
10 order by Mr.. Burrows (Mieh. r.
The Speaker said that the question was
difficult one to determine. He could only ap-
peal to the gentleman from Indiana 10 proceed
in order.
Mr. johnson Ind, r. was the next objector
to the language used by his colleague. If the
gentleman wished TO attack that officer, let him
bring il a resolution or appear before the In
vesigating Committee.
Mr. Cooper proceeded with bis statement. but
he proceeded over corduroy road. At each
step he encountered opposition, and the Speaker
evidently thought that this opposition not
raised without reason, for he finally said that
the geDtleman's remarks were more largely ad-
dressed to assailing Commissioner Raum than
% answering any charge made against himself
Mr.. Cooper was then permitted 10 conclude
his remarks without further interruption.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole or the urgent deficiency bill, and after
discussion the committee rose and the bill was
passed. The bill appropriates Sl,0l2. G36.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole on the Naval appropriation bill, but
without reaching conclusion the committee
rose and the House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL IL.
Nr. Dawes called the attention of the Senate
10 a petition he presented. and which ne said
contained such rem arkable statements that be
felt bound TO speak of them. He thereupon
read the petition, which represented that the
Indians tother than the civilized tribes living
on reservations were left without the protec-
tiOn u the civilizing and restraining influences
Of law, aud earnestly urged CnCongress that a
law and the means Of enforcing il be pro-
vided at the present session for Indians and
others living on Indian reservations.
This petition, Dir Dawes said was signed by
c. d. w. Bridgman, Rector Of the Holy Trinity
Church, Harlem, \. y and large number Of
other people, each Of whom gave his residence.
IL was therefore manifest that it was the hon
est conviction Of tie siguers that the state
mentg IN tie petition were true The petition,
however. was a printed one, so that it was
equally manifest that the statements in it were
prepared Jy others. These statements were SO
far wide Of the truth that be felt bound to
contradict them. Neither the Executive nor
Congress had left the Indians on reservations
without the protection and ciyilizing influences
Of Law. Both the Executive and Congress had
within the last 10 years professed to have done
what WAS ia their power 10 give protection 10
the Indian and 10 rake him a self-auppcrting
citizen Of the United States. III the statement
made in the petition were true it would be
jest reprOach both Oh the Executive and Con-
Ere5s, and it was because il was not true that
lie called attention to the natter
The petition Was referred to the proper COM
mittee
Mr Dolph, from the Committee on Foreign
Relations, reported back House bin for the ab-
s. ute prohibition for the coming Of Chinese
into the United States, with substitute. lie
stated that The substitute was the bin PASSED by
the Senate 70 continue IN force for 10 years all
laws now in force prohibiting and regulating
tic coming CT Chinese persons and persons of
Chinese descent. 1t was the unanimous report
OF the committee, except as 70 one member, who
had not been present, but who, he believed.
would also assent 10 il. he gave notice thar he
would try 10 have II taken. up At the earliest
possible moment, because the present legislation
excluding Chinese would expire on the 4th Of
May next.
After considerable discussion the bill and sub
Etitute were placed on the calendar
The silver resolutions offered by AIr Stewart
were then taken up and Mr. Morgan smoke at
length upon The silver question, the resolutions
going over without action.
The Senate then proceeded to work on The
calendar, and 4 number OF bills were passed
among them being bin 10 amend the pension
oct ofJuue p, 1880. which dispenses with the
prooi that death resulted from army service
and Tor the HTgCfTV1 ian ~ flas racg-Ee ,,F