, 1892-02-12
NGRESsIoN NEWS.
House.

Alliance arralgned the Democratic and
Republican parties in the house today on
the charge of extravaganza in public ex-
penditures and insisted the leading par
ties we're ignoring the principal legislation
of the session in order to provide lucrative
positions for favored henchmen of the
dominant parties. Representative Simp-
son. whose sobriquet of 1.-THE sockless
statesman has won him national repute,
was the man to prefer these charges
against the dominant parties and his
speech was the most amusing and excit
ing incident of the day.
The question of expenditures came up
under a resolution reported by the com-
mittee on accounts to appoint Walter X.
Hslleck, an ex-Union veteran, to the
position of assistant doorkeeper of the
house. After two or three Democrats
and one or two Republicans had favored
the resolution, paying q high tribute to
Maj. Halleck. Fithian of Illinois took the
floor and insisted it was time the Demo-
cratic majority of the house was coming
to its senses. Yesterday it passed a reso-
luton giving two messengers to the
minority of the house. Today another
resolution was proposed for an assistant
doorkeeper, and tomorrow he supposed
another resolution would come in giving
some place to some pet of some gentle
man.
Simpson took the floor. He charged
the two leading parties with logrolling
and dividing additional positions equally
between Democrats and Republicans. ut
appears" said Simpson, Legislation is
lost sight of in this attempt to inaugurate
a new system of reciprocity. Why, Mr..
Speaker, l have a constituent of my own
here from Kansas who has done more for
this country, in regard to valuable services
rendered in war. than any man recon-
mended to the position in this congress.
He actually saved the army of
Gen. Pope from destruction in 1862
and saved the city of Washing
ton from capture by the rebel army.
He was in the employ of the secret service
and went through the lines into Rich
mond and got intelligence that saved the
army OF Pope. Notwithstanding this |
have been unable to obtain even a mes
senger's position for that man, simply be-
cause he does not belong to the party In
power: simply because he is neither a
Democrat nor a Republican. Laughter
huu hpplduoc.J lGt tuC ktSdt COuRICoS VI
the United States has been consuming
two or three days together making posi-
tions for some men because members on
one side or the other want to get their
friends In office. So you have gone on
until the whole city of Washington is
besieRed by a hungry horde of political
partisans, Who are anxious to reach down
into the pockets of the taxpayers and
take money to pay the political followers
and friends for political services" [Great
applause.
Simpsons speech had the effect of oyer
whelminRly defeating the resolution.
The Democrats of the West. it appears,
are to make a serious attempt to repeal
the provisions of the Mckinley law pro-
viding for bounties IN sugar. Repre-
sentative Scott of Illinois introduced a
resolution lnstructing the ways and means
committee to report a bill providing for
such repeal, and asserts with confidence
that a majority of the Democratic mem
bers will favor 1t. The resolution declares
that since July l, last, claims for bounty
amounted to millions of dollars, imposing
a grieyons burden pom the taxpayers.
The payment of this bounty ls commended
to be a gift of g~ratuity by the govern
ment to one class of persons engaged in a
private enterprise, the burden of which is
to be borne largely by the poorly paid
wheat, corn, cotton and other agricultural
products of the country. together with the
vast army of wage earners of the land.
1t further cites a decision of the supreme
court by Justice Miller that, Ito lay with
one hand the power of the government
on the property of citizens. and with the
other to bestow it upon favored individu-
ais to aid private enterprises and build up
private fortunes, Is none the less robbery
because 1t is done under forms of law"
The resolution was referred to the ways
and means committee. Mr.. Scott, in an
interview. said the sugar bounty is con.
trary to the constitution and violates
every principle of the republican govern
ment. 1t it is considered American,
patriot, and honest to donate money out
of the treasury to enrich private enter
prises, there is no just reason why corn,
wheat and other great industrial interests
should not be given a bounty.
Chairman Springer of the ways and
means committee thought the resolution
should have gone to the appropriations
committee, as the law makes a permanent
appropriation for sugar bounties and the
way to reach the question is to repeal
this law. Chairman Holman thought
the subject properly belonged to the ways
and means committee. The permanent
appropriation has been made for fourteen
years to meet this bounty. On account
of this it requires independent Legislation
and it more properly belongs to the ways
and means committee. Notwithstanding
this opinion of Holman, however, the res
olution is likely to be referred back to his
committee.
The military academy bill consumed the
remainder of the day.
The proposition looking to local govern
ment for Utah, which was argued by the
adherents yesterday before the house
committee of territories, was again dis
cussed this morning before the terri
tories committee of the senate, where
there is pending a bill similar to the house
bill.
| Try Jack Frost" flour.