Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-12
CAPITOL TOPICS.
BUREAU OF CORRESPONDENCE.

AAstl lillnks tnere
ought to be established bureau of correspond
ence for the House of Representatives. whose
duty il shall be to furnish written and directed
answers to all questions submitted TO il b.
members OF Congress. Accordingly he intro
duced q resolution il the House yesterday in
structing the committee on accounts to report
bill providing for the creation of such bu-
reau. preamble TO Mr. Caminettis rosolu-
ton recites that the demands upon the time of
members OF the House have become too nU-
merous to be adequately me twithout clerical as
sistance; that ii is not thought advisA BILE for
economical and other reasons TO provide Repre-
sentatiyes with clerks; that the labors of menl-
bers would be greatly reduced by the establish
ment Of the bureau. to which inquiries from
constituents could be referred. thus leaving
more time for actual work of legislation. and
that the practicability OF such a bureau has
been demonstrated by the fact that three OF
the principal newspapers of the country have
established and maintained an agency at Wash
ington which. gives free information 20 all
corners on all matters relating to claims.
THE PHILADELPHIA BANK FAILURES.
The first step looking 20 an investigation into
the causes that led TO the failure of the Key
stone and Spring Garden National Banks OF
Philadelphia taken yesterday by Mr..
Mutchler of Pennsylvania. who introduced a
resolution in the House providing: Whereas.
the Keystone National Bank and the Spring
Philadelphia, IL the state Of Pennsylvania. have
become bankrupt and are now i'm the hands OF
receivers.
And it is alleged that largo sums Of money
belonging TO the public. to the city of Phia-
delphia and to the state OF Pennsylvania have
been lost by reason of said bankruptcy.
And whereas. It is further alleged that the
losses sustained to a great extent are due 20
willful negligence or inefficiency on the part of
the officials of the United States government
yNp mr. ~ xvas q ina aud rha
financial condition ard standing of said banks.
Therefore:
BE it resolved, That the committee on bank
ing and currency be instructed and required TO
investigate and report to the House the causes
which led to the bankruptcy of said banks. CT
either OF them; ard to inquire and report
whether any official or ex-otficial OF the govern
ment OF the United States whose duty it was 20
examine and report the financial condition and
standing of said banks neglected or refused TO
discharge or perform that duty; whether the
losses sustained by the patrons of these banks,
or any par. OF such losses, were occasloned by
such neglect, and to inquire and report as TO
any fact or facts connected with the bankruptcy
OF said banks, the loss of any money by their
deposltors or patrons and acts OF any Official OF
the United States necessary in said investiga-
ton as the committee may deem important,
and also whether any, and if any what amend
ments to the national banking laws are neces-
sary for the protection of the public against
similar losses in the future; that said COM
mlttee have power to send for any persons and
papers, and to employ experts to assist At in
making its investigation, the expense attending
the investigation to be paid out Of the con-
tingent fund Of the House.
The preamble and resolution were referred
to the committee on rules.
THE RIGHT TO FREE COINAGE.
Free coinage men are very much delighted
today over Senator Morgan remarks in debate
yesterday afternoon. The Alabaman has
looked into the somewhat mixed up question
and thinks free coinage is legitimate today. In
the course Of the discussion Senator Mitchell
asked Mr.. Stewart If he quite certain that
the act of 1890 did not repeal that portion of
the act Of 1878 (the Bland act) which applied TO
the act of 1887. Senator Stewart replied that it
certainly did not. 1t only repealed a specific
portion of the act Of lS7S-that referring to
the purchase Of from two to four millions of
silver per manufacturing the rest of the act in
force.
Senator Morgan asked Senator Stewart
whether any case had been made at the suit of
an individual by maudamus or otherwise
against the Secretary Of the Treasury to COM
pei him to coin silver.
Senator Stewart replied that there was such
a suit pending in the Supreme Court of the
District OF Columbia, but that it was uncertain
when II would be reached. II the government
would facilitate it il might be brought before
the Supreme Court of the United States pro
Senator Morgan said that from the reading
OF Mr.. Stewards memorandum he was satisfied
that that Senator was right and that under ex-
listing law citizens had right have their silver
coined at the mint at the rate Of 4l21s grains.
CLERKS FOR REPRESENTATION
The thin end Of wedge, which may ulti-
mately bring about the appointment Of clerks
to members Of the House of Representive was
driven into the congressionaltrunk yesterday by
Representative John ]. O'Neill. His resolution
provides that the committee on accounts are
hereby authorized to employ stenoSraphers
who shall be placed under tho control of said
committee. The duty OF said stenographers
shall be to aid the members OF the House in
their work, and shall be paid out of the contin-
actual amount of work done as is customary.
The number of stenographers to be determined
by the committee on accounts" q.
THE IDAHO ELECTION CONTEST.
Argumentslwere begun before the Senate COM
mittee on privileges and elections this morning
in the Idaho contest of Dubois and Claggettfor
a seat in the U. s. Senate. Senator Dubois now
holds the scat which is contested by Mr. Clag-
gett on the allegation that he was not legally
elected by the legislature of Idaho Counsel for
the contestant began his argument by reading the
memorial OF Mr.. Claggott. which set forth the
controlling facts OF his case and gave detailed
history cf.the election by the legislature of the
three persons to represent the state in the SEN
ate. The brief also described the contest which
preceded the formation of the two houses of
the legislature; the election of officers of these
two bodies and their organization. Counsel
referred in brief to tho controlling question
raised by the contestant, which he though.
was whether the election which occurred on
the first Tuesday after the formation of the
legislature was valid election.
He quoted the statutes providing for the cleo
ton OF Senators and asserted that the proceed-
ings were not valid, az there had been no
record made Of them, owing to the fact. he
said, that the clerks of the senate and house
had not been sworn in until Tuesday. which
dispelled the idea that there had been any
organization until that day. The fact that no
journal Of the nrst days proceedings had
been made was an evidence that the organiza-
ton was invalid. Several legal authori-
ties we're quoted by counsel in his
Interpretation of the statutes governing the
organization Of the legislature. A letter was
read by Mr.. Claggott from Secretary Blaine
setting forth the practice Of the State Depart |
ment in reckoning the time which must eiapse |
after the passage Of q bill before il becomes a |
law without the Presidents signature. Coun- |
sci, in summing up his argument, held that |
il the conclusion was reached that the legis- |
lature of Idaho was organized on Monday. |
when it had but one sworn officer, il would be |
contrary to all established precedent and to |
the meaning Of the law. recess was then
taken.
Marriage Licenses.
Nfarr;aOn liconcas b.va hz>..