Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-14
SENATE AND HOUSE.
What is Going on in the National
Legislature Today.
FEDERAL ELECTIONS BILL REPORTED.
The Postal Note Abolished by the
House.
MR.. VOORHEES, SILVER BILL.

vive President Stevenson. having returned
from his trip to Augusta, Ca, presided over
the Senate today. Ex-senator Sawyer of
Wisconsin was in the chamber at the open
ing of the session and was warmly greeted
by his former associates.
Several petitions, including one from a
"tailors union" Of West Superior, Wis, in
favor of the government ownership or con-
troll of the telegraph system, were presented
and referred.
Election Bill Reported.
Mr.. Vance On. c.. from the committee on
privileges and elections, reported back favor
ably the House bill! to repeal the federal
election laws, and II was placed ON the
calendar.
Notice of a minority report was given by
Mr.. Chandler On. H). who gave the names
of the dissenting members of the committee
as Mesrs. Hoar (Mass.), Mitchell (Ore.).
Higgins Oel) and Chandler On. H..
FOrd's Theater Sufferers.
Senate joint resolution relieving the en-
ployes Of the record and pension office
who were injured in the Ford's Theater
disaster, from the operation Of the law re-
stricting the amount of sick leave and pay.
was reported as passed.
On motion of Mr. Cameron (Pa1 It was
ordered that when the Senate adjourn today
the adjournment shall be till Monday next
To Coin the seiRniornee.
Mr.. Voorhees, Qnd.). chairman Of the
finance committee, introduced bill for the
coinage of silver dollars. the retirement OF
small denominations Of gold and paper
money, and for other purposes. 1t pro-
vides for the coinage Of the seigniorage
silver now in the treasury at a rate not
less than two millions monthly (Which shall
be covered into the treasury, the purchase
and coinage of not less than two millions
of silver per month, when the seigniorage
is all coined. and the retirement of all notes
below $40, in favor of larger notes. and of
$50 and s. gold rieces, which are to be
called in and Cancelled. 1t also provides for
another monetary conference.
To FIX the Responsibility.
A resolution offered last session by Mr.. Har-
ris Crenn) for the appointment OF a select
committee on the Ford Theater disaster
to inquire into the circumstances and to
fix the compensation to be allowed to the
representatives Of the twenty-five en-
ployes who were killed and to the larger
number who were injured In that disas-
ter, was taken UP and discussed-Mr. Hale
(Me.) taking the ground that the work
should be done by one OF the standing COM
mittees of the Senate. In the course OF
the discussion Mr. Dolph (Ore) suggested
that the matter should be referred to the
judiciary committee, and the question OF
liability reported and decided.
A Select Committee of Five.
That suggestion was adopted and enforced
by Mr.. Hoar (Mass.). and the resolution was
modified, with the consent Of Mr.. Harris
(who offered it), SO as to make II read tiat
a select committee of five Senators shall be
appointed to investigate the Fords Theater
disaster and report to the Senate whether
in equity and justice, the government should
compensate the sufferers from that disaster.
Mr.. Sherman (Ohio) regretted the modifi-
cation OF the resolution, and declared his
belief that II was the feeling among every
Senator that the government should render
a generous and liberal allowance for the
persons in its employment, who. by the
neglect and fault, perhaps, of officers Of the
government and perhaps Of others, were
hurried to death, serious injury and pain.
He thought that the equitable liability CT
the government was clear and unquestioned.
EJust Claim for Relief.
"The claim Of these men," said Mr.. Gull
lom, in reference to a remark Of Mr.. Dolph,
'is better than one thousand cases where
relief has been granted by Congress"
YES" said Mr.. Dolph. energetically. bet
ter than ten thousand"
IF have an opportunity of voting COM
pensation in the case" Mr.. Cullom said. Il
intend to vote for it,
Il am in favor of paying these people" {"
Mr.. Dolph said, but / want the Senate to
act intelligently. / want to establish a
precedent which will stand hereafter"
Mr.. George CMiss) argued that the Sem
| ate ought, calmly and in a judicial and fair
temper. decide first what liability it would
assume, and then 1t would be time enough
| to determine the amount of compensation.
Mr.. White Oa) indorsed the view of Mr..
George as prominently proper.
| Mr.. Pasco (Fla-) argued that, whatever
might be the legal liability Of the govern
| ment in the matter, the disposition of the
Senate and Of the people was decidedly in
| favor of compensating the sufferers from
| the Ford's Theater disaster.
Finally the resolution was adopted, in
structing the committee to inquire into the
| liability of the government. and as to the
| compensation to be allowed in each case.