The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-08-24
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF HOUSE COMMIT
TEES RELIEVES THE MONOTONY.
Many Surprises in Speaker Crisp's Slate
Bland Does Not Know How the Coin
age Committee Stands-No In
terest in the Speeches.
SENATE.

IN the senate today did not excite any
unusual interest, and at no time we're
the galleries well filled. The Lee
Mantle case was taken u dis
cussion it was decided to postpone a
vote on the resolution to seat Mantle
until Wednesday at p. IN.
Senator Chandler offered a resolu-
ton declaring there was no lawful
election of United States senator by
the joint assembly, which met jan
uary 20, 1898, at Topeka, Kan, and
that John Martin was not entitled to
seat as senator.
Senator Stewart offered a resolution,
which was agreed to, calling on the
secretary of the treasury for state
ment as to silver bullion purchased in
July, 1898, with prices, and as to silver
bullion offered for sale the same month
with prices asked.
The finance committee bill reported
last Friday disseminating the, pur-
chase of silver bullion, was then taken
up so as to afford Senator Morrill, an
opportunity of addressing the senate
in favor of the bill. He first, however,
asked and obtained indefinite leave of
absence, remarking that he was in the
senate chamber today against the adj
vice of his physician. At the conclu
sion of Senator Morrill's speech and
after som minor matters were dis
posed of, an executive session was had,
after which the senate adjourned.
HUosE.
Interest in the financial discussion
in the house was dwarfted today in
the greater interest every one felt in
the announcement of the standing
committees The speaker had kept
his intention so secret that surprises |
were anticipated, but no one was pre-
pared for the radical changes made in
the personnel Of some important com
mittees. Mr.. Bland of Missouri is re-
tanned at the head of the committee on
coinage, but the free coinage people |
we're disappointed in the committee
being so changed as to leave much
doubt whether the free coinage people
were not in the minority and whether
the financial policy of the
may not find
a majority in the committee.
Chairman Bland when asked for his
opinion as to how the committee
would stand. replied: Il don't know.
You can't tell how fellow stands
According to the way they
used to stand we would have a MAORI
ty of one for free coinage. But how
they stand now God Almighty only
knows"
After the house met this morning
Mr. Powers of Vermont took the floor
in support of the repeal of the pur-
chasing clause.
Mr. Hooker (Miss.) opposed the I'M
conditional repeal of the purchasing
clause.
Mr., Cooper Gnd.) spoke in opposi-
ton to free coinage.
Mr.. Alexander IN. O. advocated free
coinage.
Mr.. Sperry Conn opposed free
coinage and advocated the Wilson
bill.
Mr.. Settle said that in his canvass
he had opposed free coinage. The
furthest he would go was the coinage
of the American product. He was in
favor of bimetalism. He was not in
favor of striking down silver, but
opposed to free coinage of
silver in the absence of an interna
tional agreement.
KANSAS CITY PosToFFICE.
Postmaster General Bissell has re-
ceived the report of the inspectors who
recently made an investigation into
the alleged incompetent management
of the Kansas City postoffice. The
report makes no imputations against
the personal honesty of the postmas-
ter, but finds the irregularities in the |
office many and the discipline ex-
tremely lax.
COMBINATIONS.
The senate confirmed the following:
Scott Wike, Illinois, assistant secre-
tary of the treasury; Robert B. Bow
Ter, Ohio, first comptroller of the treas
ury; Chas. H. Mansur, Missouri, sec.
ond comptroller of the treasury; Jas.
F. Tillman. Tennessee, register of the |
treasury; Robert NJ. Cousar, Tennes-
see, deputy first auditor of the treas
ury; John G. Edwards, Illinois, deputy
second audltor'of the treasury; Elliot
~ Do" naii, 1nuldud, deputy fourth |
auditor of the treasury, VIM. ID. Craw-
ford, Louisiana, deputy auditor of the
treasury for the postoffice department.;
Thomas j. Lowe, secretary Oklahoma
territory.
WILL PAY OUT GOLD.
Orders were issued by the treasury
department to all sub -treasurers to |
pay out gold over their counters the
same as other classes of money. The
effect OF this is to practically place the
gold reserve among the available
treasury cash assets.
YELLOW FEVER.
The marine hospital bureau received
a telegram from DR.. Porter, state
health officer of Florida, stating that