The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-16
FIFTY-SECOND CONGRESS-.
THE CAR COUPLER BILL FINALLY
PASSED BY THE SENATE.
Pension Bill Was Before the House and a
Fight Made Against Transferring to War
Department President Received
Hawaiian Commissioners.
SENATE.

promote the safety of employees and
travellers upon railroads by compell-
ing railroad companies TO equip their
cars with automatic couplers aud con-
tinuous brakes aud locomotives with
driving wheel brakes, was finally dis
posed OF in the senate today. The SUBJ
stitute for the house bill of last session
was agreed to aud the bill passed.
Yeas SO, nays 10.
The only other important piece of
Legislation was agreeing to the con-
ference report on the Notifications bill
and making the Nicaragua canal bill
unfinished business. The coupler bill
now goes back to the house. Mega
tive votes were Senators Blodgett,
Bryce, Daniel, George, German, Har.
ri-, Morgan, Sawyer, Stewart and
Vance. After the confeIe nce aud
Nicaragua bill action was referred and
the senate adjourned.
HOUSE
The house today resumed in com.
mittee OF the whole conside ration OF
the invalid penslO appropriation bill.
An attempt to limit debate gave rise
to tilibustering movement aud the
motion tor Limitation was Withdrawn.
Messrs. Curtis ond Harris opposed
the proposed war department amend
ments OF the pension laws. On the
OF her hand Mr.. Livingston approved
them and did so as d Southern man.
He was frank to admit that political
Influence was powerful today under
the administration of Commissioner
Raum. This p 'lltical influence des
troyed the whole organization.
The committee rose and public bust
ness having been suspended the house
paid due respect to the memory of the
Edward +. Mcdonald of New Jersey
aud adjourned.
NOMINATIONS.
The president sent to the senate to-
day the following nominations:
J. V. l.. Ftndlay of Maryland, arbi-
traitor on the p art OF the United States;
G. II. Shields of Missouri, agen: of the
United State-; A. w. Ferguson of the
District OF Columbia, secretary on the
part Jt the United States, under the
treaty for the claims commission be
tween the United States ami Guile.
RECEIVED THE COMMISSIONERS.
President Harrison informally re-
ceiv.d the Hawaiian commissioners
and accepted their credentials as rep
resentat YES of the present provisional
ut tins afternoon. Secretary
Foster presented each member of the
separately, and when that
IormallUy was over they presented
their credentials to he president, who
accepted them and referred them to
80 rotary o. state to be placed on file
in that depari ment. There was d
brief but Informal reference to
Ha Waiiau affairs.
PANAMA INVESTIGATION.
Colne, secretary of the American
committees, Was ag Tin on the witness
stand this morning before the Panama
investigation con mittee. His testi-
mony threw no light on the subject.
Finally it was decided to 90 to New
York Monday and have new sub
peneas requiring several witnesses
wanted to be at the postotfice buildiDg
Monday morning. Boyard, Jas. K
Seelegman, E. A. Adams of Winslow,
Lamar u Co.. ami Nathan Appleton Of
b ,stOn are wanted as wit esses.
sENATE COMMITTEE CHANGES.
In anticipation of the fruits OF their
recent Victory the Democrats are now
discussing probable changes in senate
committees. One OF the most impOr-
tant OF these is the finance, when will
he presided over by Voorhees,, who is
the ranking member on
the Democratic side. 1t has
been said that Harris, owing
10 succession to the chairmanshlp of
the District of Columbia commit 70
will withdraw from The tiuance COM
mittee but is unlikely that the sena-
tor from Tennessee will relinqulsh his
share IN the work Of this committee,
which he finds coDgeniai. Carlisle OF
course retires, aud that leaves n place
for another Democrat senator Vest
f Missouri is said to have D. wish to
get upon this committee. The South
is demanding another representative
in addition TO Vance, and Mills is
said to be mau whom Southern SEN
ators will put forward. 1t Is whis-
pered that Cleveland has expressed a
wish to have one of his personal
friends upon this committee, aud Sen
atOr Villas is looked upon as the nat.
ural choice OF the presIdent'el elect.
SPECIE RESUMPTION.
Senator Sherman gave notice today
that he would offer an ameudmeEt to
some general appropriation bill en-
aiding the secretary of the treasury TO
carry out the specie resumption act
by the issue at not less tban par in
coin, either of a description of bonds
authorized in said act or bonds OF the
United States bearing not to exceed 3
per cent interest to the extent reces
cary to carry said resumption act into
full effect. In the face of the heavy
shipment of gold TOR two weeks past
the treasury within the past two days
has increased its net gold by So, $780,
100 to $l1, 1921 78 free gold.
CONTESTED SENATORIAL SEATS.
Democratic members of the senate
com nlttee on privileges and elections
are IN almost daily conference relative
to probable contests in the next sen
ate. Yesterday thee gentlemen held