The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-21
FTFTY-THIRD CONGRESS- CONGRESS,
TIE HOUSE WAS LIVELY YESTERDAY
AND DID GOOD WORK.
another Star Is Added to the Banner and
New Mexico in Good shaps-Poor Old
Acsarrahan Is Again Disappointed.
Committee Work,
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l5.-The course
Oh events in the house today resembled
the halcyon days of the Reed congress,
when legislation was rushed through
at galloping speed. The bill for the
admission of Arizona was put through
under whip and spur, and the one for
the admission of New Mexico was we'll
under way when debate was precip-
itated that lasted until adjournment.
The bulk of Eastern opposition to the
territories, as expressed by Mr.. Bing-
ham, was predicted on the theory
that while the Eastern states were rich
in wealth and strong in population
and able to hold their own in the
house, where the basis of representa-.
ton, population and influence of the
great states of the Union would be
overbalanced by the greatly increased
state representation in the senate.
The McGarrahan claim, which came
up again 10 the morning hour, was fill
clustered against and the morning hour
expired without-action thus sending
the bill to the foot of the calendar.
When the morning hour expired
General Wheeler moved a committee of
the whole on Arizona statehood. The
Republicans continued their tilibuster-
ing tactics and the yeas and NAYS were
demanded AS yesterday, the Repub-
licans, except a few from the West, re
fused to vote in order to break QUO
rum. They were not successful, as the
motion was carried, 1879 to 5. The
amendment to reduce the percentage
on sale of public lands to be set aside
as permanent fund for common
school purposes from 10 to 5, was
adopted.
Mr. Hepburn ia }, in an impassioned
speech precipitated a lively discussion
on the merits of the bill. He said
the house ought to stop and
consider what it proposed
to do when it passed this
bill. 1t proposed to give to Arizona
four sections in every range or one"
ninth of the total area of the state, H.
600, 900 acres. In addition to that it
gave part of the sale of the proceeds of
one-ninth of the land, besides several
other grants of 100000 acres.
Mr.. Smith ARIZONA delegate) inter
rupted to declare that Arizona would
get by this bill just what Iowa got.
This Mr.. Hepburn denied.
Mr.. Bowers (Cal.) drew graphic
picture of the valleys of Arizona, more
fertile, he declared, than the plains of
the Nile. In five years, he predicted,
the population of Arizona would be in
creased fourfold.
Mr.. Cockrell (Tex.) said the sorry
question of politics had been raised ia
connection with the bill. Instead of
desiring to cut down land grants in
the bill he would be glad to see all
government territory in Arizona turn
ed over to the state.
Very few amendments were adopted.
Motions to consolidate the judicial dis.
tricts Of Utah and Arizona and reduce
the salary of the federal judge were
defeated. The bill for the admission
of Arizona passed, 1856 to go.
AS soon as the vote was announced
Mr.. Wheeler moved that the house 60
into committee of the whole on the
bill for admission of New Mexico. The
motion carried. The debate that fol-
lowed took wide range. 1t was par
ia by Messrs, Hatch, Simp-
son, Dunn, Springer. Washington and
Clark (M.) At the conclusion of Mr..
Clark's speech the committee rose and
the house adjourned.
NICARAGUAN CANAL
The house committee on interstate
and foreign commerce, after listening
to arguments by Morgan of Alabama
and Frye of Maine, reported favorably
the Joint resolution of Representative
Doolittle of Washington for the APP
pointment of q commission OF three
senators and six members to investi-
gate the present status of the Mica
ragua canal project. Senator Morgan
recited at length the past history of
the enterprise ana it's struggle to OBJ
tain government recognition. He
thought the time had come
when it should be decided
whether the United States
would aid the project or abandon it
He declared that the
world was determined to have the
canal and if the United should not
build it some other nation would. He
pointed out the advantages of control
of the canal by the United States, and
hoped the resolution would
be adopted. Senator Frye also spoke
in favor of the resolution. He stated
that the government which controls
the Nicaragua canal would also con-
Crol the Hawaiian islands, and 1t
would be useless for this country to
annex those islands unless control of
the canal was assumed.
SILVER CONFERENCE.
The conference of the leading silver
men of the country to devise means
and ways to continue the fight for free
silver coinage was opened today at the
neadq uarters of the Metallic league.
The most familiar faces OF silver lead
,rs were there The conference was
behind closed doors. General Warner,
president of the Bimetallic league said |
The meeting would probably last sew
,ral days, as it was intended
20 fully canvass the sentiment of BIZ
and reach some conclusion
10 TO the course to be pursued. The