The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-28
CONGRESS.
Abstract of the aMOre Important
Proceedings of Both Houses.
TUESDAY, DEC. 10.

TUESDAY, DEC. 10.
In the Senate, Mr.. Frye stated that two
years ago French cable. company applied to
| our Secretary of State, Mr.. Blaine. for permits
sion to land it's cable from, Brazil on the coast
of the United States. Our Secretary Of State
| Investigated the matter aud found that this
company had. by authority of the law Of Brazil,
| monopoly. and that 10 other company while
| that company was in existence-and it was
| IN perpetUans-could be permitted to land o
| cable on the Brazilian coast. Our Secretary
| OF State refused the permission asked, unless
that company would authorize any cable COM
| pany of the United States to land its cable on
! the Brazilian coast That refused by the
company. After Mr. Blaine retired, that COM
pany, think under another name or under a
modified name. applied to the then Secretary
of State, Mr.. Foster. For some reason or other
| his suspicious were aroused and be caused II
| thorough investigation TO be made, with like
result, and another refusal WAS made. Subse-
| queDtly appeal was made to Congress. but the
Committee of Commerce gave the matter a full
| hearing and refused the permission unan-
mously. Now he was in formed that lately the
company appeared before the Democratic Sec
rotary of State, and he, without looking into
| the subject, granted the permission. If that
i be true, and there is no remedy TO he had for
/ it, then the United States will be perpetually
| kept from landing a cable the coast of
! Brazil. In view of these facts he offered the
following resolution, and asked its adoption:
Resolved. That the Secretary of State inform the
| Senate whether permission has been granted to
| any foreign cable telegraph company To band i,s
line the coast of the United States since the first
! of March, 1893 and whether permission had been
| refused such company prior tn that day. Also
! what reasons now exist for granting such permis-
! sion IF il were granted) which did not pertain
| when IL was previously refused.
Consideration ryoe nb;,o,ad IN md tba ro,o
| luton went over.
Mr. Berry then addressed the Senate in favor
| Of the House bill to repeal the Federal election
| laws. He believed that those laws vicious
| in principle and bad in policy; that they had
been passed for an unjust purpose, and that
they tended in their character to defeat the
very Object for which it WAS claimed they were
| enacted-free and fair elections.
After further routine business, the Senate at
4:55 adjourned.
In the House. the litter feeling aroused yes
to-day had scarcely subsidized when the body
was called to order this morning, aud there
were signs of strife in the air which accurately
forecast the events of tho morning.
Immediately after the reading of yester-
days journal Mr.. Breckenridge Ky, d. made
an attempt to bring mp the urgency deficiency
bill, but his motion 10 that effect was drowned
in the storm of appeals for recognition which
came from both sides of the House.
NJ. Cochran introduced his resolution rela-
tive to the Hawaiian revolution and ca ling for
| the appointment of special com mittee of seven
to investigate the matter.
Mr.. BOutelle had been demanding recognition
for some time and when the Speaker finally
recognized him stated that he had a substitute
resolution to offer amendment to the one
presented by Mr.. Cochran. The resolution was
read. 1t is in general condemnation of the Adj
m nj st raj Haux ati Ila
at length secured the floor and fought for the
consideration Of his resolution without refer
eDce.
Mr.. Boutelle then qnnted as precedent for
his resolution an incident which occurred i'm
1862. The battle of Balls Bluff, in which dis
aster overlook the Union arms, had just been
fought. and resolution Of inquiry was intro
duced in the House by Roscoe Conkling and
directed to the President of the United States
who referred it to the Secretary of War, Simon
Cameron. Mr. Conkiing astated that it was q
question OF privilege. and that the House was
entitled to the information asked for. The re.
plies of the Secretary of War and Of the Adj
jutant-General were read in the Hon<e, hut Mr..
Conkling said the answer was not responsive,
and demanded that the Secretary make answer.
And Notwithstanding the fact that the conn
try was in the midst of q civil war" said Mr..
Bontelie, "the President recognized the right
Of the House to this information, and directed
the Secretary to furnish it,"
The Speaker decided that this case was not a
precedent, and, amidst cries of Regular or
derl Regular order!" Mr.. Boutelle appealed
from the decision of the chair.
Mr.. McCreary moved TO lay that motion on
the table, and on this motion the Republicans
fought for every inch of ground. When the
Speaker announced that on the viva. voce vote
the motion of Mr.. McCreary had been agreed
to division WAS demanded, and the Republic
cans were again defeated by a'vote of l55 10 Ga
Mr.. Boutele thereupon called tor the yeas and
nays, and again the Democrats won by a vote of
$50 10 80, and the appeal of Mr.. Boutelle from
the decision OF the chair was laid OH the table.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole for the consideration of the urgency de-
fciency bill, Mr.. Hatch in the chair
AS on yesterday when the committee rose the
clanse under consideration WAS that making
the appropriation for Special Examiners in the
Pension Office.
Mr.. Stone (Pa.) offered an amendment pro.
riding that no pension shall be revoked except
after final hearing, of which the pensioner
shall nave previous reasonable notice. with an
opportunity to produce evidence In support of
bis or her testimony, and in reply to that af-
fecting his or her right to receive pension.
This was amended as follows at the suggest
ion of Mr.. Martin: That any pension hereto
fore or that may hereafter be granted 10 any
applicant therefor under any law of the United
States authorizing the granting and payment
of pensions or application made aud adiudl-
Gated upon shall be deemed and held by all
officers OF the United States to be a vested
right in the grantee to that extent that pay
ment thereof shall not be withheld or sus-
pended until after due notice to the grantee of
not less than 80 days; the Commissioner of
Pensions, after hearing all the evidence shall
decide to annnl, vacate, modify or set aside the
decision upon which such pension was granted.
Such notice to grantee must contain full and
true statement of any charges or allegations
upon which such decision granting such pen.
sion shall be sought to be- in any manner dis
turhed modified
The amended resolution was then agreed to
by vote of 1913 TO 46
The final paragraphs OF the hill were then
read and the following amendment was offered
by Mr. Hayes: For mileage of members for the
first session of the 53d Congress, $3.50. O0O for
mileage of members for the second session of
the 53d Congress. $4,000.
AT this point the committee rose i'm formally,
and the Speaker having resumed the chair, M.
Wilson, from the GOmBittee on Ways and
Means reported the kariffsbill and moved that
it be printed and refsrredfio the Committee of
the Whole on the State of ahe Union.
discussion followed, and the bill referre J.
The discussion of Mr.. Hayes's amendment as
to mileage was then renewed, Mr.. Bland de.
claiming strongly against lit and Mr.. Holman
taking similar ground.