The herald., 1893-02-02
IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
Appropriation Bills Passed by
the Senate.
The House Still Struggling with the
Sundry Civil Bill.
No Hope for the Repeal of the Sherman
Silver Act-rhe whisky Trust
investigation to Be
Very Thorough.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The senate or
dered conference with the house on
the anti-option bill; then took up the
notifications bill.
The bill gave rise to debate as to the
necessity of increased appropriations for
coast defenses. Hswley and Platt de-
rided the utter insufficiency of the ap'
preparation. German defended the
action of congress, saying it had been
as liberal as it ought to be in the exper-
mental stage.
The fortiications bill was finally
passed.
The army appropriation bill was then
taken up and passed with single
amendment increasing the monthly pay
of sergeants of the army.
The District OF Columbia bill came
next in order. All the committee
amendments were agreed to, except one
reserved for action tomorrow, looking to
the erection of a 100000 municipal
building in Washington City, and the
bill went over.
FELTON, sent to the clerks desk and had
read resolutions adopted at the NEE ting
of the chamber of commerce at San
Francisco regarding the Hawaiian mat
ter. 1t was referred. Adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the house this morning the sp eaker
appointed Chapman Dem.) of Michi-
gan, and Lodge (Rep) of Massachu-
setts tellers on the part of the house
during the counting Of the electoral
vote. The house then resumed con-
sideration of the sundry civil bill.
The chair overruled the point of order
against river and harbor items in the
bill and the house proceeded to con-
slider them.
Without final action on the bill the
house adjourned.
THE SHERMAN SILVER ACT.
The Republican members of the sem
ate, under the direction of Sherman,
have completed the poll of the senate on
the proposed repeal of the Sherman sil-
yer act of 1890. 1t is said the result is
not at all satisfactory to those who have
looked forward to the possible repeal of
the act. According to common report,
it has been discovered that only about
eight members on the Democratic side
can be depended upon to vote for the
repeal, and the vote is even more dis
couraging on the Republican side. There
are some senators who fav or, or who
would vote for repeal, if the measure
came to vote, but who will not vote to
bring the matter under consideration.
1t is also understood that majority of
seven or eight on the Republic an side Of
the chamber is against bringing the
measure to vote.
WHISKY TRUST INVESTIGATION.
The judiciary committee pro poses to
outline the scope Of its investigation
into the whisky trust on Friday, and it
is said will make the inquiry broad
one. Breckenridge of Arkansas sought
to give tariff twist to the discussion
today by introducing a resolution recit-
ing that the whisky trust received ''pro-
lection" to the extent of $l.50 proof
gallon on the enhanced rates of duty on
foreign spirits imposed by the Mckinley
bill, and providing that to stop gross
favoritism, extortion of money and
adulteration and crime promoted by the
whisky trust, the same tax shall here
after be levied on compounded spirits as
on imported alcohol.
PANAMA INVESTIGATION.
The Panama and Pacific Mail special
investigating committee met today for
consultation. 1t was decided to tele-
graph ex-Secretsry Thompson of In
diana to be present as the first witness.
He will be heard on Saturday or earlier
if he can get here before that time !;
afterwards the committee will 60 to
New York
ARIZONA COUNTED IN.
The Republican senatorial caucus this
morning decided to admit Arizona,
together with the other three territories
previously decided on.