The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-13
SENATORS ON SEIGNIORAGE.
MesSrS. Villas and Allison Speak AGAINST
the Bland Bill.
THE PETER RESOLUTION DEFEATED
BY Good Msjority-senators Refuse to In
vestigste Each Other-Mr. Germans
Motion to Table Carried


Motion to Table Carried
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March r.
The vice-President being still absent
the Senate was presided over to-day by
Mr.. Harris. its official president pro
TEN. After some routine morning busi-
ness Mr.. Blanchard's credentials were
presented by his colleague Mr.. Cafery.
and read. and then Mr.. Blanchard, es-
corted by his colleague, went to the
Vice-Presidents chair and took the oath
OF office as administered to him by
the presiding officer. Attention was call
ed by Mr. Henderson (Rep., Neb). TO
the peculiar language Of the commits
sion, that Dir. Blanchard was appoint
ed a representative in the Senate of the
United States" There was no such
office Mr.. Henderson said known TO the
Constitution. The Office was that of
senator Of the United States-not a repre-
sentative In the Senate. He suggested
that amended credentials should be sub
stituted.
Mr.. Dolph (Rep., Ore), also called at
tention to the fact that the credentials
spoke of Mr.. Blanchard being appointed
to perform certain duties; the Constitu-
tion and law, he said, provided for the
performance of the duties Of the Office.
Attention was also called by Messrs.
Dolph and Cockrell Dem. MOI, TO the
circulars of a firm of Washington claim
agents. Harvey, Spaulding q Co., to
purchasers Of Northern Pacific railroad
lands. and to postmasters all over the
country, as to their salaries, which cir
culars were denounced by those senators
as a gross fraud and a swindle, and one
for which the parties should be prosecut-
ed and punished.
A substitute for the tariff bill was in
troduced by Mr.. PETER, and he gave
notice that he would seek an early OPP
portunity of addressing the Senate
on the subject
An amendment to the tariff bill was
also given notice of by Mr.. Gallinger
(Rep., y. H.. to the effect that the
bill should be operative, so far as impor-
tations from Canada were concerned, only
upon proclamation by the President, and
that commission should be appointed
looking to the freedom of commercial
intercourse with Canada.
The Investigation of Senator's.
The resolution offered last Friday by
Mr.. PETER for the investigation Of news
paper statements as to some senators
having been engaged in stock jobbing
specuiatiOns I'm sugar certificates, and
having made large profits therefrom, was
laid before the Senate and Mr.. German
moved TO lay the resolution upon the ta-
bic. Both senator's were notified by the
presiding officer that, as the resolution Gre
ated a charge against the contingent fund,
it could not be considered for any purpose
until It had been referred TO the Commit
tee on Contingent Expenses.
That objection was Immediately removed
by Mr. PETER modifying the resolution
by eliminating such portion OF it as re-
qUired expense to be incurred. and then
Mr.. PETER stated his reasons for offering
the resolution. He said that during the
last few weeks there has been gossip in
the newspapers, gossip in the States, gossip
in the Capitol, and gossip I'm the Senate
Chamber, as 10 influences which had been
operating IN the Senate 10 prevent certain
lines Of legislation. That gossip had be-
come so intense and so widespread that he
had felt Inundated. panied and wounded.
lie had waited and he sat for several
days, wondering what ought 10 be done,
and had finally concluded that IL was his
duty 10 call the matter 10 the attention
OF the Senate. lie was not always friend
iv % the metropolitan newspaper press,
but those papers We're among the great
powers Of the country and Of the world
for doing good as well as for doing harm
He knew nothing personally as 10 the
ruth of the charges, and had no intorma-
tion on the subject. but he thought that
the resolution should be speedily adopted
Mr.. German Opposes IL.
Mr.. German denounced the practice OF
bringing TO the attention of the Senate
all the newspaper gossip rejecting on
senators or the Senate IL seemed 10 hin
rs if there was organized "a well-organizec
attempt, encouraged i'm quarters where II
should receive no announcement 10 be-
little and degrade the Senate. He was sor-
~ to say that on some occasions the
Senate had been forced TO undue ano
hasty. il not imprudent, action In sucf
matters Now that a great measure Wa.
pending which his party was pledged &,
pass i'm some form, these attacks upon
senators seemed TO be renewed and he
was amazed that any senator should Zee
il his duty TO bring these newspaper
statements 10 The attention Of the Senate
Whatever might be the motive Of the
senator from Kansas. Mr.. German thought
be that a senator who was conscious o
his own integrity and who had a proper
appreciation OF the Senate, ought 10 know
that such a resolution was out OF place
and ought never 10 have been offered
The public press In nearly every State II
the Union was anxious for speedy actor
on the tariff, and the Senate was caiie'
upon to pass the bill. even when il ha'
not vet reached the portals OF the Senate
If the Senate were TO stop in the dlscharg
of its great duty TO investigate these idle
outrageous and infamous charges, legisla
ton would not proceed, and senator's ol
the Democratic side OF the chamber woul'
NOT be able TO discharge the duty Whlcl
they had promised 10 the country. III
denounced the proposition Of investigation
a,a trusted that the Senate would COM
bacls IN it's old time course OF action.
H. senator from Kansas, or any olhe
san,tor believed that the vindicauon o
S,r,ss1e vas necessary, that senator miSh
80 for an investigation; and later on
,,,nsn the senate had discharged It's puoil'
duties. he (Gorman) would consent
na,,s such charges taken up and inFes
tied The Senate would deliberate upoi
:, freely as II had always done. IL wouH
consider the bill in A broad spirit o.
An,er,canism. and he hoped the senate
,rouid amend IL as IT ought 70 be amend
"a He had no doubt that when th'
Finance Committee reported II to the sen
ATE the bill would be In better shape ina us
whsn il left the House. Senators on th'