Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-17
THE HOUSE.

At the opening Of the session Of the
House today Mr.. Hermann (Ore) presented
q preamble and resolution declaring that
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty was an. OBJ
stacle to the construction of an inter-
oceanic canal and that 1t should be abro-
gated. He asked for its immediate con-
sideration. but on Mr.. Sayers' motion 1t
was referred to the committee on foreign
affairs.
Fifteen OF the sixteen pension bills favor
ably reported from the Friday night SEES
sion were then passed without objection.
in exactly four minutes. but Mr.. Martin
QndD, chairman of the invalid pensions
committee, opposed the last BILL one to
increase the pension of the widow. of
Clark p Crandall. late captain company
C. first regiment Oregon volunteer ,infan-
ground that it would set a dangerous pre-
cedent. In reply to question from Mr..
McMillin Tenn.) Mr.. Martin stated that
over 100000 widows were on the pension
rolls and the passage of this bill would
create a precedent for special legislation
looking to an increase In all those cases.
/ Mr.. Hermann Dre.) detailed the circum-
stances which, in his opinion. made this
case an exceptional one, but the bill was
Iecommitted.
The Forest Reservation Bill.
This being the third Monday of the
tee on public lands, took advantage of he
privilege given him by the rules to move
to pass, under a suspension Of the rules
the bill to protect public forest, reserva-
tions. This bill had occasioned much dis
Cussion in the House and had been bitterly
antagonized. 1t had been, however, made
acceptable to some of the western mem
bers.
Mr. McRae reviewed the arguments in
favor of the bill, after which Mr.Wells
(Wis.) took up the bill. ...-.
He charged that rascality was behind
the bill and predicted that those who were
pushing it through with whip and spur
would live to regret their acton. 1t would
give to the Secretary of tie Interior, he
said, whether his name was Smith or
Jones, absolute control over JOWO,WU acres
of timber land, a principality greater than
Oregon; he could dispose of the forests Of
the people as he chose by stroke of his
pen. 1t placed the army at his back Sec
and would be again. This bill would Der-
NIT $4,000, 900 acres of timber to be stolen
under the guise of law.
Speaking of a letter written by Mr.. Bow
ers, assistant commissioner of the land Of
fee, to Chairman McRae, he said IT looked
to him as If that man was financially in
| terested. He did not charge it, but he be-
lieved it as firmly as he believed In God
In conclusion Mr.. Wells said he refused to
stand as sponsor for another brood Of
saw-log statesmen.
Mr.. Hermann (Oregon), Coffeen NWyoD,
Pence (Col) and Bowers (Cal) bore testi-
mony to the probable beneficiary effects of
the bill, pointing out that the objections TO
the original bill had been eliminated.
Mr.. McRae, in closing the debate, denied
that there was one iota of truth in the
suggestion that this bill dictated by
the timber kings. They We're opposed to it.
IL was the duty OF Congress, ne declared,
to preserve these reservations, and no
amount of Islander and viifications had in
Inundated members. The vote on the pas
sage of the bill was taken by yeas and
nays.
The vote resulted, 1888, and the bill
was passed more than two-thirds having
voted in the affirmative.
Mr.. Springcr's Report.
Mr. Springer, Illinois, chairman Of the
committee on banking and currency, then
presented the report of the majority on the
Carlisle. banking bill, and 1t was ordered
| printed together with the minority report
| to he presented by Mr.. Walker (rep.), Mas
sachusetts, and the hearings before the
committee. Mr.. Springer announced that