Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-04
IN CONGRESS TODAY
Matters That Came Up in the Senate
and House.
MINNESOTA SENATOR'S CREDENTIALS
A War Claims Rule Excites Much
Opposition.
THE HOUSE RRIES IT

L l.
Secretary Carlisle submitted a letter Of
Information to the Senate today, which
dissipates the gloomy forebod.ngs as to
lack of revenue to carry on the govern
ment. 1t Is in response to a resolution
of inquiry adopted last week when Mr..
German (Id.) urged the seriously crippled
condition of the treasury. Mr.. Carlisles
letter is brief and to the point. and esti-
mates that the revenues for the current
year will exceed expenditures by s22563.-
O2a
The text of the letter is as follows: 'In
reply to Senate resolution of January %,
1898, that the Secretary Of the Treasury
be directed to inform the Senate what Is
the estimated deficiency in the revenues
of the government to pay current ex-
penses between the 31st Gay of December,
1894, and the 31st day of December. 1895.
and if the 53.337,57o.99 cash balance in
the treasury on the 31st day of Decem-
ber, 1894. will be sufficient to meet such
deficiency" I have the honor to state
that from estimates made upon the basis
of laws now in force it Is believed that
for the twelve months ending December
81, 1895. the revenues Of the government
from all sources Will exceed Ordinary eX-
penditures by so. 56s,02
Respectfully,
(SigneD J. G.. CARLISLE, Secretary.
The reading of the letter was closely fol-
lowed bv the Senate.
Mr. Mcpherson On. J) went to the clerks
desk to personally inspect it. Then Mr:
Aldrich R - sent for it, and a group of
republican Senator'S gathered apout MN
and read it over his shoulder. Mr.. Cor
man smiled significantly at the Secretary's
aof nd n0SjfjVo estimate of the ample
ness OF revenues.
Judge JncksOn's Retirement.
Mr. Villas (Wis). from the Judiciary COM
mittee, favorably reported the bill retiring
Mr.. Justice Howell Jackson from the
United States Supreme Court bench. and
asked immediate consideration of the meas
ure. Mr.. Aldrich, still holding Secretary
Carlisle's letter, suggested that there were
some other things which would prevent
the full consideration of this measure, ana
it accordingly went over.
Mr. Davis (Minn) presented the Gre
dentials of Knute Nelson. elected Senator
from that state for six years beginning
March next.
The House bill to establish national
military park at Gettysburg. Pa, was
passed.
Unanimous consent was secured to con.
slider bill for the classification OF minerai
lands in Montana and 1t was done, with the
that there would be no op,
position, but spirited debate arose, anu
Mr.. German interpcsed an ob)ectlon WINCH
sent the bill over.
The resolution was agreed to calling on
the interstate commerce commission TO FUR
nish information as to contracts Det"een
the Canadian Pacific Railroao COMPANY
and American lines by which the former
refrained from competing on freight ana
traffic in certain localities.
The House bill was passed to regulate
commerce on the great lakes ana con
meeting waters as to lights, signals, ETC..
to exterd the international code aiready
established.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF
the District of Columbia appropriation bill.
THE HOUSE.
The omnibus war claims bill was consid-
cred in the House today. Some pre1mi-
nary routine business preceded the presen-
tation Of the special order. The conference
report on the Notifications and army ap-
bills were adopted Bills were
passed to authorize the Arkansas and
Northwestern Railroad Company to con-
struct a road across the Indian territory;
to authorize the governor of Alaska to
create precincts and appoint justices of the
peace.
Mr.. Catchings, from the committee on
rules, then introduced a special order for
the consideration of the omnibus war
claims BILL 1t gave the day to the consid-
Grafton of the bill, with provision for a
vote at o'clock. Under its terms any
item in the bill not for stores and supplies,
fayorably reported upon by the Court of
Claims under the Bowman act of 1888, and
fayorably reported from the claims com
mittee. should be subject to point Of
order.
Protests Against the Rules.
Mr.. Mahon Pa) questioned the right Of
the committee on rules to bring in such
rule.
Mr.. Beltzhoover Pa) made an indignant
speech, protesting against the rule. he
characterized this as an attempt of the
rules committee to ride roughshod over
decided majority OF the war claims COM
mittee. .,s
He appealed to the Speaker not to hold
that such a report was in order.
Mr. Catchings, in reply, warmly declared
that every item in the bill had been found
due by the Court Of Claims, and had been
favorably reported from the committee on
war claims. The omnibus bill, to which
Mr.. Beltzhoover had referred, on the other
hand, had contained claim of $1,000. 600
bv certain citizens Of Pennsylvania, which
had never been favorably acted upon by
the Court of Claims. Addressing himself
to the merits of the bill, MT Catch1ngs
priated for war claims, despite the public
impression that the sum was much larger.
Point of Order Overruled.
After soma further debate en- the point
of order, in the course Of which Mr.. Her
mann (Oregon) protested against the meth
cd of legislation proposed by this order as
an usurpation Of power by the committee
on rules, the Speaker overruled the point
Of order He said that in bringing in such
an order tha committee on rules uSurped
nothing. 1t simply provided for the dis
charge of thu committee on war claims
from the further consideration Of this bill
in order that the House might have an op
portunity to consider 1t.
Mr.. Catchings then demanded the pre-
yious question. On rising vote 1t was
ordered (97-73, but Mr.. Mahon Pa.) made
the point of no quorum, and Mr.. Catch
ings demanded the yeas and nays. and the
roll was called.
The previous question was ordered Q2S-
9O Under the rules, fifteen minutes were
then allowed on a side for debate.
Conrad and Dickinson Favorably Re-