The herald., 1895-12-13
THE F|FTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
The Senate Proceeds to Enact
ment of Laws
FREE SEEDS AND FUNERALS
Forr Subjects OF Resolution and Sem
atoriat Discussion
Grow of PENNSYLVANIA Opens Up the Discus
sion OF Tariff Tor Re wenue-Congress
Adjourns Unt.S Monday

Associated Press special WI re.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 49, The proceedings
of the senate today were more varied
They covered the entire rang e OF Legislation
from the introduction of efitions' DIS
and resolutions to the passage' OF oliis. ano
included two formal address SEES. A OIL
extending the Chicago port of entry SO as
to cover the state of Illinois eceived me
final endorsement of the senate.s having al
ready passed the house. This will proba-
bly be the first bill of he fifty-i onrth con-
gress to become law.
The proceedings today began with
presentation of the usual petitions for the
recognition of belligerent rights OF Cuban
insurgents.
Cameron and Harris offered motions Tor
adjournment of the senate until Monday
wien it should adjourn tod ~. and the
vice-presiden created ripple of lauG1'er
by putting both motions at once. Illey
were adopted
Stewart of Nevada, Populist. introduced
n resolution instructlng the committee on
finance to inquire into this rates OF eX-
change between the gold standard and sill
yer standard counties and their effect on
the agricult raj and manufacturing inter-
ests, and gave notice of speech on Mon
day.
White of California, Democrat, presented
an amendment to the senate rules requir-
ing all debate in the senate be relevant to
the subject before the senate.
Senator FRYE reiDtroduced his bill for the
settlement of the Pacific railroads intebt-
edness. The bill is based upon an investI-
cation made six years ago by the commit
lee of which Senator Frye was chairman.
1t Droyides for Incorporating the roads and
branches in one general company and CIV
ing a mortgage to the government on the
whole property. with bonds running 100
years with gradually increasing interest,"
beginning for the first 10 years at per
cent and increasing to = per cent.
On motion of Mr.. HansbrouRh a resolu-
ton was passed calling upon the secretary
of agriculture for informa ion as 10
whether he had expended all or any part
of the last appropriation for the purchase
and distribution of seeds. Secretary Nor
ton has refused to spend this money.
Call then addressed the senate upon his
resolution. declaring it 10 be he duty of
the civilized powers to suppress the cru
elites alleged to be perpetra ed upon the
Armenian subiPcts OF Turkey by the
Turkish authorities. Call said that while
it was the accepted policy of this govern
Inent TO avoid participation III foreign
complications, he did not understand it to
mean that we SHOULD not interfere 10 pre-
vent such crue ty ard barbarian as mad
been enacted in Armenia. He thought
the United States should at least express
encouragement to the civilized powers in
the effort they are making 10 suppress
these oulbursts of bgotTy. superstition,
cruelty and crime.
Mr.. PETER (Pop kas.) spoke upon his
bill, to regulate congressional funerals. his
attention had been first called TO this ques'
ton by charges made in the newspapers.
and after investigating the matter, he had
concluded that the system now pursued
f. al come IN ne seriously abused.
He instanced the obsequies of the la C
Senator Plumb. in which he had partlcl-
pated, and said that. while the cost of the
funeral had amounted to over $4,000. the
average value of an American farm, he
had learned that the amount fell below the
average
Mr. PETER declared that the expenditures
on account of funerals were continually
growing until the average cost had in
creased to $4542. The last thirteen burlals
of he seventy-three which had occurred in
the senate, had cost more than all the
other sixty. OF the l07 senators who had
died while in service, the expenses were
greatest in the case of the late senator
George Hearst of alfornia. whose funeral
expenses were S2l 1872. He objected to
regarding the treasury as subject OF COM
mon plumber for those who choose to prey
upon it, and said the best way to get rid of
the odium of such custom was TO stop it..
lie asked, in conclusion, that the bill be
made The unfinished business of the senate.
A bill was introduced by Senator Thurs
ton, increasing all pensions % per cent !:
also for establishing school of forestry in
come elton with the department of agri-
culture.
BY senator Dubois, giving the states of
Colorado, California, Ore gon. Washington.
Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming and
south Dakota % per cent of the fluids from
the sale of mineral lands for the support
Of state schools.
The senate then went into executive ses-
sion, and at > o'clock adjourned until
Monday.