Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-12-19
DO|NCS IN CONGRESS
The House Considering En-
largement Of Committees.

ment of Senator Voorhees, Anent
Secretary Carlisle's Report.
Washington, Dec. 17.-Secretary
Carlisle's annual report to congress
was laid before the senate by the vice
president few minutes after noon,
and at the same time printed copies
were placed upon the desks of sena-
tors. The most significant statement
drawn out by the report was, perhaps,
that of Mr.. Voorhees,, the present
chairman of the finance committee, who
expressed the belief that a resolution
declaring it to be inexpedient and un-
wise to retire the greenbacks
would scarcely receive fifteen mega
tive votes in the senate. Mr..
Quay presented petition of the
Wool Merchants association of Phila-
delphia and asked that it be read and
inserted in the record "That is a bad
Example, interposed Mr.. Sherman.
What is the petition p 1T asks" re-
sponded Mr.. Quay, THAT section X of
the tariff act of 1890, known as the
wool schedule of the Mckinley law, be
re-enacted as law" Mr.. Sherman
joined in the general smile. Certainly
there could be no objection to that"
said he, and the petition was thereupon
read. Mr. PETER offered a resolution
calling on the postoffice department for
information as to the practice of inn
posing fines on employees; also for in
formation as to the restrictions placed
on postal employees against comforting
with senators and representatives re-
garding legislation The resolution was
referred Mr.. Gallinger, rep, N. H.,
offered resolution calling for reports
from all government departments as to
the number of aliens employed, and it
was referred to the committee on civil
service reform. Mr.. Stewart, pop, New,
then addressed the senate on the pend
ing resolution, for a committe to inves-
tigate the needs of labor and agricul-
ture.
House of Representatives.
The most important matter before
the house to-day is the consideration OF
amendments to the rules SO as to in
crease the membership of the leading
committees from fifteen to seventeen
(the number in the last house, and for
the creation of an additional committee
on elections. Quite heated debate
occurred yesterday afternoon over
resolution offered by Mr.. Flynn, rep,
Okla. The Oklahoma member asked
unanimous consent for the considera-
tion of resolution which, after recit-
ing the passage on March 2, 1895, of
the joint resolution for the ratification
of the agreement between the Wichita
Indians and the United States commits
sioners for the allotment of lands,
called upon the secretary of the interior
to inform the house about the reason
for the delay in the appointment of the
alloting agents and whether any of the
blood connections of the secretary of the
interior were interested in delaying the
opening of these lands to settlement.
In explaining his resolution, Mr. Flynn
said that the last congress had passed
a law directing the opening of the
reservation of the Wichita and affili-
ated bands of Indians, and the secre-
tary of the interior, SO far as he, Mr.
in the matter. At least it had not been
done, as the law plainly directed, and
he wished to know the cause of the de-
lay. 1t was known fact in Oklaho-
ma that Secretary Smith had a lot OF
relatives who were profting by he
delay. They were acting as attorneys
for the Indians He, Mr.. Flynn, had
seen n contract by which man was
to receive $2,7o0 if he could prevent
Secretary Smith from ratifying the
agreement. Mr. Cooper, dem, Fla,
defended Secretary Smith, character
izing Mr.. Flynn's remarks as extraor-
dinary. Usually the gentleman from
Oklahoma exhibited proper ideas of
decency in addressing the house, but he
had sadly failed to-day. Mr.. Flynn,
he thought, had indulged in language
regarding cabinet officer unbecom-
ing member of the house.
His Letters Unanswered.
Mr.. Flynn, replying to Mr.. Cooper,
admitted that he had some feeling in
the matter. Explaining this, he said
that last summer he had come 1 ZOO
miles to see the president to find out
why Secretary Smith had not complied
with the law. lie made several attempts
to see the president, but failed. He saw
Private Secretary Thurber, who told
him to drop the president a note. He
did SO and waited week for reply;
received none, tried again to see the
president, but failed. In his efforts to
obtain information on the subject. he
had written Secretary Smith several
Hetters, to which he had received no re-
| ply. He had also written the commits
sioner of Indian affairs, who replied
that the matter was in the hands ot
Secretary Smith, but could give no
further information. He had made ev-