The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-12
AGAINST pacific ROADS
Mr.. Pettigrew Assigns Cause That
Affects Credit of the Country.
ARE STOCKHOLDERS ROBBED (?
The South Dakota Senator VIII OFFER
Some Eyidcnec-Mr. Hills Coin Rcso.
on--Appropriation Amend.
meuts in the House.
BY the United Press.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE senate had
under consideration today the post
Office appropriation bill, but its prog
ress was blocked by discussion aris-
ing out of an amendment looking to
the abolition of the southern fast mail
service. Senator Allen Nebraska, drift
ed into Il speech relative to the cleo
tions in the state of Alabama last
August, asserting that on account of
gross frauds therein perpetrated that
state was deprived of Il Republican
form of government. The two Alabama
senators occupied seats in his immedi-
ate neighborhood while he read afii-
davits in support of the charge which
he made, but they seemed not to be at
all worried over the showing which he
made. The postoflice appropriation
bill went over without a vote on the
southern fast mail service item.
Mr.. Pettigrew, South Dakota, intro
duced joint resolution directing legal
proceedings to be instituted against
the stockholders and directors of the
Union and the Central Pacific Railroad
companies for the recovery of amounts
diverted or converted by them to any
unlawful purpose and for the fore
closure of the government mortgages.
He asked that 1t be laid on the table
and said he would undertake to show
that the methods of railroad companies
to rob their stockholders and bond
holders have done more than anything
else to affect the credit of the country.
Earlier in the day concurrent reso-
luton was introduced by Mr.. Hill, New
York, and went over till tomorrow in
reference to the question of the coin
in which bonds now outstanding or to
be issued are to be paid. 1t declares it
to be the true policy of the government
to direct its efforts to the establishment
of safe system of bi-metallism, where
in gold and silver may be maintained at
parity, but ii that cannot be done, then
the bonds shall be paid in standard
gold dollars. This resolution was fol-
lowed by one offered by Mr.. Stewart,
Nevada, declaring that there is no au-
thorty or law to buy gold coin in pre-
ference to silver coin for any purpose
whatever
House Proceedings.
A session of the house today. lasting
six and one-half hours, was given over
almost entirely to the consideration of
the executive and judicial appropriation
bill. Amendments We're made to the
bill as follows:
Directing the secretary of the treas
ury to arrange for the refining and
melting into bars of gold and silver bull
lion at the Helena, Montana, assay
office.
Referring to the attorney general for
report to the next congress, as to law
and facts, the statement made by the
Indian bureau of the accounts between
the United Staes and several Indian
tribes, as authorized by the act of 1891,
for the purchase and opening of the
Cherokee strip.
Striking out the appropriation of
$4,000 to pay the salary to the private
secretary to the secretary of the in
terror.
In the course of the discussion upon
the paragraph of the bill providing for
session committee clerks Mr.. Van
Voorhis New York; advocated their
employment on the ground that more
brains We're necessary in the financial
committees. and that If the chairman
could not find out the facts connected
with the recent negotiations for bonds,
which he declared to be suspicious on
it's face, some brainy clerk might be
able to do so.
The senate bill amendments to the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill, were on motion by Mr. McCrcasy
! CKentucky) non-concurred in and n
conference agreed to-Messrs. Nc
Greasy, Hooker Democrats), and Hit
| Republican), managers.