Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-02-15
CONGRESS.

The Senate yesterday received the
lengthy letter of Secretary Carlisle con-
veying information as to the condition
of the Treasury, in response to a Senate
resolution. The postofiice appropria-
ton bill was taken up. The amend
ment giving the Postmaster General
discretion over the So, 200, 900 for postal
cars was voted not to be in order. Mr..
Vilas's amendment that the govern
ment purchase its own postal cars was
voted down. Mr.. Blackburn's amend
ment for a. 10 per cent. reduction OF
postal car rates was laid on the table.
Mr.. Sherman's amendment for $3.50
600 subsidy for fast mail service
through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee aud
Alabama was defeated. The amendment
providing for an appropriation of $751;
600 as subsidy for the Atlantic Coast
Line from Springfield, Mass, to Allan
to and New Orleans was also defeated.
By the action of the Senate the service
remains as heretofore. Later Mr.. But
Ter democrat of South Carolina) pro-
posed to double the subsidy for the At
lantic Coast Line for its mail service,
but his amendment was ruled out of Or
del. The bill, as reported, gave to the
Postmaster General complete discretion
in expanding the s3,200,000 for postal
cars, and cut off the present fast mail
line from North to South. Proposed
changes embrace complete revolution
in the present system. All of the
amendments were defeated, however,
by decisive votes. By similar votes the
Senate sustained the present fast mail
line from New England to the South.
AT er a sharp debate, the Senate de-
clined to sustain the policy for subsid-
izing fast mail lines. The Poslof1ice
Appropriation bill was not passed. The
credentials of Senator Bacon, of
Georgia, were presented.
The House refused by majority of
AZ to order third reading of the reso-
luton by which it was proposed to
authorize the issue of 65,0OO,000 of
three per cent. gold bonds, to substitute
for the four per cent. thirty year coin
bonds sold by Secretary Carlisle under
the contract with the Rolhschild- Nor
gan syndicate. The session was an ex-
citing one, and the galleries were
crowded. The debate lasted five hours,
and the vote was taken late In the day.
The republicans west of the Allegha-
MES, lead by Messrs. Hopkins and Can.
non, of Illinois, spoke impetuously
against a gold bond that would dis
criminate against the bonds al
ready issued. Mr.. Reed and his
eastern friends sought in private
conference to rally all to united
action. His plan was to allow the
resolution to go to third reading, and
then move to recommit it with in
to report back bill similar
to that which he offered as substitute
for the gold bond bill of last week,
providing for three per cent. coin bonds.
For time it seemed possible that his
would be agreed to, but
after the stirring speech of Mr.. Hep
burn, of Iowa, the middle and western
broke away, determined to
defeat the third reading of the resolu-
ton, lest by some chance it might carry
if it passed this parliamentary stage.
The easterna republicans then decided
to support it. The speeches of Mr..
Wilson, Mr.. Reed, Mr.. Hopkins and Mr..
Bryan were the features of the debate.
An analysis of the vote shows that SO
democrats and 81 republicans (120 in
alI) voted in favor of the resolution,
and 9S democrats, 62 republicans and Z
populists (167 in ally against.
This is the third unsuccessful attempt
to secure from Congress legislation
which it was thought would relieve the
Treasury Department of its embarrass-
nents.