The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-06
IN THE SENATE.
Another GeodIy Batch Of Bills
Yesterday.
SENATOR CALL PLEADS FOR THE
CUBANS.

| insurgents as BelIigerents-Mr. Frye
| Introduces an Old Bill of Mr. Chand-
| ler's-A Bill to Compel Railroads to
Keep Out of Politics and Pay Disabled
employees, etc., etc.
washington. December 5-Mr. Chandler
OF New Hampshire, introduced in the
Senate today, bill providing for the un-
llmlted coinage OF gold and silver, in con-
nectlon with other nations at the ratio of
to l59. Section provides that any
person may deposit in any United States
mint gold or silver bullion not less in
value that $50 and the same shall be
coined free of charge if the metal be
sufficiently pure, the gold into the coins
provided for by existing laws and the
silver into dollars nine-tenths fine, the
weight Of the pure silver in each dollar
to be l5H times the twenty three and
twenty-five one hundredths grains, being
the weight of the pure gold in the gold
dollar.
Section provides that payment shall
be made to said depositors for such
bullion in coins, or the Secretary of the
Treasury at his option may pay the
depositors in treasury notes of convenient
denominations promising to pay an
equivalent number Of dollars. which notes
shall be redeemable in gold or silver or at
the option of the Secretary of the Treas
ury. The silver dollars coined in accord
ance with this law as we'll Us the gold
coins of the United States and the
treasury notes herein provided for shall
be full legal tender for all debts, public
and private. The existing silver dollars
shall be retired and recoiHed according to
the new ratio, the profit accruing there
| from to be applied to the expenses of
maintaining the mints.
BY section this law shall take effect
and become operative when similar laws
shall have been adopted by the govern
ments of England, France and Germany,
which laws shall in substance provide
for the purchase of gold and silver with
out limit and shall make legal tender of
the gold and the principal silver coins
! and any certificate representing them,
the ratio between the gold and silver to
be the same provided for in this act, and
when such laws have been passed by the
governments aforesaid, the President
shall make proclamation accordingly,
and this law shall then take effeut and be
| in fo-ce.
A<--tSalliager, offered resolution de-
olaring it to be the sense of the Senate
that it is unwise and inexpedient to re-
tire the greenbaoks, and it was referred
| to the committee on finance.
The resolution offered last Tuesday by
Mr.. Call for the recognition of a state of
public war in Cuba was taken up and
Mr.. Call addressed the Senate. He
described the conduct of the Spanish
troops in Cuba as nerciless.
Mr. Call, in speaking on his resolution
for the recognition of Cuba, said: eff
this government IS not a farce and
fraud, the people, of Cuba have the right
to establish their independence. Spain
has declared that a southern oOnfederacy
was a belligerent power and recognized
her, and the English government recog-
nized civil war in the South, why should
we not, when these people have acted on
our example under our advice, under our
instructions, justify their forcible resist
ance? Why should we allow Spain to
purchase supplies in our ports and forbid
the same right to the Cubans. hope the
committee on foreign relations will not
postpone action on this resolution and
| will report at an early day in favor of it
or some resolution that will accord to the
people of Cuba the same rights in our
ports and territory as is now given Spain.
| l hope the disgrace we are now under,
in actually aiding the government Of
Spain in its oppression over this people
will be ended.
At the close of Mr. Calls speech the
resolution was referred to the committee
on foreign relations. The Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of executive
business, and at 135 p. IN. adjourned
until Monday.
The Senate today confirmed the nomi-
nation Of Matt w. Ransom of North
Carolina to he minister to Mexico.
| AmOno tho hills introdyooI +l,o
Senate today were by Mr.. Mills, Demo-
crat of Texas, granting pension to all
widows of Mexican soldiers, at the rate
ot $12 per month, when such widows are
destitute of means of support
By Mr.. Call, Democrat of Florida, to
prevent railroad corporations engaged in
the Interstate commerce from controlling
or attempting to control elections by use
OF money or other corrupt means, making
such offence a conspiracy, punishable by
Imprisonment for five years or a fine not
exceeding $100, 000. The bill prohibits in
the trial of such cases the sitting of a
juror or Judge who has received passes
or other flee transportation.
BY Mr.. Call compelling all railroad
companies engaged in the interstate COM
merce to pay employees injured in line of
duty, the pay they were receiving at the
time of their disability and during the
continuance of disability. The bill pro-
| fAuCS tlldU Ill CitSoS VI QcSCu UuO OOAi
shall pay the widow Of such employe the
amount of wages received by her husband
per month during her natural life, and
to the children until they reach the age
of sixteen.
Dy Mr.. Mills Of Texas, providing for
the coinage of silver bullion now in the
treasury. This coinage to be in the shape
OF half dollars, quarters and dimes, in
such proportion as the Secretary of the
treasury may directs such coins to be
paid out in the current expenditures of
the government whenever the revenues nf
the government are insufficient to meet
the current expenditures. The Secretary
Is to be directed to issue non-interest
bearing legal tender treasury notes in
amounts sufficient to cover the deficiency
and pay out the same in the current
expeditures of the government when
these notes SO issued shall be restored to
the treasury in payment of government