Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-19

washington, Dec Ex-senator
Mitchell, dem, Wis.,, introduced a
joint resolution for the purchase of a
statue of Victor Hugo for the con-
gressional library. \ resolution }
passed calling on the secretary of war
Cor copies of all papers relating to rail-
roads seized and operated by the gov
eminent from 1861 to 1865, to furnish !
information for the adjustment of gov
eminent claims against Tennessee.
There seems to be no possibility
now that committees of the house
will be announced this week. Speaker
Reed has experienced more difficulty
than anticipated in making up the
membership of the committees owing
to his lack of personal acquaintance
with the new members, Of whom
there are 1913.
The populist senators held a caucus
and decided to place a full ticket in
the field for senate officers, for whom
they will vote once, and then step out
and allow the republicans to proceed
with the organization. They will NOM
mate Mr.. Kyle for president pro tenn;
Thomas Watson, Georgia, secretary,
and H. E. Taubeneck, Illinois, ser
geant-at-arms.
Washington, Dec. 13.-Mr. Stewart
pop, New introduced a resolution in
structing the committee on finance to
inquire into the rates of exchange be-
tween gold standard and silver stand
ard countries and their effect on agri-
cultural and manufacturing interests.
On motion of Mr. Hansbrough, a res
olution was passed calling upon the
secretary of agriculture for informa-
ton as to whether he had expended all
or any part of the last appropriation
for the purchase and distribution of
seeds. Secretary Morton has refused
to spend this money.
Mr.. Call addressed the senate upon
his resolution declaring it to be the
duty of the civilized powers to sup
press the cruelties alleged to be per-
petrated upon the Armenian subjects
of Turkey by Turkish subjects.
Mr.. PETER pop, Kas) spoke upon
his bill to regulate congressional flu
nerals. His attention had first been
called tG this question by charges
made in the newspapers, and after in
yestigating the matter he had conclUd-
ed that the system now pursued had
come to be seriously abused. He in
stanced the obsequies of the late Sen
ator Plumb, IN which he participated,
and said that while the cost of the
funeral had amounted to over $1,000
the average value of an American farm
he had learned that the amount fell
below the average. Mr.. PETER de-
clared that the expenditures on &C
count of funeral expenses were con-
tinually growing, until the average
cost had increased to $4,542. The last
thirteen burials had cost more than all
the other sixty. Of the 107 senator's
who had died while in service, the eX-
penses were greatest in the case of
Senator George Hearst Of California,
whose funeral had cost the government
$21,322. He objected to regarding the
treasury as a subject of common plum
der for those who choose to prey upon
it, and said the best way to get rid of
the odium of such a custom was to
stop it.
Senator Thurston of Nebraska intro
duced a bill for the settlement of the
Pacific railroads debts 1t provides
for the sale of the government inter
est in both the Union and Central Pa
cific railroads on July 1, 1896, to the
highest bidder, but there shall be no
sale unless the bid be at least so per
cent. of the government interest. The
bill is very long and devoted mainly
to the details Of the transfer and mat
ter of sale. It's main features have
been published already.
Senator Frye introduced his bill for
the settlement of the Pacific railroad
Indebtedness. This bill is based upon
an investigation made six years ago by
the committee of which Senator Frye
was chairman. 1t provides for incor-
porating the roads and branches into
one general company and giving a
mortgage to the government, the whole
J
with gradual increasing interest be-
ginning for the first ten years at 1 per
cent. and increasing to 2 per cent.
Senator Thurston introduced bills in
creasing all pensions 25 per cent, also
establishing a school of forestry in
connection with the department of
agriculture.
Washington, D. c., Dec. LEX
Speaker Grow rep, Pa made a speech
in the house on the portion of the pres
ident's message referring to the tariff,
in which he compared the old protec-
tive tariff laws with the new customs
laws. An emphatic statement by Mr..
Grow that the greenbacks would not
be retired was received with demon
STATIONS of approval by the republi-
cans. The presidents complaint that
the greenbacks furnished an endless
chain by which the gold reserve was
depleted was not frank. The green
backs would endanger the reserve as
long as the revenues were not equal to
the expenses and no longer. Paying
the current debts Of the government
out of the reserve was the road to ma
tional bankruptcy. Mr. Grow referred
to the elections last fall as a condem-
nation of the new tariff law and the
policy of the administration, and
warned the president when he had
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