The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-12
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Prospect that Hawaiian Cable
Amendment Will Be Killed.
TREASURY RECEIPTS SHOW AN
INCREASE OVER JANUARY.

Yesterdays Doings in the Senate and
House-A proposal to Drop ia Pen
sion Clerks-The Belmont Syndicate
Has Commenced to Deposit Gold in
Payment for Bonds.
: Washington, February 11.-In.the Senat
Mr.. Pettigrew, Republican of South Dako-
ta, introduced joint resolution directing
that legal proceedings to be instituted
against the stockholders and directors of
the Union and. Central Pacific railroad COM
| panies for the recovery of amounts diverted
or con verted by them to any unlawful puI-
poses and for the foreclosure of govern
ment mortgages. He asked that it be laid
on,the table and said he would undertake
10 show that the methods of the railroad
companies to rob their stockholders
| have done more than anything else to
affect the credit of the country.
| Mr.. Stewart, of Nevarda, offered the fol-
lowing concurrent resolution which went
over; Resolved there is no authority OF law
| t, buy gold coin in preference to silver
| coin fol any purposes whatever.
The post office appropriation bill was tax
| en- up and the first amendment which led
| to a discussion was that increasing the ap-
preparation for the railway post oflce ser
vice from SS, 600 to S3,205,000 and adding
these words: 1.-THE said sum shall be ex-
| pended under the direction and discretion
of the post master general, and any pro-
vision of the existing law in CONFLICT there
with is hereby repealed"
| Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts,, made a point
of order against this provision on the
ground that it was general legislation on
an appropriation bill.
The post office appropriation bill went
over without action. A roll call. showed that
there was less than quorum present and
the Senate ad journed.
IN THE HOUSE.
The consid Grafton of the executive and
judicial appropriation bill was resumed.in
a committee of the whole. A new section
was inserted in the bill, requiring that
masters of vessels arriving from foreign
country at any port in this country where
there is no naval officer, shall Immediately
mail copies of their ma anifests to the audi
tor of the treasury department at Washing
ton.
The committee then returned to the mat
ter of session clerks for committees There
are in the present Congress twenty-three
clerks and assistant clerks employed by
the session. The committee provided for
but fourteen in the bill and Mr.. Hull, Re-
publican of Iowa, moved to increase the
number to nineteen, dispensing with the
services of four assistant clerks.
Mr., Hulps amendment was agreed to.
There remained then but one subject in
the ,blll to be disposed of. The appropr1a-
t1on for the pension Office.
II was agreed that debate on this subject
be limited to one hour and a quarter, ex-
elusive of few minutes to be occupied by
Mr.. D1ngley of Maine member of the
committee on appropriations in explaining
the changes in the appropriations provided
for by the, bill. The amount given for ex-
penses of special examiners fS5O0,0U0) was
the same as the whole amount appropriated
for the current year and paIt OF which
was carried. in deficiency bill. Mr.. Ding
ley said the commissioner of pensions had
told the subcommittee that the use of these
special agents would be confined to cases
where fraud was alleged or suspected. The
bill provided for a net reduction of ia
clerks, and this reduction, the commissioner
had said, could be made by the judicious
wedding out of incompetent and superan-
nuated clerks without causing any delay
in the business of Office. MI. D1ngley re-
marked, however, that he did not himself
see how such large reduction could be
made without detriment to the work of the
/ office. The committee rose and the House
voted to non-concur in the Senate amend
ments to the diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation bill and agreed to the confer
ence asked. A conference report upon the
bill regulating the navigation of the rivers
and harbo1s of the United States was
agreed to.
The Senate bill directing the coinage of
geld and silver at the Denver mint was
passed. The House then adjourned.
Have No Suggestion to Offer.
| Washington, February 1.-THE Republi-
cans members of the senate finance COM
mittee. had a meeting this afternoon and de-
cided that they hal no suggestions to make
on the financial question. There will be
no meeting of the finance committee tomoI-
row.
The Gold Reserve.
Warrington, February 1.-THE treasury
gold Iesery 9 at the close of business today
Stood at SAL, 1853, 712, all known Withdrawals
issued today shows that the customs re.
GENTS at New York for the first ten days of
February aggregated S22O9,9l2 more than
for the first ten days of January.
Secretary Carlisle Called Upon.
Washington, February 11.-Secretary
Carlisle will be asked to appear before
the House ways and means committee
tomorrow and lay before the mem bers a
COPY of the contract recently made with
the syndicate for the purchase Of the new
issue of government bonds. That this
I1o To 4, ,iy,1t yac
the conclusion reached by the committee
after session today of an an hour and
half.
When the committee met, Mr.. Bypum
of Indiana, who offered resolution at
Saturdays meeting. favoring the issuing
of thirty year three per cent gold bond,
Withdrew it without comment. There
upon Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia, chair
man of the committee, laid before the
man, hars a nronoKit1o in writing, which