The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-02-15
DOINGS OF CONGRESS-.
LAST SESSION OF Tnn FIFTY.
THIRD UON0REsS.

LAST SESSION OF Tan FIFTY.
THIRD OON0REss.
4 0saAsnseA ReosrA Of the Precsea.
tags In the senate ana Ao.ss.
Mettsss ef lnportaacs Dealt
Washington, Feb. 8. - The Pacific
railroad funding bill was recommittcd |
to the committee on Pacific railroads |
BY q vote Of III to los. showing an
Unexpectedly large magcrlty against |
the measure. This renders the status |
OF tho bill extremely precarious. AL
though the draft has been against the |
BILL from the inception of tine debate,
Its advocates were not without hope. |
Abe extent of their defeat was q great |
surprise to both sides.
The senate succeeded in making
progress on the appropriation bills
without beng led hllo .u eXtenueu
financial debate. At one time 1t looked
az though another financial discussion
was Imminent, when Messrs. Hale,
Chandler and Aldrlch made brief
speeches denying the current reports
that Republican senators were purpose
" delaying appropriation bills in order
to cut on financial legislation. These
senators asserted that there was no
such concerted purpose, and that Re
publican senators stood ready to aid
In advancing financial legislation. Mr..
NcPherson announced that the resolu-
finn afun11 q orsytn 1Nn <o St,,a
committee. thus bringing the financial
question before the senate, would be
urged not later than today. Lee
Mantle took the oath of office as sena-
tor from Montana. He once before
presented his credentials, based on IN
appointment from the governor. but
the senate declined to accept them.
The new credentials. reciting his cleo
tfon by the legislature, were submitted
to the senate, and the new senator, ac-
companied by his colleague. Mr.. Pow
er. was presented to the presiding Of
ficer's desk, where he was sworn In.
Washington, Feb. G. - An attempt
was made In the house to pass an
omnibus bill for the payment OF claims
for stores and supplies confiscated
from loyal people In the South during
the war, amounting to S71S,663. 1t
excited much opposition, and especial
~ from Pennsylvania members ill.,
terested in Pennsylvania war claims
amounting to $l,G00.OOO and not In
cluded. and the measure was defeated
% to 14S. A rule was then adopted
for the consideration Of the currency
bill this week. after which the re-
mainder Of the day was devoted to the
agricultural appropriation bill. which
was passed without amendment. An
attempt to reduce the appropriation
for the distribution Of seed failed.
The senate spent almost the entire
day on the District Of Columbia ap.
propriation bill. and for the first time
since the measure was taken up. 1t
did not serve as text for financial
discussion.
Washington. Feb. Tho debate OIL
the administration bill to authorize
the issue of $5OO,OOOO 900 god bonds
for the purpose of retiring the legal
tender and treasury notes began In
the house, and continued for six hours.
1t developed widely divergent views
at the outset. Tho silver Democrats
and Popullsts opposed 1t outrighgt
Some Of the administration Democrats
favored substitute on the lines Of the
Carlisle bill, while Mr.. Reed, the lead
charging the present trouble to the
deficiency in the revenue. introduced
bill authorizing the secretary Of the
treasury to sell per cent coin bonds
to keep up the gold reserve and ccr-
tificates Of Indebtedness redeemable
at the pleasure of the government to
pay current expenses until the revc-
nues shall equal the expenditures. The
issue of gold bonds. lie said, would
discriminate against the coin bond of
the past.
The senate session opened with a
very breezy personal alteration be-
tween Mr.. Mitchell (Or) and Mr. Har-
ris (Tenn.l. The words "ungentleman-
ly" and Contemplate" were cx-
changed, and for a time 1t looked rs
though the senate chamber might
witness a repetition of the bclligerent
scene In the house last week. But the
conflict assumed somewhat serio-
comic aspect and the senatc soon re-
lapsed into an uneventful considera-
tiOn Of routine business. The senate
modified the Japanese treaty so as to
provide for its abrogation on one
years notice after it goes into effect.
Washington, Feb. 8. - The second
days debate OH the administration hill
authorizing the issue of S5OO.OOO.OOD
Of gold bonds for the retirement of thu
legal tenders and treasury notes was
not productive of marked incident of
any kind. A good deal of confusion
existed when the committee began
voting on amendments to the bill.
Most of the amendments were de-
feated as rapidly as offered. The COM
mittee OH banking and currency sus-
tanned two defeats, two of the amend
ments proposed by the committee be-
ing voted down. They were the
amendment proposing to strike out
the section providing for the payment
Of customs duties In gold. which was
allowed to stand amended so as to
make them payable In gold and silver
coin. Mr.. Hands substitute was
ruled out on q point of order.
The senate took up the diplomatic
appropriation bill and was engaged
most Of the day in debate over an
amendment approprlatins S500.OtD t.
begin the laying Of a cable 10 Hawaii.
No action was taken.
Washington, Feb. 0.-Thc last hope
of financial legislation for the relief of
the treasury at the present session Of
congress went by the bolM and II
special session and bond issue were
aysuerd when the house. by vote of
134 to 1G1. rejected the administration
bill to authorize an issue Of $5OOOO.-
600 gold bonds. The bill was beaten
before it reached its last parliamentary
stage. This result was reached after
three days OF spirited and Mt times
heated debate, and at the end Of Il
seven-hour session. from II until 3:2C
o'clock to-day. when the bill with the
:,ending substitutes was reported to
the house from the committee Of the
whole. amendments were offered In
rapid succession. ulcst of which We're
voted down as fast az they were Of
fered. Many Of them were desired to
load down tho bill. and the vote;
thereon were In no sense test votes.
The Bell amendment. for instance, to
make the bonds payable In gold and
silver, was defeated by the decisive
vote of 16 to 1O8, while the bill was de-
feated hy 134 to 1G1.
A.