Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-08
THE BOND RESOLUTION
It Passed the Senate With but Six Mega
tive Votes
A Heated Colloquy Over Mr.. PaImer's
River and HarbOr Bill Up.

Inc Senate yesterday afternoon adopted
the PETER resolution providing for an in
Vestigation into the bond issues Of recent
years by vote of 81 to g. The vote was
taken. according to agreement, at o'clock.
ana the debate preceding it was at times
sensational. Mr.. Palmer's opposition to
the resolution and his reference to SNAP
conventions" brought on heated colloquy
with Mr.. Vest and MIR. Cockrcll The for
mer arraigned the President and the ad-
ministratinn for influencing public opinion
and political conventions against silver, and
specified conventions in Michigan and Ne
Draska. Mr. Vest added the declaration
That he was delegate TO the Chicago con-
vention, but that if it was controlled by
Office holders and the will of the people
sIlhed, 1t would not be a democratic con-
vention to him. Mr.. Hill closed the debate,
and the vote was taken.
Inc SIX negative votes were cast by Sen
ators Caffery, Faulkner, Gray, Hill, Mitch
Ell OF wisconsin and Palmer. The resolu-
ton as adopted is as follows:
Text of the Resolution.
Resolved, That the committee on finance
be drected:
First. To investigate and report general
ly all the material facts and circumstances
connected with the sale of United States
Donds by the Secretary OF the Treasury in
the years 1894 1895 and 1896.
Second. To investigate and report spe-
cialiy what amount of available funds
cidsslned, was in the United States treas
u anu on deposit In other places subject
10 the order of the Secretary of the Treas
uIy al the time the bonds were sold or
offered for sale; whether there was or not
coin enough on hand to meet all coin obl-
sat1 1 OF the government due a the time
said bonds were sold or when they were
offered for sale; what obligations were due
at that time and the amount of each.
stated separately; what We're the reasons
Tor any unusual withdrawal OF coin from
the treasury shortly before bonds were
sold or offered for sale, if such unusual
Withdrawals were in fact made, and by
what persons or classes of persons, and
Tor what purpose or on what account such
withdrawals were made; who purchased
the bonds, in what amounts and where
whether in the United States or in foreign
countries. and in what proportions and
from what persons or classes of persons
the gold was procured with which to pay
Tor the bonds; what the bonds sold for. and
what was the market price of our govern
ment bonds at the time, and what effect
the bond sales had on the credit and bust
mes of the people of the United States.
Third. To investigate and report as to
the manner of disposing of said bonds; by
what authority. and what contracts. ad-
vertlSements, or proposals were made by
the Secretary Of the Treasury in rela ton
thereto; what agreements or contracts, and
whether oral or in writing, and whether
publicly or privately, were entered into by
the Secretary Of the Treasury and any syn
dlcate or person or persons with respect to
the sale and purchase of the bonds. and the
profits made or to be made by such syndi-
cate, or any person or persons connected
with such syndicate, directly or indirectly;
whether such contract or agreement had
any and what effect on the prices offered
for the bonds; what the effect was, and
VINO. II any, person, profited by it. and to
what extent"
River and HarbOr BILL
The Senate then proceeded with the con-
sideration of the river and harbor bill. The
item for improving the Delaware river from
Trenton to its mouth was restored to $780,
600. the committee reduction to $3.50 600 be-
ing disagreed to. The action of the COM
mittee in striking out the contract provision
for $S60,OOO for the mouth Of the YaZoo
river and harbor at Vicksburg Miss, was
opposed by the Mississippi Senators, who
succeeded In having the full amount re-
stored.
The contract item for expenditures by the
Missouri river committee at Omaha, Coun-
Gil Bluffs, and other points occaSioned a
contest. The item was amended to allow
specific appropriations of $4,000 each for
the Missouri river at Leavenworth and
Atchison. Nebraska City was included in
the general plan of contract improvement.
The conference agreements reported on
the Legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill, including the item of sala-
RES for United States district attorneys and
n arshals. was agreed to.
1t was ESQ o'clock when the Senate ad-
jOurned