Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-11
WON'T TAKE PART.
Silver Senators Refuse to Join in
a Republican Caucus.
SENATOR DUBOIS RESIGNS A POSITION
His Successor Chosen-Caucus Discusses
Dingley Bill and Other Topics
House Passes the PEN IA
sion Bill.

House Passes the Pom Ia
sion Bill.
Washington, Dec. 9.-The republican
senatorial caucus did not accomplish
much Tuesday except to uncover the
unpleasant fact that the free silver con,
tingent is for the present determined
to flock by itself. Senator Dubois EN-.
phasized this point by resigning from
the secretaryship of the caucus and
from the steering committee, and his
colleagues, Senators Cannon, of Utah;
Mantle, of Montana, and Squire, OF
Washington, stayed away Teller not
being in the city could not attend. SEN
ator Pettigrew was also absent.
Senator Dubois, through note adj.
dressed to Senator Sherman, chairman
OF the caucus, resigned the secretary.
ship of the caucus and his membership
on the steering committee. This may
be an Indication of the proposed policy
of the free silver men to refrain from
hereafter affiliating with their old-time
colleagues.
Dubois Successor.
Senator Wilson, of Washington, was
elected secretary in place of Senator
Dubois. There was friendly rivalry
between Senators Shoup, of Idaho,
and Hansbrough, of North Dakota, for
the vacancy on the steering committee
caused by the resignation of Senator
Dubois. The question was settled sat
isfectorily by putting both men on the
committee, and to that extent increas-
ing its membership.
The Dingley Bill.
The chief topic for discussion was
the Dingley bill, with the re-
suit that the matter was re-
ferred without action to the
steering committee. That committee
will consider the ACCESSIBILITY of taking
up the Dingley bill and the possibility
of passing it il wisdom suggests that
such an effort should be made. Sena-
tor Sherman, who has hitherto been
one of the chief advocates for this meas
ure, refrained from discussing it. The
consensus of opinion gathered from the
short speeches made was that it would
not be wise to take up the bill, owing to
the entanglements that were sure to
arise, and the more potent fact that it
would be impossible to get the votes
wherewith to pass it. The republicans
who attended the caucus say they are
firm in the conviction that the Dingley
bill is now without hope of passage.
For Monetary Conference.
Senator Wolcott, of Colorado, intro
duccd resolution, which was unani-
n,ously adopted, authorizing the chair
man of the caucus to appoint a special
colpmittee of five senators, whose duty
it should be to devise such legislation
for action by this session of congress
as will secure an international none
tary conference with the leading COM
mercial nations of the world.
Senator Gear brought up the Pacific
railroad question, as did Senator Lodge
the immigration bill. The Pacific road
bill was referred to the steering com,
mittee, but after Senator Lodge had
explained the status of the immigra
ton bill the caucus desired to stand by
that as party measure and to press fol
Its early consideration.
For Permanent Census Bureau.
Washington, Dec. 9.-Carroll D.
Wright, commissioner of labor, sent tc
congress his report upon plan for Q
permanent census service in accordance
with the joint resolution of March 10
1896. Mr.. Wright is satisfied that the
true principles on which permanent
census to do the work of decennial cen
suses should be barred, are all to b.
found in reports already made to con
gress. The expense of conducting 1
permanent census bureau and taking ;
decennial census Mr.. Wright estimate!
at an average of 100000 year.
Town Lots Exempted.
washington, Dec. 9.-lne secreIar,
of the interior has decided that tn
amendment of sections $3.50 and 2,2o
of the revised statutes does not author
ize the homestead entry of lands in
cluded within the limits of an incorpo
rated town. 1t is held that sound pub
lie policy would not allow such acqui
sition of lands SO situated and thereb,
likely largely enhanced in value.
Demand for improvements.
Washington, Dec. 9.-It is expected
that number of resolutions will be in
troduced into congress inquiring of tn
secretary of war why contracts hav,
not been made at various points for be
ginning river and harbor work in &C
cordance with the provisions of the rive
and harbor act; and also why certain
work has not been ordered where con
tracts are not necessary
Adjourns on Hearing of Crisp's Death
Washington, Dec. 9.-When the sen
Rte reconvened Tuesday morning tn
vice president presented communica
ton from the secretary of the treasury
giving the numbers of aliens employees
in the treasury department as calle'
for by resolution May 9 last. 1t state
that the number of such aliens at tn
time of adoption of resolutions was 8;
become naturalized. Various othe
department communications were re
ceived and referred-among them tn
annual report of the government direc
tors of the Union Pacific company
Petitions from Philadelphia and s.
Louis favoring the passage of the Ding
ley billwere presented by Senator Morri
Crep.) and referred to the finance com
mittee. Like petitions were presente
by other senators, also several memoir
als in relation to Armenian outrages.
Senator Cullom (rep., Ill.) gave motto
that he would next Thursday mornin
submit remarks on the Cuban ques
ton. A message from the house in re
Iation to the death Of ex-Speaker Girls
was laid before the senate, and on me
ton Of Senator Bacon (dem.. Ca, VIII
stated that he would aSk the semitic ,