The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-11
AT WASHINGTON.
What Was Done in Congress
Yesterday.
SENATOR JONES PLEADS HIS
ABIDING SILVER FAITH,

SENATOR JONES PLEADS HIS
ABIDING SILVER FAITH.
New Bills Introduced in 10th Houses
The Hous se IS Breezy Little Discus
sion Ends Abruptly-What the Bath
| Iron Works Will Loose on the X atardin
| Contract Price-Capitol Gossip.
! Washington, January 10--After the
transaction Of some routine morning
business, Mr.. Pritohard, 2Republican of
North Carolina, addressed the Senate in
advocacy Of an amendment intended to
be offered by him to the emergency tariff
bill. The amendment is to impose or in
crease duties on clays or eart5s, lime,
marble and stone. and their manufac-
lures chronic ore, iron orbe, timbers and
agricultural products.
Mr.. Mroagn, Democrat of Alabama,
offered and had referred to the committee
on foreign rleations, a joint resolution
conveying the earnest congratulations of
the people of the United States to the
President and people of the Trausvaal
Republic upon their success in establish
ing free representative government, Re.
publican in form, and in their opposition
to any foreign power that denies to them
the full enjoyment of rightful liberties.
The House bond bill, with free silver
| Gil 1Qti tIIEa ia hu NV Tonaa
Democrat of Arkansas, having charge of
the substitute. who addressed the Senate
in its support. He expressed tne penei
of majority of the finance committee,
that substitute would bring re lief to
the country. The sale of bonds as pro-
posed in the house bill could, he said,
1 accomplish no good result, and would,
in his opinion, be productive of much
evil. The laws now on statue books
would with revival of business, provide
ample revenue. A chance was needed, not
in the revenue but in the financial
condition Of people at large. II means
could be devised of relieving present
embarrassments there would he no diff
Guilty about the condition Of the govern
ment or OF revenue.
! On the point of bimeeallism Mr.. Jones
said when it is clear England will not
consent to an international agreem ent
and France and Germany will not move
except in compact with England, then
the question comes home to us, what will
the people of the United States do? A
emendous responsibility, in this emer-
gency, in my opinion, rests upon us as
il nation. We are the only nation who
believe that the object of organizing gov
ernnents, is to advance the interests and
| welfare OF the masses. A complete re-eS-
tablishment of bi-metallism would great
ly benefit and advance the masses, and
would tend to check and strangle the
startling aggregations of wealth into a
few hands now taking place, there can
be no DOUBT. If other nations will not
join us in this great movement in the in.
terest of humanity, it is our duty to un-
dertake ir alone.
We have encounterd and overcome
reater difficulties in the past. I believe
that high destiny is marked out for us
by Providence. and it requires us to act
now with decision, and assume fully the
great responsibility of leadership among
the nations of the earth. believe the
unlimited coinage of silver would, by
relieving commerce, increase our rev.
enues and do away absolutely with any
pretense of the necessity to issue bonds.
An overwhelming majority of the peo
pie are animated by sentiments of lofty
and unselfish patriotism, and have ar
Il
which this proposed amendment pre-.
sents for solution, will be wisely and
Justly determined by the great tribunal
; by which it must be finally determined.
II is to my mind, an evidence almost
: conclusive of weakness, of any cause fol
!; itsfriends to be unwilling to have it passed
upon by the people, The friend of bi
metallism are ready and anxious to have
the.people setJie this question.
Mr.. Jones finished his speech at g. sc
D. m. 1t was listened to with interest
ON the Democratic side, but the Republi
cans Senators paid it scant attention. Ir
reply to an inquiry by Mr.. Teller, Re
publican of Colorado, Mr.. Jones said hs
would be glad to have the bill pressed a!
rapidly as possible. In view of the fact
that number of Senators wanted tt
speak on the bill, be would not ask TO,
"a vote for it at least several days.
A bill was introduced in tine Senate to
day by Mr.. Frye, chairman of the com
mittee on commerce, entitled, "a bill Il
ter SERVICE" and contemplates reforms in
the service.
The Senate then adjourned till Monday
In the House.
Washington, January 10.-Henderson
Republican of Iowa. reported the change
in the rules recommended by the commit
tee on rules and the House proceeded tt
consider them seriatinl.
The first amendment was one speciall,
directing the clerk to pay officers an(
employees their salaries, and a provision
adopted from the rules Of the 90 and 53t
Congresses. 1t was agreed to. The mex
amendment struck out the provision re
quiring the sergeant-at-arms Ito give
bond in the sum of $50, 600. Because O
the Siloott defaloation, law was passet
covering the case, and the provision wa
therefore useless. Agreed to.
Mr. Bailey's amendment to the rules
so as to give the committee On coinag
weights and measures the right to repor
at any time, was rejected. Yeas, Ill
nays, 1888.
The House judiciary committee toda,
considered the bill introduced by MI
Curtis Of New York several weeks ago
to modify capital punishment The pur
pose OF the measure is to permit jurie
In murder cases to return a verdict o
guilty, but with the added suggestion
, that the penalty is not to be capital pun
ishment. One of the arguments in it
support is that juries frequently acqui
, prisoners because of their dlsinclinatio]