The Indianapolis journal., 1896-03-12

Name of the Deity I'm the Constitution
Advocated and Opposed.

Advocated and Opposed.
WASHINGTON, March 11.-Speeches were
listened to to-day by the House judiciary
committee from large delegations of clergy
men and others, who advocate and antago-
nize the bill recently introduced by Repre-
sentative Morse. Of Massachusetts,, to place
the name Of God in the Constitution of the
United States The meeting was somewhat
novel in its character, a majority of the
spectators being women. An American flag
was brought into the committee room by the
opponents of the bill in which was tied
great bundle of protests and remonstrances
forwarded by various organizations. Each
faction was given an hour TO present its side
of the question. In the beginning the friends
of the measure took half hour, Its oppo-
nents next consumed the time and the af
firmative had it's half hour for rebuttal.
The proceedings were begun with prayer
by Rev. I. p. Stevenson, OF Philadelphia,
of the Chruch of the Covenanters. Those
who spoke for the bill were: ii. NJ. George.
Of Pittsburg, secretary of the National Re
Mercer. Pa, moderator of the Presbyterian
Synod of Pennsylvania; Lewis d. Vail, an
attorney from Philadelphia; President. Hub.
Cleveland Rev. w. T. Coleman Reform
Presbyterian. of Allegheny, Pa. The speak
ers for the opposition were: w: a. Croffut.
itor the the Truth Seeker; Rev. j. l. Jones.
a Unitarian clergyman of Chicago; r. P.
Woodbury secrstary Of the National Spirit
Plainfeld, N. j., and Lewis Abraham. who
spoke for the Jews. The last half hour was
sfsapd sSeny Pay anS mey Rev DaSd ST %
Pittsburg. Many questions were asked these
gentlemen by Messrs; Ray. of New York;
Burton. of Ohio, and Lewis, of Kentucky,
most of which bore upon the point whether
the proposed constitutional amendment
would no, conflict with the constitutional
prohibition of the establishment OF religion
by the state Considerable feeling was man
ifested by the partisans both sides, and
Kisses and cheers frequently interrupted the
speakers.
The Proposed New Department..
WASHINGTON. March 11.-Senator Frye's
bill providing for the creation of the de-
partment of commerce and manufactures
contemplates the transfer to this depart
ment from the Treasury of the life-saving
service, the lighthouse board, the marine
hospital service, the Bureau OF Steamboat
Inspection. the Bureau of Navigation, the
Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Bureau
of Statistics: also, the Bureau of Statistics
of the State Department. the two buresus
to be consolidated into one. The consular
service is also transferred from the juris-
diction of the State Department to the pro-
posed new department. 1t is provided that
the department shall have general jurisdic-
ton over the foreign and internal com
and the administration of the
customs and internal revenue laws.
over all matters relating to the man.
ufacturing interests of the United States.
including the extension or iore.gn markets
trade facilities with foreign countries. The
new secretary is also TO perform all the
duties now incumbent on the Secretary of
the Treasury in relation to the trade and
commerce of the United States, whether on
land or water TIE bIi is In the l.ne of
the recommendation of the National Board
of Trade, and 1t is supposed that 1t will re-
ceive the general support of trade and man.
ufacturing interests
Better Pay for Postal Clerks.
WASHINGTON. March u.-Strong efforts
will be made by the House committee on
postoffices and post roads to secure the pas
sage by the House of a bill to increase the
compensation Of railway mail clerks The
first bill introduced in this Congress was one
by Mr.. Linton, OF Michigan. to reorganize
this branch of the service. and the COM
mittee has directed Mr.. Linton to report the
bill favorably. by its provisions the num-
Der of classes in the service on a salary
basis is increased from fr ye s 70 n ten and an sal
proposition to have per. cent. of the sal
aries Withheld to establish Iish a pension fund
opposition to civil pensions in the House
might endanger the whole BILL Reliable
statistics showed that the mortality among
dents is greater than that among the troops
in the civil These clerks required
to pass an. examination nd a! rating OF more
tions, although the departmental employees
in Washington have thirty days.
Financial Bills to BE Considered.
WARRINGTON, March 1.-THE House
committee on banking aid currency brought
it's work 10 a climax to-day by adopting
resolution TO take definite action as speedily
possible on all bills and propositions be-
fore it and TO hold two meetings each week
until its work Is completed Mr.. walker, o.
Massachusetts. chairman, predicts that the
result of to-day's decision WI, be the re-
porting Of a general banking bill TO the
House and he hopes that his own plan viii
be the one agreed upon. Other members az
the COMMITTEES predict that nothing can come