The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-02
To BE Represented on the Frieze
OF the Capitol
If Plans in Contemplation Are
Carried Out.
LINCOLN lis LEFT OUT,
And No Place Is Found For
George Washington.
A Spirited Debate on the Matter
in the Senate.


Washington, June I'm the senate
yesterday brief but breezy controver-
sy arose over a resolution offered by
Mr. Hansbrough (Rep. n. D., chair
man of the library committee, appro-
priating $4,000 for completing the frieze
in the rotunda of the capitol.
The picture, which is to be the nnaI
feature Of this frieze, has long been a
controversy. No explanation was given
as to the nature Of the picture, but 1t
was indicated when Mr.. Hawley (Rep
Comm interpOsed with the statement:
Il have no criticism of the president to
express. and vet I see no reason why
the represent atiOns of George Washing
ton and Abraham Lincoln should be
omitted from that frieze, while a rep
resentation of Mr. Cleveland is placed
there"
Mr.. Hansbrough explained that the
committee had two sketches. one show
ing the president touching electric but
ton which announced the opening of the
Worlds fair. In the background was
famiIy-Lhe last of the line of COlum-
bus. Mr.. HansbrOugh said he did not
think any senator should allow his
prejudice against the president to pre-
vail in this instance.
Mr. Hawley responded that it was
most surprising that this historic
frieze should entirely overlook the
greatest historical event since the revo-
lutiOn-the war of the rebellion. The
very omission would create criticism
Mr.. HaWley suggested representation
of Grant and Lee shaking hands at
AppomattOE as an appropriate theme
for an artist And yet" added Mr..
Eawley, suggestvely, "as bust of
John C. Breclunrldge-a man VINO LETT
the vice presidential chair to enter the
I rebellion-was to be placed in a niche
in the senate he could make no OBJ
with some warmth Mr.. Hansbrough
urged that the Breckenridge bust had
/ been suggested by at least one Of the
/ senators from Kentucky.
Il have no narrow views on this sub
{ ject," proceeded Mr. HaWley. Il thank
/ heaven I have the warmest feeling for
/ some of those who engaged on the
other side. But it is impossible to
1 belle history. There was a great war
4 We have wiped out its animosities, but
/ the event itself cannot be wiped out
Mr. Wilson CRep. Wash.) objected to
the adoption of the resolution and it
I went over.
Mr.. Sherman's request for a vote at
/ %. m. on the filled cheese bill was OBJ
jected to by Mr.. Harris (Dem-, TENN
Bills were passed granting right Of
way through the Grand canon forest
4 reservation. Arizona, to the Flagstaff q
/ Canon Railroad company and granting
a pension to Elvira Bachelor.
The partial conference report on the
l Indian appropriation bill. which has
been cotested for three days. was fur
I Their debated. MI Villas (Dem., Wis.,
]
I dian citizenship was little snort or
/ legislative outrage, and evidenced
] deCadence of public morality and duty
4 Mr.. George also criticised the confer
/ ence report. No action was taken and
( the bond bin was taken up, and Mr..
! Cullom spoke in opposition to the bill
} Mr.. Stewart (Rep., Nev) followed in
/ support of the bill. Mr. Stewart was
/ piled with questions by Senators Palm
/ err Villas and Allison Mr. Villas want
/ ed to know if Nj. Stewart would be sat
/ isfied if silver was made legal tender
up to $50
Mr.. Stewart replied that this would
! hamstring and bind the limbs Of none
I Of the metals. Mr.. Allison asked if Mr..
Stewards silver plan contemplated the
I issue of silver certificates before the
/ bullion was coined Mr.. Stewart said
he would issue certificates at once and
I coin as fast as possible Ihere was no
/ doubt, he said, of the ability of the
I government to coin silver with sufh-
7 Gent raDidity for the needs Of civiliza-
ton He would undertake to coin $780,
100000 a year on a contract 70 receive
( the mint charges.
Mr.. Brown CRep.. Utah) discussed
| the bond bill and also the resolution
I introduced by him early in the day. de-
I claring that any bonds hereafter issued
/ would be illegal His reason for pro-
nouncing them illegal. he said, was the
constitution Of the United States which
expressly declared that congress alone,
| and not the executive, was authorized
/ to borrow money on the credit of the
act of 1875 was to provide for specie
payments, not to maintain
Mr. Allen pop. Neb), interposed to
state that Mr.. Brown had made no new
discovery. Prior to any Of the recent
bond issues, Mr.. Allen said, he had in
troduced a resolution declaring that the
issues would be illegal and the bonds
void. The purchasers of bonds from that
time to this were warned that the title
to their bonds was at least question
able.
Mr.. Brown insisted that the Allen
resolution had been no warning to bond
purchasers, as it had not passed What
he Grown wanted was a resolution
giving a notification from the United
States that the titles Of the bonds was
questionable.
The final conference report on the
fortihcations appropriation bill was
agreed to and also to a partial report
on the sundry civil appropriation bill
Mr.. Allen explained that the items
still in disagreement were those cover
ing public buildings arid lands. sur
vey Of public lands, participation in the
Brussels exposition and District Of Co
lumbia charity schools. A partial con-
ference report on the postofdce appro-
priati0n bill was approved.
AT 5,45 p m. the senate held q brief
executive session and then recessed un-
til IL o'clock today.