Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-12-24
FEDERAL LAW MAKERS,
TUESDAY,.


the senate convened Mr.. Morgan dem,
Ala) delivered a speech on Cuba He
said in part: [ will con-
fine my remarks to COM
ments upon the facts stated in the re-
cent annual message of the president,
and the report of the secretary of
state. I am not able to discover that
the president has made any specific
recomm endations or Indication as to
any action he deems it proper Or ex-
pedient for congress to take with ref
erence to Spain or Cuba; nor that he
has indicated any course, except a
still, patient waiting, that the execu-
tive proposes to take. Congress, thus
left to its own initiative, must assume
its own responsibility in matter Of
the most serious gravity"
The senate then took UP the bill
pensioning Nancy Allabach, which was
vetoed by the president, Mr.. Palmer
(dem., Ill) who was in charge of TIE
bill, answered the suggestion of Mr..
Cockrell dem, Mo- that this was
move to override the president; that
cording to his information despite the
position of the president. While he
had the utmost respect for the presi-
dent he was not willing that a prece-
dent should be established in which the
president should prescribe a rate at
which pensions should be established.
Mr.. Palmer thought the president had
the bill. A vote was taken, resulting in
AZ yeas to II nays. The chair an
nounced that the bill had passed not
withstanding the presidents objection.
The negatives were cast by Senators
Bate, Berry, Blanchard, Chiffon, Faux
ner, Harris, Mills, Morgan, Pasco. Vest
and WalthalI.
Washington, Dec. 15.-The house
entered upon the consider
alton of the Loud bill to
amend the law relating to the trans
mission Of second-class mail matter
The bill denies the right of serial
novels to admission to the mails at
newspaper one cent per pound rate,
denies to newspapers the sample copy
privilege, prohibits the return of un-
sold publications at the pound rate and
makes some other changes in the pres
ent law designed to correct existing
abuses. It is estimated that abuses
of the law have cost the government
$4,000, 900 in the last ten years. No
action was taken.
WEDNESDAY
Washington, Dec. 16.-The session
Of the senate yesterday developed the
most eventful and exciting debate that
either branch of congress has heard in
long time. 1t brought forward the
recognized leaders of the various par
ties and elements, including such con-
spicuous figures as Senators Sherman,
Frye, Teller, German, Vest, Aldrich,
Plat, Mitchell (Ore), Chandler, Hale
and Allen, in notable statements on
leading questions. A bitter debate came
en- in an apparently innocent way
when Mr.. Vest dem, Mo- called up
and denounced the Dingley bill He
asserted that the opium habit had no
more deadly hold on it's victim than
this advocacy of protection.
why is it," he asked, ''that with the
balance of trade in our favor, and with
a gold standard in force the country
is in state Of distress?"
Mr.. Frye, rep, Maine,) said that he
would present just two points in an
swer to the senator. First, never be-
fore in his experience had he known
time when the wool industry was so
dead as it is today. Second, leading
wool authorities had declared that one
half of the wooden mills are closed.
The wool schedule was the very worst
one of all in the present tariff law.
1t resulted in an inunda5ion Of the
country with cheap, shoddy goods.
Mr.. Mills dem, Tex said
1hat he looked forward to
a radical tariff measure in the
next congress, for the republicans had
the presidency and in his judgment
both branches of congress beyond
much doubt. The question before the
senate was, Gould the Dingley bill be
passed."
Without desiring to violate any con-