Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-02-26
CONGRESS NEWS
Interesting Items Cleaned at
the Capital by the Tribune
Reporter.
All the Important Doings in
the House and Senate Re
corded Weekly.

greSSlOnal campaign committee, dnu
incidently there was some talk about
pending legislation, especially the
tariff bill, which Senator Carter, one
of the Republicans who voted against
taking that bill up last week, has
moved 70 send back to the finance
committee for further considera-
ton. No attempt was made to
force any action, but it was plain that
the sentiment of the caucus was al
most unanimous that the bill ought
to be put through the senate just as
1t passed the house.
Oh no, j. Pierrepont Morgan has no
pull on this administration. That
was shown by the action of Secretary
Carlisle in presenting Mr.. Morgan
with about 100000 of the peoples
money by deciding that the bonds
upon which the original bidders de-
faulted in the first payment-about
,S5,OOO,OO0- should go to Mr.. Morgan
at his bid, Notwithstanding the offers
of higher price by others for them.
Secretary Carlisle should have to
answer before the bar of the .. S.
senate, sitting as court OF lmpeach-
ment. for this extraordinary and cost
" favor conferred upon Mr.. Morgan.
Lest there should be any mislnder-
standing as to this charge here are
the figures. These bonds are sold to
Mr.. Morgan at less than Ill when
they could have been sold in the open
market (see current quotations. for
LII, difference of six cents upon
every dollar of the bonds. This too,
In the face of the statement in the
original advertisement for bids, that
the government reserved the right to
reject any or all bids sent in. It is
perfectly clear that Mr.. Morgan had
no claim to have these
bonds upon which higher bidders de-
faulted awarded to him, and the in
ference is that they are given him,
because he didn't get as many bonds
as he and the administration expected
he would get. But it is costly for the
people.
Senator Hill made bid for the
whiskey vote by speaking against the
of petitions fra >emper-
ance people to the senate and giving
notice of his intention to move that
the senate rules be so amended that
petitions should be handed to the
clerk of the senate and not be pre-
5ented in open senate and have their
titles read, as has been the inyariable
custom.
The hearings before the senate Pa
citic railroad committee on the various
for the settlement of the
debt of those roads to the govern
ment, have made the railroad lobbyists
very CONSPICUOUS in Washington, but
so far but little has been brought out
hat was new and there is nothing in
sight to indicate the nature of the
oiA that will finally be reported.
1t is, of course, certain that
bills will be reported both from house
and senate committees, but whether
Doth committees will report the same
bdl or whether any bill will be passed
is more than can at this time be said.
The country will be fortunate if this
matter is disposed of without con
gressional scandal.
The house this week had a little fun ;
with Secretary Morton, in connection
with his refusal to buy and distribute
seeds after the last congress appro-
priated the money. A number of
gentlemen helped along the amuse-
ment, but the efforts of Representa- Y
tive Cousins of Iowa seemed to be
most appreciated by the house. He
offered an amendment to the agricul-
5ural appropriation bill, providing
that the salary of the secretary of
agriculture be reduced to $25 year
until he should comply with the law
for the free distribution of seeds.
The amendment was, Of course, ruled
ont on point of order, but not until
Mrl Cousins had his say, which was
not altogether humorous. For in
stance, he was serious enough when
Ae said Secretary Morton's course was
fhe grossest usurpation of modern
times, and "the Secretary pats the
aouse on the head, strokes the gray
BEARD of the senate, scowls at the
president, and says there will not be
r