The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-02-22
House Issues Its Mandate to
Secretary Morton.
WAS NOT COMPLIMENTARY
After q Spirited Debate the Senate
Passed the Military academy
and Pension Bills.

Washington, Feb. 18.-The house to-
day passed the agricultural appropria-
ton bill 1t carries $3.158,192. The Sec
ton Of the revised statutes for the pur-
chase and distribution of rare and un-
common" seed, which Secretary Nor
ton declined to execute in the current
law, was repealed, and the appropria-
ton for seed was increased from $780,
600 to $150,000, and it's execution was
made mandatory upon the secretary.
Mr.. Cousins Of Iowa introduced his
amendment to reduce Morton's salary
from $4,000 to $25 until he expended the
appropriation in current law, but the
amendment was ruled out on a point
of order.
Several amendments to the meat in
spection act Of 1891, recommended by
Secretary Morton, which would have
given him additional power to enforce
the regulations and have strengthened
the law by imposition Of penalties for
violations, were stricken out.
A resolution was adopted directing
the committee on ways and means to
investigate the effect of the difference
of exchange between gold and silver
standard countries upon the manufac-
turing industries of the United States
Mr.. Newlands of Nevada presented
for the ways and means committee in
vestigation a resolution, which stated
that the chamber of commerce of San
Francisco has called the attention of
the country to the invasion Of products
from Oriental countries, especially Cali
fornia had already felt the effect of
this competition. He recalled the in
vasiOn of the Chinese and their absorb
ton Of every industry they had attack
ed. which had led to their seclusion. The
Pacific coast, he said, was now threat
ened with the invasion of the products
of cheap labor Of Oriental countries. He
gave some information regarding the
cheap prices at which Japanese watch
es, brushes, cottons, woolens, ETC., were
being sold in San Francisco markets.
Even bicycles, he said, were being i'm
ported and sold for $12 apiece. He de-
scribed how bicycles could be manufac-
tured in Japan for $12 in silver and sold
here for $12 in gold. An increase in sill
yer, he thought, would take from ORR
entail countries the advantages they
now possessed
of the whole and resumed consideration
of the agricultural appropriation bill.
Mr.. Cousins of Iowa, in criticising
Secretary Morton's course, characteriz-
ed it as the "grossest usurpation of
modern times" He declared that the
secretary had suborned referees with
salary of $500 each, and had actually
used $1,000 Of the appropriation Of last
wear to defeat legislation. He stated
that these corrupted and suborned''
officials had already "let the cat out of
the bag by writing to various seed
houses saying there would be no dis
trimution of seed this year.
1.-THE secretary" he said, pats the
house on the head. strokes the gray
boards Of the senate, scOwls at the
president and says there will not be
any seed distribution this year of oul
Lord, not If he knows himself" Gaugh-
teri
s"This is no longer a government Of
the people," he declared. 1T was
government by Pierpont Morgan and
of the Sterling Norton
The amendments to the act of 1891
for the inspection of live cattle, hogs,
carcasses and products thereof, which
had been incorporated in the bill, were
stricken out on motion Of Mr.. Baker
Republican of New Hampshire). The
amendments refuse clearance to vessels
exporting meats not found sound upon
inspection and provided for certifica-
ton and stamping Of cattle, sheep and
swine found free Of disease, and made
counterfeiting of such stamps punish
able by fine OF $1,000 and imprison-
4