The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-20
AT WASHINGTON
Important Bearing on For
eign Affairs.
Bill Calling for All American
Engineers.
House as a Committee of the Whole
on Indian Matters.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20-The first thing
OF Importance in the Senate today was the
reading OF letter from the Secretary Of
the Treasury as to the coin and other
money in circulation and which was or
dered printed for the use of the Senate.
The Senate spent some time in discuss
ing question of official procedure. Mr..
Hill (Dem. N. Y.,) called attention to
the numerous resolutions passed by the
House and Senate, some Joint, some con-
current, and some the individual act Of
one of the houses. There was no author
itative decision as to which of the resolu-
tions required the signature of the Presi-
| dent in order to make 1t operative.
AT the suggestion OF Mir. Frye, who
urged the desira ability of an authoritative
statement, Mr.. Hill offered a resolution
y hich was agreed TO, directing the judi
ciary committee to report on the subject.
This action is regarded as having impor-
tant bearing on the pending resolutions
relating 10 foreign affairs.
When Mr.. Squire (kep., Wash. re-
portei favorably bill requiring marine
| engineers to be Americas citizens, Mr..
Frye called attention TO some recent re-
marks OF Air. Squire criticising the un-
American course OF tie international
Steamship Line. Mr.. Frye declared that
the Senstor n d unintentionally mis-
stated the iGcts, having been "crammed
with misin formation.
Mr. Frye denied that the engineers and
crews Of the st. Paul and st. Louis were
foreigners. He read detailed statements
showing that every officer in each ship of
the American line was an American, and
the greater part of the crew were Ameri-
cans.
Only among walters and stewards did
- RifC
SquIre's ASSERTIONS that the st. Paul had
run aground and two of her engineers
bad been killed as presumable result OF
her foreign equipment. MIR. Frye pointed
out that one or these engineers was an
American and the otner mad taken out
citizenship papers. The Senator paid
high tribute TO the American lines and
to the success of the movement toward
securing American ships with American
men. Mr.. Squire responded showing that
his statements had been made on what he
considered reliable authority. When the
discussion had proceeded some time MIR.
Platt (Republican, Connecticut face
tiously suggested that unanimous con-
q @ 1t be given to an eXoneration OF the
Senator from Washington (Squirel. The
latter proceeded, however, urging that
the original purpose of having American
lines manned exclusively by Americans
should be carried out.
the Cuban question. lie referred to the
fact hat he was IN Presids nt Grants cab
met at the time of the former uprising.
He objected 10 the committee resolution
as accomplishing nothing, giving offensc
TO Spain without extending any benefit
TO Cuba. lie wanted the United States
TO act. He urged that the miseries of
Cubabe brought to an end.
The Senate, on motion of Mr. Chandler.
postponed consideration OF MIR. Lojge's
resolution for an investigation of recent
bond issues until Monday Mr.. Call at 2
O'Clock, called up the resolution o grant
beiiigerant rights to the Cuban insur-
gents.
In The House.
The Senate amendments TO tho pension
appropriation bill were non-concurred in
the House today and the bill was sent to
conference. I ne House then went into
committee of the whole ana took up the
Indian appropriation DILL
Mr.. Sherman (Rep., y. W, chairman
of the committee on Indian affairs, made
the general statement regarding the pro-
visions Of the bin. IT oa-riou he said,
., ,63 '.'o>. -119, lG3 less tran the estimates
and 3, 762 less than the cJcrcnt law.