The record-union., 1896-02-19

r2lerence or the resolution TO the FL
nance Committee.
Hill Dem.) of New York was OPP
posed from the information he had to
any investigation Of the subject, either
by the Finance Committee or by Sc
lect committee.
During a discussion Hill asked if the
Senate had not had enough experience
at investigating at the instance of ir-
responsible persons and he asked: Had
any Senator made a charge in the pres
ent case?'
81 make a charge now" Stewart
(Pop) of Nevada interposed.
"The Senator will not make his charge
now," said Hill. Il will not yield to the
Senator to make a charge now. It
comes rather late. I was speaking Of
the author of the resolution.
While Hill was speaking the hour of
2 o'clock arrived. The Senate then
took up the unfinished business, being
the military academy appropriation
bill but the discussion was interrupted
to receive the urgent deficiency bill
from the House and it's request for
conference. The Senate insisted upon
its amendments and the request for a
conference was granted, Hill, Allison
and Cockrell being appointed mana
gers on the part of the Senate.
An amendment was offered by Villas
(Dem.) of Wisconsin TO Increase by
rinety the number of West Point ca
diets, and one by Sewell (Rep) of New
Jersey to the effect that the President
may appoint to vacancies in the grade
of Second Lieutenant meritorious nom
commissioned officers or the army when
recommended according to the pro-
visions of the Act of of 1878, although
graduates of the military academy
may remain in service until assigned.
Tillman Oem) of South Carolina
called attention to the fact that the
Government donates $4,000 every year
to each of the land grant colleges.
These colleges were compelled to teach
military tactics, and each one was pre-
sided over by a West Pointer These
| colleges, Tillman thought, were fur
nishing all the military education the
country needed.
German said the Senate had already
been criticised for it's conduct in the
matter of appropriations. There had
been talk in the press of the Senate US
ing hob-nailed shoes to ride rough-shod
over a coordinate branch. The Senate,
he said would resent this. The Senate
had the right, and it was its duty, to
amend appropriation bills and make
them sufficient to meet the needs of the
country But the Senate weakened it's
position when it proposed to amend an
appropriation bill so as to enable each
Senator to name a cadet. This amend
ment would, German thought, be mis-
understood everywhere. He approved
of an increase of appropriations when
the necessities of the Government re-
quired it and they were in conformity
with the law, but emphasized his dis
approval of the pending amendment.
| Hawley and Hoar advocated the
amendment, and Stewart, Teller and
Call opposed it.
| After a three-hours' debate, by
vote of "a yeas. to 27 nays, the Villas
amendment providing for ninety addi-
tional cadets was rejected,
The bill was then passed, and the PEN
sion appropriation for the coming fiscal
year was taken up.
The pension bill was passed as quick
/ Iy as the Clerk could read it-in less
than eight minutes.
| German, with reference to this bill,
which carried an appropriation of S142,-
100000, said it was one OF those appro-
priations which added to the great ex-
penditures of the Government and hung
like a pail over the country. He re-
called the prediction that he had here
tofore made that the receipts of the
Government would not meet it's ex-
penditures.
Call Dem) of Florida introduced a
resolution, which went over, directing
the Secretary of the Treasury to dis
pose of the lapsed bids in the recent
bond sale to 1.-The highest bidder, in
Guiding in the bids such as have been
received up to the time of the passage
of this resolution, when such bids shall
be opened by the Secretary of the
Treasury"
After short executive session, the
Senate, at 5:45 p. m, adjourned until
to- morrow.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The House
to-day, after three days consideration
of the agricultural appropriation bill,
finally disposed of it. The feature of
the debate to-day was the attack by
Cousins (Rep.) of Iowa upon the meth
DDS of the Secretary of Agriculture in
connection with his refusal to carry
out the law for the purchase and dis
tribution of seeds as provided for in the
Appropriation Acts of 1894 and 1895.
He said the corrupted and subordinat-
ed commission appointed by the Secre-
tary had, long in advance of the time
fixed for them to examine and report
upon the bids for supplying seeds to
the department informed inquirers that
there would be no distribution of seed,
showing a predetermination on his part
to nullify the law. The Government,
Cousins said, was no longer a govern
ment for the people and by the people,
but a government by J. Pierrpont Nor
gan and j. Sterling Morton.
Amendments incorporated in the bill
make it mandatory upon the Secretary
to purchase and distribute seed, as had
been the custom prior to the suspension
of the practice last year, without ref
erence to the requirements Of the stat
ute that they shall be rare and un-
common" as that phrase was con-
strued by Secretary Morton. The ap-
preparation for seeds was increased
from $4,000 to S130,000 and the seeds
division abolished by Secretary Nor
ton last year was rehabilitated with a
full quota of clerks. to enable the Sec
retary to execute the law.
Among the miscellaneous business
transacted the House passed resolution
introduced by Newlands (Silver) Of Ne
vada, directing the Committee on Ways
and Means to inquire into the effect
upon American industries of the diff
ference of exchange between countries
having the gold and silver standards
of value and to report by bill or other