Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-04-30
ON BATTLESHIPS.
che Senate Has an Exciting De.
bate Over the Item.
The PICKL R PENSION BILL PASSED.


was plunged lntO an oxcltlnR nnuHclhl
debate yesterday after several weeks
Of serene and formal procedure on ap.
preparation bills. The naval appro.
prlation bill was under consideration
aud the item OF four battleships TO
cost an aggregate Of Sl5. 900, 0O0, served
Is a text for speech by Mr.. German,
pointing out that the revenues OF the
government are less than the receipts.
Mr.. Germans statements brought on
IN animated controversy, In which Mr.
Sherman, Mr.. Hale, Mr.. Chandler
Joined issue with the Maryland senator
- to the responsibility for the failure
Of the tariff legislation In the present
congress- Mr.. Germans speech and
the frequent heated party colleagues It
developed attracted treat interest,
crowds filling the galleries for the first
time since the Cuban debate and many
members Of the house coming over to
listen to the proceedings. The battle
ships item was not completed when
the senate adjourned.
The mouse Yesterday passed the
Picker general pension bill by vote
Of 1877 to "a The republicans and pop.
ulists voted solidly In favor OF the
measure, and the democrats, with six
exceptions. solidly against 1t. The
section to which the bulk Of the oppo.
sition WIS directed provides that per.
sons oinerwi.e entitled to pensions
shall not lie disqualified on account Of
prior service in the confederate army,
provided they joined the union forces
90 DAYS before Lees surrender, The
bankruptcy bill was taken up under a
special order providing for vote Sat
urday ut four p. m.
w0LC0TT DEFINES HIS POSITION.
WASHINGTON, April 20 - Senator
Wolcott, OF Colorado, has written a
letter defining his position in regard
to the st. Louis convention. The SEN
stor's position Is radically different
from the position Of his COLLEAGUE,
Senator Teller, as Senator Wocott In.
dicateS his intention OF remaining
with the republican party, whatever
action. II may take on the currency
question. His letter il addressed to
Irwin W. Howbert, chairman OF the re.
publican state committee OF Colorado,
and Is In part as follows:
There IL no sacrifice would not make to
secure the reconciliation OF silver, not be-
cause Co orado IL producer 4 silver, but be-
cause. In my opinion. prosperity will never re-
turn to us until bimotallism Ut the former
ratio Is re-established, mud because the ap-
preciating value OF gold and shrlnsage Of
values which necessarily follow thl' npprecla-
sion must bring only disaster md poverty and
suffering TO the people Of this country who are
not lenders Of money. TO secure the un-
limited coinage OF silver, would count party
ties as nothing. Atthis moment, however, the
situation which confronts US IL this Both Of
lhe two great parties are apparently opposed
10 free coinage by the United States. The
popuist party favors free coinage, but only Us
means to secure more currency rs u step to-
ward unlimited paper money, and II unltes
With free coinage advocacy socialistIc and pa
doctrines which are dangerous In
tendency and which would be, II adopted, de-
,tructiye TO free institutions, know Of no
|ourth party as yet entitled TO our confidence
md support although the wisdom Of leaders
whose character and abilities we trust NAV lind
ZONE common ground upon which bimetallIsts.
with popullsm. may stand Under
hesp circumstances and cOndlio is. therefore,
desire to ne counte us q republican
HAMM0ND's CONVICTION
WASHINGTON, April 20. When Sem
ltor Stewart, who is personal friend
II Hammond, heard of his conviction
It Pretoria for treason, he Immediate
Y set to work TO prepare petition in
Nr. Hammond's behalf, which he had
circulated among senators and mem
'ers of the house. The petition is adj
lressed to President Kruger and is n
'lea for pardon. 1t sets forth the high
haracter OF the accused and states
nat his family ana associations here
we're of the best, and while it Is con-
eded by the petitioners that the crime
0 which he has eaded guilty is u |
most serious one. and directed against |
government for which the signers s
ave high regard, they still ask as c
M ..f al h., ~ 1.