The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-03

session tho senate confirmed the nomina
ton Of General j. j. eoppinger, q colonel
In tho army, TO be brigndior general, by
the decisive vote OF "A 10 IL. The nominas
tion was sent Co the senate very soon after
the converting OF congress, IA had
scarcely been maio public when protests
against confirmation began TO pour III
from the A. p. A. societies in all parts oil
the country. After a delay OF about SIX
weeks the senate COMMITTEES on military
affairs made au unanimously favorable re-
port,to lhs Senatc.
The Opposition 10 confirmation was led
By Senators Burrows, Gear, Perkins, Tel
Ter, P~ettigrew, Squire and Wilson, all oil
made speeches during the course OF Satur'
days session. Senators Hawley, Bate and
Palmer, all members OF the commlttee,
championed the generals cause, detailing
the results of the Investigation OF tho
committee, which, they said, were entirely
favorable TO General Coppinger.
Tn opponents of confirmation based
their course OF action almost entirely upon
the fact that Coppingcr had been pro-
motod over the heads of l3 colonies who
were his seniors In rank, which was dwelt
upon as an unjust proceeding. When
they were met with tho statement that
Coppingcr was selected because of his su.
perior military record, they asserted that
there were others Of equally meritorious
record.
They also made the point that In case OF
war the probabilities were altogether
favorable To younger men coming To tho
front. The opposition did not fail 10
point out that Mr.. Coppinger had served
In the American army for almost 30 years
before he took out naturalization papers,
and one senator, at least, said that no
would not vote for any maj who had
fought, AS IL was admitted Coppinger had,
against Italian unity in the Garibaldian
wars.
The opponents were tainted with being
Influenced by the A. T.. A. influence and
with making war on Coppinger because
he was u Catholic in religion, but they re-
scented this imputation To n man. Some
of those who voted for confirmation de-
clared that they did so in resentment OF
the interference OF the A. +. A, and de-
clared that otherwise they would have OPP
posed the nomination because Of It's In
vidiousness. The debate was n most ami
mated one from start to finish.
This Week In Congress.
Iit tlltll nus no MCii-htllilth Jun loT
this weeks proceedings. There will be no
session today. Ii is possible, though by
no means certain, that the finance COM
mitteo will be able To report on the revenue
tariff bin tomorrow, the matter still de-
pending upon Senator Jones New. IL
the bill should be reported there will prob
ably bo some desultory speech-making
based upon IL, but the consideration of tho
-.A.ll -A....I, - ..~l~..l.
begun this week. even though q report
should be secured as promptly as Is hoped
by the friends Of the bill.
The committee or appropriations will
claim n good share of the time that the
senate will be in session. The urgent de-
1~ciency bill has already been reported,
and Tho military academy and pension
bills will be put In early I'm the week.
None of these will excite any prolonged
debate, and IL Is altogether probable that
all will be disposed OF before the week
closes. The Cuban and Monroe doctrine
resolutions are also on tho calendar and
can be taken up at any time.
There Is more or less executive business
to claim attention, and the general calen-
dar has been growing rapidly as the result
Of committee work, while the silver bond
bill has been claiming the attention of the
senate. Under these circumstances the
week bids fair to be one of diversified in
forest, with no one topic claiming atten-
ton.
The important features of the weeks
proceedings In tho house will be In con-
nection with the resolution to censure
Ambassador Bayard adopted by the for
eign affairs committee, and the senate free
coinage substitute for the house bond bill.
The resolution censuring Mr.. Bayard will
probably precipitate an exciting contest
on the floor, but will doubtless be adopted
when IL reaches a vote.
When the free coinage substitute for
the house bond bill is returned to the
house an effort may DO made by the silver
men to concur In the substitute. Such an
attempt would, Of course. be defeated, as
the majority against silver In the lower
branch OF con gress Is overwhelming, but
it might DO made in order to put the
members on record. The bill, according
to the present program, will be immedi-
ately referred to the ways and means
committee, and reported back with n
recommendation that the senate substi.
tute be non-concurred In, which, in par
liamentary language. would mean that
the house insists Upon its bill. 1t will
then remain for the senate, which will in
sist upon its blu Ito request q conference.
1t Is there that some Of the members at
each end Of the Capitol hope to effect a
compromise, but the prevailing opinion is
that the bin will die In conference.
The week, except the portion devoted to
the bond bill and the Bayard resolution,
will be given TO a continuation Of the
work on the appropriation bills. The
District OF Columbia bill is still under
consideration. The agricultural and army
bills have been reported, and the Indian
bill is almost ready. They will be prob
ably taken up In the order named.