The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-16
As TO THE Adjournment
Predictions in Reference to Closing
the Talking Mill Is Erroneous.
FIGHT OVER SOLDIERS HOME
Lively Speeches Provoked in the House on
tho Reelection Of Board Of Man.
ayers of Soldiers Home.
The Dupont Case.


pretty clear from an incidental remark
in the senate today that the predic-
tions as to an early adjournment OF
congress are not likely to be verified
The slowly moving Dupont election
case has been taken up, and Mr.. Gray
(Dem., Del) was in the act of begin
ming an argument against the right OF
Mr.. Dupont, when the chairman of the
committee on appropriations, Mr.. ALI
son (ReD.. Iowa) made an inquiry as
to the time when the election case
would probably come to vote. Mr.
Mitchell (Rep., Oregon). chairman OF
the committee on privileges and elec-
tions, said that there We're at least
half u dozen more speeches to be made
upon it, and that therefore he could
not fix any time for the vote, although
he was anxious to have the case dis
posed of. He consented. however. to let
the matter go over. when Mr. Gray
should have finished his speech, so as
to make way for the Indian appropria-
tion bill, the naval appropriation and
Mr.. Peffers resolution for an investi-
cation of the recent bond issues.
"That practically MEANS" Mr.. Cor
man interposed. that the Dupont case
is not to be disposed of until after the
last of June" tf,
Mr.. Gray occupied over three hours
in the presentation of the case against
Mr.. Dupont's claim to the vacant seat
from the state of Delaware: and had
not finished his speech when the senate
at $50 D. m. adjourned, after an exc
cutive session. until tomorrow.
Practically without opposition, and
without taking yea and nay vote, the
senate this afternoon in executive ses-
sion ratified the treaty with Great Brit
ain providing for the appointment of a
commission for the assessment of the
damages growing out of the seizure of
vessels engaged in sealing in the Ber-
ing sea. There were one or two verbal
but unimportant amendments.
Bills were passed in the senate as
follows: Amending ,the act providing
for the protection of the salmon fish
cries of Alaska.
To provide for the private sale of
public lands in Missouri.
Regulating the incorporation of
medical and dental colleges in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
oint resolutions authorizing the
wearing of a rOsette or knot of ribbon
i'm lieu of medals of honor awarded by
the acts of 1862 and 1868.
AN OLD BATTLE RENEWED.
The old fight against the reelection
Of General w. b. Franklin as MEM
ber of the board of managers of the
National Soldiers home and against
the retention of Colonel A. j. Smith as
governor of the home at Leavenworth,
Kas.. was renewed in the house today,
occupying nearly all of the session and
will rage until 3 o'clock tomorrow. 1t
came on when Mr.. Hull. chairman of
the committee on military affairs called
up the joint resolution reported from
that committee. providing for the cleo
tion of General Franklin and G. w.
Steele "a representative from lndiana)
to succeed themselves as members of
the board; of General T. j. Henderson,
an eX-member of congress. from Illinois,
to succeed General John c., Black, ex-
commissioner of pensions, and of Gen
eral G. L. Beale, of Maine, to succeed
General Fessenden, of the same state.
Mr.. Blue (Rep., Kas.) moved to strike
out the name of General Franklin and
insert that of General o. o. Howard,
and upon that addressed the house for
two hours. He bitterly arraigned Cen
eral Franklin's administration as presi-
dent of the board of managers, declar-
ing that he was virtually the board,
dominating it's policy and action. He
charged, he said, from the record, that
General Franklin was either grossly
negligent. grossly incompetent or was
not honest He held that he was re-
sponsible for the retention in office of
Colonel Smith, whom he accused Of
drunkenness, frequent and continued
up to the present time-"vOmiting
crawling drunk"-and of brutality to
La to Of hn hi
charge.
General Franklin and Colonel Smith
were defended by General William Cur
tbs (Rep., N. ", a member of the COM
mittee on military affairs. Mr.. Poole
Rep., N. " and Mr.. Henry (Rep.,
Comm and these officials and the board
of managers by General G. w. Steele
(Rep, Ind.), a member of the board.
Mr.. Mahon (Rep., Pa.) proposed an
amendment to the joint resolution pro-
viding for a joint congressional inves-
tigation of the charges of drunkenness
and brutality against Colonel Smith.
the officer to be removed by the board
of managers, should a majority of the
committee find the charges to be well
founded. The matter was still pending
when the house adjourned at o'clock.
The house adopted the resolutions
unanimously reported by elections COM
mittee No. that Robert Morgan (Rep,)
was not elected, and that r. c. Latimer
CDem..) was elected a representative
from the Third South Carolina district
and that the latter is entitled to hold
his seat.
CUBAN CORRESPONDENCE.
The president sent to the senate to-
day formal letter in answer to Sem
atOr H0ar,s resolution calling for the
Cuban correspondence. With the let
ter is a large mass of papers composed
Of the correspondence Of 1875 and 1878,
when General Grant offered to medit-
ate between Spain and Cuba. OF the