Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-02-06
OUR LAWMAKERS AT WORK.

SENATE Forty first day.-The presentation
OF committee reports on Cuba, and highly
dramatic and sensational speech from Mr.
Tillman. the new senator from south Carolina,
furnished two stirring events in the senate.
The majority resolution on Cuba asks the
President TO urge Spain To grant bellgereh'
rights TO the insurgents, while the minority re,
port directs the President TO take steps toward
securing from Spain the complete indepeh-
dence OF Cuba Both resolutions went 10 the
Senate calendar. Such "a torrent OF invecuye
has seldom been heard In the Senate as that In
the speech OF Mr. 1tllman- Veteran members
OF the body characterized the speech as one OF
the most remarkable In the history OF the up
per branch of Congress. IL abounded in state
ments OF sensational character, arraignin,g
and other men in high places. Mr..
Baker introduced an amendment 10 the
silver bill now before the Senate provlding
that any person who takes silver or gold 10 the
mint to be coined shall take. an equally valua-
BILE amount OF the other metal aud have botn
coined, so as TO secure the parity OF the NV. Iwo
metals HoUsE-The session was brief. The
opposition 10 y bill reported from the invalid
pensions committee TO amend the act OF lSyO SO
that In the consideration OF widows claims uh-
explained absence OF seven years should De
considered sufficient proof OF death, led TO the
making OF the point OF no quorum early In the
session and the House was forced TO adjourn,
Mr.. Bartlett, OF New York, introduced joint
resolution authorizing the construction OF SIX
new battleships to cost not more than t3.3O0OOO
each exclusive OF armament, for which s5'Ooo'-
SENATE-Forty-second day-Mr Mitchell. OF
Oregon, made o speech in favor OF the silver
substitute to the bond bill He pointed out
that our foreign Indebtedness during the past
81 years had greatly increased, notwithstand-
ing that during that time there was a balance
of trade in our favor In merchandise OF III .7dS,-
100000, besides silver exports OF 1870 e25 and
gold exports OF s25l ,l9U7l2. There were two
remedies To be applied: First. our merchant
marine must be encouraged and built up, ana
become second.
must legislate to increase our export com
modities SO as to enable US TO wipe out the de ot
which today makes the people OF this country
virtually slaves to the money lenders OF Great
Britain. He thought that the only remedies
which could protect the people OF America
from the inroads OF the orient were the aban-
donment of the single gold standard and
the establishment of a protective tarin.
He was against any increase In the
public debt to maintain the gold standard.
Mr. Perkins, OF California, spoke briefly in
support OF the silver amendment Mr.. Jones.
of Arkansas, In charge OF the silver bond bill
endeavored to hold the Senate in session TIL q
vote was forced. He had given notice of this
intention. and Senators were prepared for 1t.
After lengthy discussion the Senate went
into executive session and then took recess
for the day The urgent deficiency bill was
reported, being the first OF the appropriation
bills TO be reported To the Senate this session.
IL increases the total appropriation for deli
ciencies over the amount appropriated by the
House bill TO the extent of 81 $1,000 the total
being e.. $50 667. HoUsE.-The attendance was
sin. resolution was adopted requesting the
President, at his earliest convenience, TO trans
init 10 congress the report OF the board OF
engineers on the Nlcaraguan canal. The
bill TO amend the dependent pension act OF lsgo
so that In considering widows claims seven
years OF unexplained absence should be deemed
sufficient of the death OF the soldier. was
passed. Mr.. Mcclellan, Dem, n V, made the
point OF no quorum, but the speaker counted
quorum.
SENATE Forty-third day.-Small attend
ance. The continued consideration OF the sill
yer bond bill was the feature OF the day. Mr..
Villas. Dem. Wis, VINO declared that the pro-
posed financial legislation amounted To moth
ing more than mockery OF the legislation de-
manded by our circumstances. He talked for
three hours and was about to be followed by
Mr. Bate when Mr. Chandler preciptated the
question OF final vote by stating that
he would ask unanimous consent for
"a recess from 4 until 7:30 o'clock This
was amended TO give further recess UNI
I'll the next day when the five minute rule OF
debate would be applied and vote be taken.
HOUSE-Thc day was principally devoted TO
District OF Columbia appropriations
SENATE-Forty-fou day-The wind-up of
the debate on the silver bond bill was an in
terestng occasion. Three hours were con-
sumed in speeches and parliamentary Skin
mishing and when the vote was taken IL re-
Sulted-42 ayes, - nays. "a majority of seven
for free silver The bill passed provides that
from the date of the act the minis of the
United States shall be open 10 the coinage of
weight and hneness and also provides for the
certificates. IL further provides for the seign-
forage now in the treasury and authorizes inn
mediate issue OF certificates upon the same IN
advance of its being carried. one section OF
the bill provides that no bank note OF less than
$40 shall hereafter be issued and those out
standing OF less amount shall be taken up and
cancelled as rapidly as possible Section 4
provides that the greenbacks and treasury
notes shall be redeemed in standard silver dol
lars, or in gold coin at the option OF the
treasury. ana the greenbacks. when so re-
deemed, shall be Immediately reissued.
HoUSE.-After considering some minor meas
ures the House went into committee of the
whole and resumed consideration OF the Dis
trict of Columbia appropriation BILL but ad-
lourned without finishing the bill
Forthwith day-No session OF the Sen
ate. HousE-The Senate free coinage sub
stitute for the House bond bill was referred to
the ways and means committee as soon as IT
reached the House. Mr.. Bromwell. OF Ohio.
introduced a bill providing that the flag OF the
United States shall have l3 horizontal stripes,
alternate red and white; and the union of the
flag is to consist of blue field. containing 10
stars arranged in the center OF the field and so
grouped as 10 form u siX-cornered star. around
which is TO be placed IN the form OF II circle,
rs many white stars as IN addition to the l3 in
the central group shall correspond in number
10 the whole number Of states in the union.
Mr.. Corllss. Of Michigan. presented a Joint res
Olution which provides that any states that
prefer to do so may adopt constitutional
amendment or legislative act, authorizing the
pie direct, and in such states the election shall
be by the people. The District OF Coiun bia
appropriation bill occupied the rest of the day.