Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-01
THE 54TH CONGRESS.
House Of Representatives, In Session
Just Twelve Minutes.
FINANCE IN THE SENATE.
These Troubled Waters vensured
On by Mr.. Mitchell and Others
sn~-uru Attacks the Legislation
OF the Fifty-Th.ra Congress-.


more members OF the House were pres
ent In their seats to-day than were eA-
pected 10 hear the journal OF SATURDAY
proceedings read and 10 vote In iaVo'
of the motion TO adjourn until rriuaS'
ThSt constituted the entire programme
ar business, and the session lasted just
twelve minutes.
About one hundred members were Oh
tho floor. There was also present IA. Duu-
ley Coleman. OF New Orleans. mo"oe'
OF the Fifty-frst Congress, and now CON
testing Mr.. Bucks right to a seat IN 'he
Fffty-fourth Congress.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Although the financial question was moi
directly before the Senate to-day for con-
sideration, all the points discussed nau
reference TO that burning subject. In
speech In support OF his resolution iooh-
ing TO an additional rate Of duty on ra"
wool Mr.. Mitchell (Repubican), OF ore
ron drifted into the stormy waters OF
fnance. and argued that II the secretary
of the Treasury had exercised the uis
cretion vested In him and redeemeu
greenbacks and Treasury notes, either III
most convenient, that would have put
stop 20 the redemption of such notes.
When Mr.. Hill asserted epropos OF that
argument. that ever since 1879 1t had been
the custom of all the secretaries OF the
Treasury to redeem greenbacks in goid,
the statement was contradicted by MI
Cockrel who stated that such redemp-
ton began in October, 1sT-never before-
and added that Senator Sherman had Of
fered an amendment in the Senate 10
redeem, retire. and cancer greenbacks
with silver dollars; and that Secretary
Carlisle had stated before the House
Committee on Appropriations. in Janu-
airy, 1895. that II, in the beginning, the
Secretary OF the Treasury had exercised
his discretion of paying THESE notes either
in gold or silver, at his convenience, il
would have operated well, and been OF
great benefit.
Mr.. Cockrell repeated with great posi-
tiveness that no Secretary of the Urea
sury had ever. until October. 1895. denied
the option of holders of United States
notes TO require payment In gold regard
less of consequences.
DUTY OK WOOL
After speeches by Mr.. Mitchell and Mr..
Nelson Republican,. of Minnesota. the
resolution as to an additional rate Of
OutN on raw WOOL was referred 10 the
Committee On Finance.
Mr.. Perkins Republican,. of California.
offered a resolution. with a long string of
''whereases," nstructng the finance Com
mttee TO report an amendment to the
House revenue bill, providing for an adj
ditional duty on raw sugar equal TO the
proposed increase on other articles; and
asked for it's immediate consideration
Mr.. Berry Democrat. of Arkansas,
objected. and the resolution went ove-.
Mr.. Pettigrew Republican,. of South
Dakota. introduced a bill. which was
referred to the Finance Committee, TO
cancel redeemed United States legal-ten-
der notes.
Mr.. Morrill,, chairman of the Finance
Committee. moved that when the Senate
adjourn to-day 1T adjourn til Friday next.
remarking that the Finance Committee
desired TO meet on Thursday. to con-
slider the House bond bill and tariff bill
The motion was agreed TO.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.
Chandler Republican,, of New Hamp-
shire. as TO the prices paid for armor for
vessels OF the navy: whether they are
higher than charged by the same con-
tractors to foreign governments; and
as 10 government officers being inter-
ested In patents used in it's manufac-
ture, was taken up. and MIR. Chandler
r.
German, by emitting the clause as TO
lower prices charged to foreign govern
inents-Mr. German explaining that the
facts were made known at the last SEES
sion. and were that it had been deemed
very desirable for United States manu-
facturers to compete with English and
German manufacturers for single Rus
sian vessel. and that the armor in that
case had been supplied at a loss.
MT. German also pxp~accp1 bfe
mat the resolution suggested coriupting |
,nnuences among naval officers.
MI. Hale agreed with Mr.. German. and |
favored holding up the hands of the |
officials OF the navy.
BATTJESHIP BUILDING.
Those great transactions" he said. |
ahuuihg 10 the building of battleships |
curing several administrations. .'have |
been done openly and above board. ana |
Win integrity transfused through every |
Dranch or the service. regret that anv- |
thing has arisen that would I'm anv wav |
disturb the confidence which Congress |
mas nad In all the branches of the Navy |
department, and In which the country |
mas shared. If there is ANYTHING how.
ever, 10 disturb that confidence. n oi,gb, |
70 De brought out. hope that an inyes- |
usanon VIII demonstrate that there is /
nothing in it,"
word spoken by the Senators from Mary.
land and Maine. including the repret
expressed by them that there was anv
OCCASION Tor the Offering OF the resoln-
TON lie had taken the responsibility of
Offering IT,
Facts had come 10 his knowledge which
required investigation and which re-
CURED publicity, II they were as he I'M
derttood them In order that in future
a f..s
navy which were TO be built and which
ought 20 be built in considerable numbers
during the next few years. everything.
might be above suspicion and above re-
proach. He did not propose TO make
now any statement OF those facts which
could injure any officer OF the navy or
OF the government But II senators were
inclined to learn a part Of the foundation
for the inquiry they could DO so by read
ing IN the New York Times OF November
18th and 10Th statements which justified.
and, in his judgment. required the in
vesigation.
The resolution was agreed TO- as follows:
Resolved. That the Committee ON
Naval Affairs be directed. to INQUIRE
the prices paid or agreed 10 be
paid for armor for vessels Of the navy
have been fair and reasonable: also.
whether any prices paid have been in
on account of patent processes
used for the introduction Of nickel or
for fermentation by the Harvey process:
and. II so, whether the increases In
price are fair and reasonable: whether
the issuance OF any of the patents was
expedited at the request of the Navy
Department: whether such patents were
properly issued and were for inventions
not previously used. and who were and
are the owners OF such patents; whether
any officers of the Government were int.-
rested therein at the time when any con-
tracts were made. or have since Cesn in