The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-10
vary but Little From Those Adopted
by the Fiiy-First Congress.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Giving Some New Light on tho
Bond Question.

with such changes as lU mlgnt huopt on
the recommendation of the committee on
rules.
These changes wcrp reported 10 the
house by the committee yesterday, but
with one exception are unimportant The
exception is the mode Of establishing tho
presence OF n quorum, which, after the
precedent laid down by Speaker Reed In
thc Eifty-first congress, became a most i'm
portant point of parliam entary practice.
In the last congress Speaker Crisp
achieved the same result which Mr.. Reed
obtained by rule under which two mem-
bcrs were designated TO noto those present
and not voting on u roll'sa1l. The COM
mittce on rules now propose rule intro
ducsd by j. r. Tucker tVa.) In the Forty
sixth congress. lt Is:
Whenever n quorum fails 70 vote on any
question and a quorum Is not present, and OBJ
jcction is made for that cause, there shall be
call OF the house, and the serSeant-atarms
shall forthwith proceed TO briag In absent
members and the yeas and nays on the pend
ing question shall at the same time be con
sidered as ordered. The clerk shall call tho
roll, and each member, AS he answers 10 his
naine. may vote IA the pending question. and
after the rollcall is completed each member
arrested shall be brought by Jhe sergeant-at-
arms before the house, whereygoon he shall be
noted as present. discharged f-om arrest and
given an opportunity 70 vote, and his vote
shall be recorded.
IL those voting Oh the qnestion and those
who are present and decline 20 vote shall to-
Eether make majority OF the honse, the
speaker shall declare that quorum Is consti.
tuted, and the pending question shall be de-
cided a. "A majority OF those voting shall ap-
pear. And thereupon further proceedings un-
der the call shall be considered as dispensed
with.
Another new rule provides that the
speaker shall entertain only one motion To
adjourn and no other dilatory motion
after report has been made 10y the COM
mittee on rules. until the report has been
fully disposed OF.
The rule by which the previous question
can be ordered only by IA majority of the
members present, IL quorum" Is
changed TO IA majority of members vot-
ing. If a quorum be present"
The requirement upon the sergeant-at-
arms 10 give bonds, approved by tho
speaker, in the sum of $4,000, is dropped.
because after tho Silcott defalcation, sew
cal years ago, lnw was passed requiring
that official 10 give bonds to the treasury
deDartment.
1t is understood that tho Republican
members of the rues committee will
adopt policy OF giving sufficient time for
dehste when important bills are before
the house. SO that there will be no grounds
for complaints such as have arisen in this
congress when the revenue bills were re-
ported, and were heard in the last con-
gress--that the committee were disposed
TO rush measures This is largely in the
nature OF n concession to new members,
who are gcRerally most anxious 10 make
speeches, and who number about l10 in
this house
a Word From the President.
The debate on the Elkins resolution In
iEe senate last Friday, when the admins
tration was accused by several senators of
having entered into an agreement with
syndicate TO float the expected issue of
bonds Is the subject of letter written by
President Cleveland TO Senator Caffery
(La.):
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WAsHISGToS, Jan. 8.
NY DEAR SENAToR-I have read today in the
Congressional Record the debate in the senate
or Friday concerning the financial situation
and bond issues lam amazed at the in tolerance
tha. leads even excited partisanship TO adopt
IS a basis OF attack the unfoundcd sccusa-
tons and assertions OF maliciously menda
cious and sensational newspaper.
No banker or hnancier, nor any other human
beng ha been invited 10 visit Washington
Tor the purpose Of arranging in any way or
manner for the disposition of bonds TO meet
The present. or future needs of the gold re-
serve. No arrangements Of any kind have
been made for the disposition Of such bonds TO
any syndicate or through the agency of any
syndicate.
No assurance OF such disposal OF bonds has
been directly or indirectly given % any person.
In point Of fact decided leaning towards
popular loan AMI advertising for bids had been
plainly exhibited on the part Of the admins
tration az all times when the subject was under
discussion.
ffifusr charged with the responsibility et
maintaining our gold reserve. SD FAR as legis
lation renders 10 possible, have anxiousy CON
fcrred with eacb other and "a occasion per
snitfed, with those having knowledge of finan.
cial affairs and present monetary conditions
ne to the bes; and most favorable means OF
selling bonds for gold.
The annual importance OF n successful re-
suit, IL the attempt Is again made. ought TO be
apparent to every American citizen who be-
ssows upon the subject moments patriotic
thought. The secretary OF the treasury from
this first moment that the necessity OF another
sale OF bonds seemed to be approaching, de-
sired 10 offer them, n issued 20 the people, by
public advertisement. IL they could thus DO
successfully disposed II.
After full consideration he came 10 the CON
clusiou, to which fully agree, that the amount
Of gold in the reserve, being now $4,000 900
moro than IL was IN February last, when a sale
OF bonds WAS made TO syndicate. and other
conditions differing from those then existing,
justify us in Offering the bonds now about to
be issued for sale by popular subscription
This Is the entire matter; and all those par.
ficuiars could have been easily obtained by
anv member of the senate by simple inquiry.
II Mr. Morgan, or any one olse reasoning
from his own standpoint, brought himself Ia
the belief that the government would be AT
length constrained TO again sell bonds TO a
syndicate, suppose he would haze perfect
right, II he chose. TO take such steps seemed
20 him prudent % pat himself in condition 10
negotiate.
Iexpect an issue Of bonds will be advertised
for sale tomorrow, and that bids will be
invited not only for those now allowed by
law, but for such other aud different bonds a.
congress may authorize during the pcndency
Cf the advertisement
Not having had an opportunity 90 confer
with you In person since the present session
of c0iiziess Dcsan. and noticing your partici
patton in the debate of last Friday. 4 have
Wrought II not amiss 10 put You in possession
Of the facts and Information herein contained
Nours. very truly