Morris tribune., 1896-02-19
CONGRESS NEWS.
Interesting Items Cleaned at
the Capital by the Tribune
Reporter.
All the Important Doings in
the House and Senate Re
corded Weekly,

J0rity or the mousse was oppooou " eh0
free coinage of silver was so we'll
known in advance that there was
comparatively little interest shown IN
the vote by which the house refused
to concur in the free coinage substl-
tute which the senate passed in place
of the house bond bill The speeches
made in the debate were spoken 20
empty chairs. and many of them were
not spoken at all, being merely insert
ed in the congressional record under
the leave to print" rule. This was
not because of any lack of interest IN
the subject itself, but because the re-
suit was known by everybody long
before the bill was placed before the
house. Had it not been for the de-
sire on the part of many members to
make speeches for the constituents
the bill could have been voted upon
an hour after it was reported to the
house.
Although there is little outward in
-dication of what the ultimate fate of
the house tariff bill, which was report
ed to the senate from the finance com
mittee, will be, the Republican sena-
tors express the utmost confidence
that the tariff bill will be sent to Mr..
Cleveland just as it was passed by the
house, and at least two of the Popu-
list senators have expressed the opin-
ion that all the amendments to the
bill will be voted down and the orig
inal tariff bill will pass the senate.
There is no doubt that SO per cent or
more of the Republican party wishes
the tariff bill to pass, but under the
present circumstances your cores
pondent, while hoping that the con-
fdence of the Republican senators
has firmer foundation than their
wishes, can see nothing but doubt
ahead of the bill The difficulties of
passing bill as strongly opposed by
the strong minority Of the senate as
this one is would be great even if the
Republicans had the majority, which
they are one vote short of.
Senator Wolcott, in speech made
this week, advocated depriving the
president and his cabinet officers of
all power over patronage, on the &C
count of the abuse of that power by
the present administration, and again
when the shortcomings of Secretary
Morton, which were brought about
during the debate which preceded
and followed the adoption of Senator
Hansborough's resolution, directing
the secretary CT Agriculture to dis
,riDute seeds as had been usually done
until he by assumption of authority
stopped it, were being discussed, Sen
ator Wolcott said he hoped Secretary
Morton might make some explanation
of charges made against it by Senator
Vest and other Democrats, in order 10
redeem all Office that was regarded
as worthless
Representative Watson of Indiana,
who enjoys the distinction of having
defeated "Objector" Holman, isn't one
Of those who considers Indiana
doubtful state. Speaking On the
subject, he said: Indiana is as GER
tain to cast her electoral vote for the
nominee of the St.Louis convention as
election day is to come. The people
s=are still in d restless and uneasy state.
There is still lack of confidence and
this lack of confidence breeds discon-
lent. Fer all this the people are hold
ing the Democratic party responsible,
and next November they propose to
Hsdispose of the old man of the sea-
who has been riding them down hill
fortne last three years at such an un-
s1nerciful pace. Indiana is safely Re
publican.
There has been some talk both for
and against the Monroe doctrine, in
the senate this week, but nothing to
indicate when the resolution will be
voted upon. AS it's adoption is GER
tain Senator Davis its author has no
desire to hurry up the vote. He wish
es every senator to have full oppor-
.ttlnity to have his say about it.
The house committee on Territories
has practically settled the fate of
Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma
by voting against reporting bill for
the admission of Arizona to state
hood.
Mr. Cleveland this week notified
congress that he had accepted the