Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-02
CONGRESSIONAL.

Dec. 24--The Senate made a Christmas pres
emit to the Sou'h, as Mr.. Hill aptly character
lied the bill introduced by him removing tho
proscriptiVe disabilities passed at the close OF
the war against the service Of eS-COnfederates
in the United States army or navy.
The bill passed unanimously. Sena-
tor Hawley presented a bill authorizing
tho Secretary Of War to issue Spring
field rifles to State military organizations
in exchange for old guns. Mr.. Squire of Wash
lngtOn spoke against the injustice of employ
ing foreign engineers on American ships re-
ceiVing subsidies from the Unitel States gov
emment and offered a bill to overcome the
practice. Adjourned till Friday
Tho session of the House was brief. Mr..
Shafroth of Colorado, attempted to secure the
passage Of a resolution opening the South
Platte and Plum Creek forest reserves in
Colorado, where there have recently been large
gold discoveries. to mining claimants, but
1T was objected to- Speaker Reed had read
communic alton from the Chamber Of Repre-
sentatiVes of Brazil, felicitatinn the House of
Representatives of the United States on the
Presidents strong position on tho Monroe doc
trine. The Speaker laid before the House to-
day letter from the Secretary Of the Interior
transmitting reply to Delegate Flynn's
resolution asking the reasons for tho delay in
the alloting of the landi on the Wichita reserva-
ton to the Indians, and the opening of the sur
plus land to settlement The Secretary says
the reason of the delay is owing to the fact
that their is test case now pending regarding
the title of the lands, and that he has only one
relative by marriage who is engaged as attorney
for the Indians
Dec. s6.-The House responded to the appeal
of the President by passing a tariff bill, the OPP
Grafton of which is limited to two and half
years, and which is designed to raise Si0OO)Oo0
for the relief of the treasury. The Vote was on
party lines with two exceptions. The Repub-
l!cans all voted for the bill except Hartman Of
Montana, who did not vote, and the Democrats
and POpulists againstit, save Newlands, Pop
uliist, of Nevada, who voted in favor Of the
measure. 1t was significant that several Re-
publicans, notably Mr. Dalzel, Mr.. Payne, Mr..
Hopkins and Mr.. Grosvenor predicted the
passage OF a genuine protective measure as
soon as the Republicans gained control Of the
White House. The bill repeats the present
tariff law until August 1, 1893. 1t restores 80
per cent OF the Mckinley rates on wool and
WOO ems lumber and carpets, and makes a hori'
zontal increase of the present rates in all
other schedules, except sugar, f16 per cent.
Dec. H-The House entered upon the con-
sideration of the bond bill. The bill aroused
the opposition of the Democrats and Populists,
the gold Democrats being arrayed against it
because they claimed it did not give
the Secretary the authority to issue gold
bonds, with which h9 desired to replenish
the reserve, and the silver Democrats on the
ground of their general opposition to bond
issues In tho Republican ranks also there
developed such bitter opposition to the
bill as originally drawn and to the
proposition to force the bill to a vote to-day
that the Republican members Of the committee
on ways and means incorporated it in an
amendment specifically declaring that nothing
in the act should be construed as a modification
repeal of the act of 1878 for the reissue of the
greenbacSs when re eemed, and the ommittee
on rules extended the limit of de-
bate until tomorrow at Q o'clock, but de-
clined to give members of the House
opportunity to offer amendments
The Senate was enlivened by a spirited de-
bate in which Mr.. Hill of New York, and Mr.
Teller OF Colorado, were the principal figures,
The New York Senator precipitated considera-
tion of the bond ques ton by offering resolu-
ton directing that future bond issues to re-
new the gold reserve should bear a pro-
vision that they would be payable in
gold or silver at the option of the holder. In
support of this bill Mr.. Hill read speech set
ting forth the difficulties Of negotiating bonds
under tho uncertainties Of the present law.
Mr. Teller's reply to Mr.. Hill was cutting sar-
castle and personal. He repudiated and pro-
tested against the efforts of the President and
his ''tide walters" to defame the credit of
the United States. He spoke of the re-
cent visit to Washington of a great New
York banker as one of those who had partici-
pated in the 'dishonorable or imbecile" bond
transaction of last year. The galleries were
crowded during the debate, and the Senators as
well as spectators keenly enjoyed the caustic
! tilt. Mr.. Allen Of Nebraska added his protest
to that of Mr. Teller against the defamation of
our national credit. No final action on the
Hill resolution was taken.
Dec. .S-The HOUSE passed the bond bill by
a vote of 49, to 1875 Fortv-seven Republicans
refused to &C with the majority of their party.
The Populists and Democrats, with the excep-
ton Of Mr.. Hutchison of Texas who voted for
the bill, presented an unbroken front ag inst
the bill. The bill, as passed, amends
h9 resumption acts so as to permit
the issue ot per cent coin bonds
redeemable after five years at the pleasure of
the government, and payable in fifteen years,
with the specific proviso that nothing in the
bill shall be construed to repeal the act of
1878 for the reissue of the greenbacks, and that
the bonds shall first be offered Tor subscription
at the sub-treasury and repositories of the
| United States. The second section of the bill
provides for the issue of three-year per cent
debt certificates of determinations of $50 and
multiples thereof in amounts not exceeding
| $500 .O,OOJ to meet temporary deficiencies