The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-29
PLAIN TALK FROM Mr.. HILL
He Thinks it High Time That America
Protect Her Citizens.
SPEECH on HAMMOND CASE
Miscellaneous Business Transacted ID
the House Quack nbush on the Re-
tired List-Other Matters of
Interest In Congress.

Washington, April 2S.-After passing
the general pension bill by a vote of 1S7
to "a, the house today entered upon
five days consideration of the bank
ruptcy bill. The pension bill was sup
ported by the votes Of Republicans and
Populists and of Messrs. Cummings and
Walsh IN. W. Layton and SOrg (Ohio),
Fitzpatrick (Mass.) and Downing QllO
Democrats. General debate on the
bankruptcy bill will extend over tOmor-
rows and Thursdays sessions. and oN
Friday and Saturday 1t will be con-
sidered under the five-minute rule for
amendment until I o'clock on the lat
ter day, when a vote will be taken on
the passage. Notice was given by Mr..
Bailey (Dem., Tex.) that one or two
substitutes for the pending bill will be
offered for the action Of the house by
friends of voluntary bankruptcy only.
The opening speech Of the debate was
made by General Henderson (Rep., Ia.)
in support of the bill. which is prac-
tically the Torrey bill, providing for
both voluntary and involuntary bank
ruptcy. At the conclusion of MIR. Hen
derson's speech at $40 o'clock, the
house adjourned.
Some miscellaneous business was
transacted, including the passage Of q
bill to place John N. Quackenbush on
the retired list Of the navy, by . vote
of 161 to 40. This bill was intended to
cure what has been considered by the
beneficiary and his friends great in
justice perpetrated upon him. A bill
was also passed directing the secretary
of the interior to restore to the public
domain the lands within the limits Of
Fort Lewis military reservation in
Colorado.
THE HAMMOND CASE.
Mr.. Mahaney Rep.. N. W asked i'm
mediate consideration of a resolution
directing the secretary Of state to in
terpose In behalf Of John Hays HAM
mond, the Mexican citizen conc cerned in
the Transvall troubles, South Africa;
but objection was made by Mr.. Nc
Creary Dem., Ky) and the resolution
went to the committee on foreign af-
fairs.
In the course of the colloquy over the
resolution Mr.. Hill (Rep., Comm said:
Mr.. Speaker. a few weeks ago I wrote
to the secretary Of state in regard to
Mr.. Hammond, at the request of one Of
my constituents. l received the truly
American reply that the state depart
ment had no knowledge on the subject
except what had been acquired from
the newspapers, but that it's impression
was that Mr.. Hammond's interests
were being guarded by the English
government. 1t seems to me it Is high
time that the American government
protected its own citizens abroad, and I
am heartily in favor Of this resolution.
(Applause.)
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
The whole of today's session in the
senate was occupied In the considera-
tion of the naval appropriation bill.
The first two hours passed in the dis
cussion Of the amendment offered on
Monday from the committee on naval
affairs prohibiting officers Of the navy
or marine corps on the retired list from
taking employment in the service of
persons or corporations having con-
tracts with the government for the sup
ply of material. The amendment was
finally agreed tO-years, IS; nays, IL.
The remainder Of the days session was
occupied by a speech Of Mr.. German
(Dem., Md on an amendment offered
by him to reduce the number Of battle
ships provided for in the bill from four
to two. The speech was almost en-
tirely on political lines-although Mr..
German did not spare members of his
own party-especially the secretary of
the navy whom he ridiculed for his
pretensions to become a great admiral.
| Senators Sherman Rep., Ohio) and
Hale (ReD., Me) took part in the dis
cussion, which assumed quite an ami
| tod Ohio ro M