The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-04
HOUSE AND SENATE.
Bills and Resolutions in Both Branches
Yesterday.

Yesterday.
Among the bills introduced in the
Senate today were by Mr. Hale, Repuhli-
can of Maine to facilitate the construction
and maintenance of telegraph cables in
the Pacific ocean for the use of the
G government in it's foreign intercourse.
By Mr.. Hoar, Republican oil Massachu-
setts, joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, so as to give the right of
suffrage to woman.
By Mr.. George, Democrat of Mississippi
for the present consideration of bill to
repeal the law which requires proof Of
| loyalty during the war Of the rebellion as
a prerequisite in any application for
| bounty laid warrants to soldiers in the
Mexican war. After explanatory re-
marks, Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts ad-
| yocatlng the measure, unanimous consent
was given and the bill passed.
| Mr.. Butler, Populist of North Carolina,
asked unanimous consent for the present
consideration of bill ''to prohibit the
| further issuance of interest bearing bonds
| without consent of Congress. At the
request of Mr.. Hill, he said, he would let
the matter lie over till the Senate should
hear from the Senator from Ohio.
HIn the Senate, today, no vote was asked
for on Mr.. Sherman's resolution to in,-
ound greenbacks kept for gold.
Mr.. Mills, Democrat of Texas, took
issue with the statement of Mr.. Sherman
that the tariff act of 1898, was the cause
of the present financial difficulties. He
asserted the present condition Of affairs
came before the incoming of the Demo-
cratic administration.
AT the request of Mr.. Vest it was or
dered that Mr.. Sherman's resolution lie
on the table until the next week when
Mr.. Vest will speak upon the resolution.
(Mr. Sherman's speech will be found
on Page Two.)
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr..
Elkins, Republican Of West Virginia,
directing that no bonds shall be sold at
private sale or under private contract was
then taken up, and Mr.. Elkins urged its
adoption. Most of his speech was directed
to criticism of the enormous profits
made by syndicates in floating govern
ment bonds. Bonds which were to be sold
at 103 "a per cent were selling in the
| markets he said at III. He wanted no
more syndicates to take government
loans. He wanted the people to have a
chance to take them. He asked a vote
upon taking up the resolution for present
consideration. The vote resulted IN yeas
46, nays 6.
Mr.. Fill, Democrat Of New York,
the finance committee. He said the sub
jeot was already before the finance COM
| mittee, and the resolution would be of no
| legal avail. 1t was proposed to deprive
the executive authorities of the right to
exercise powers exercised by all authori-
ties OF the government since the conclu-
sion of the war.
| sHe thought it uncommon at least on
the part of the Democratic Senators to
vote want of confidence in the Execu-
tive on this question. He would prefer
| a popular loan, but q so-oalled popular
loan was taken generally by agents and
clerks of banking institutions. He
denounced the resolution as most un-
wise step. E1e knew no reason why Nj.
Carlisle should seek to do fayors for mem
| bers of any proposed syndicate. MI. Hill
| read from the contract made in 1877
when Mr.. Sherman was Secretary Of the
treasury, with syndicate which in
cluded the First National Bank of New
| York, for a government loan under the
resumption act.
| His criticism of that contract was re-
PEELED by Mr.. Sherman, who pointed out
a clause in the contract providing for an
offer of 80 days for popular subscription.
| Mr. Hill said if the resolution was
agreed to, he did not believe the Presi-
dent would pay the slightest attention it..
He oughtsnotsto.
Mr.. Butler moved to amend Mr..
| Elkins's resolution by making it read
"that it is the sense of tho Senate that
| hereafter no bonds of the United States
| shall be sold for any purpose whatever
without further authority from Con
gress."
Mr.. Chiffon, Democrat. of Texas, moved
to amend it by making it read: 'That
it is the sense of the Senate thatlno furth-
er issue of bonds Of the Unit ed States to
procure gold, to redeem United States
notes, sha L be made by the Secretary of
the Treasury either by public advertise
ment private sale, or otherwise
After further discussion and without
taking vo to on the resolution the Sem
alta adjourned until Tuesday.
Among the bills introduced In the
House today were by Mr. Sperry, Repub-
lican of Connecticut, appropriating $751;
600, 600 to provide for notifications and
coast dafenses at New York, Boston,