Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-02-20
OUR LAWMAKERS AT WORK.

OUR LAWMAKERS AT WORK.
SENATE. -Fifty-third day.-Mr. Quays reso-
luton TO recommit the silver-tarir bill again
went over The long pending resolution which
mas brought out much criticism OF the secre-
tary OF agriculture was passed without dlvl-
| sion. The measure was amended so as TO pro-
vide that the purchase and distribution OF
seeds shall be continued. Mr.. blanchard,
d ne, La then made speech on ine moh, roe
secretary OF the treasury 70 employ 70 expert
money counters came up Mr.. Allen, Pop, Neb,
interstate commerce commissions the two
biggest frauds OF the public service Mr.. Wal
colt, KEEP, Col, said the real menace 10 the
country was the power OF patronage
| lodged with the executive, and which had never
| before been used 10 such an extreme as
under the present administration. He said
| that a free coinage bill would have passed the
/ last House had not the power OF patronage
been brought to bear by the administration,
| especially the patronage controlled by the Sec
| rotary OF the treasury. Colorado was today
/ flooded with appointments many OF them untt
ones. made by the secretary OF the treasury
/ for congressman who had RATED on the silver
| bill Mr. Lodge. Rep. Mass. made issue against
| the system rather than against any admin
/ lstratlon, and said patronage ana favoritlsm
| were un-American. Asystem which compelled
senators and Representatives togo "huckster-
ing Tor messengers ana TIDE waters ana TO
| hang around the ante-rooms OF the President
| and cabinet officers was degrading and wrong.
| HOUSE District Of Columbia affairs and the
bond bill discussion occupied both the day and
| evening sessions
SENATE Fifty-fourth day. - Mr. PETER,
| Pop, kas., presented a lengthy resolution pro-
posing Senate Investigation of the circum-
stances OF all recent bond issues. Mr. Morrill,
asked that the resolution go TO the finance
mittee. but IL went over by the rules.
Among the favorable reports presented was one
on Mr.. Hlle's bill making Feb II tl.incolns
| birthday a national holiday. The consdera-
tion OF the urgent deficiency bill was then re-
sumed The item OF s2i s4 Tor salaries 20, OF
| Indian territory brought out IA protest from
| Mr. chandler. Rep, n. III. He criticised the
| growing expenditures under the department of
| justice. These had trebled in 10 years, with
| httle increase in business. TIE Senator
pointed out that the last Congress Democratic
| IN both branches. and with Democratic Presi-
| dent. had appropriated 100000 for U. = mar
shals and made il necessary TO provide 81 100
| 600 for deficiencies for L. ;. marshals. Mr.
Chandler declared that the fee system was
| responsible for the growing extravaganza of
federal court officers. He spoke OF conspra-
| cles in Alabama. South Carolina and elsewhere
! TO get up fraudulent prosecutions TO swell fees
| OF officers Mr.. Itllman. Dem, :. C.; Mr.
| sherman Ron d and Mr. Vest Dem Mo .
| agreed with Mr.. Chandler that the law
should be changed as the only remedy
HoUsE-The debate on the free silver substi-
lute Tor the House bond bill was resumed and
occupied the larger part of the day. Mr.. Can
non presented senate Joint resolution, which
was adopted appropriating $4,000 for the pur-
pose OF making Joint survey together with
! Great Britain OF the boundary line between
| Alaska and British terrinory
STANDARDIZATION day--The friends OF the
tariff bill met an unexpected repulse when. by
avote of2i yeas 10 - nays the Senate defeated
the motion OF MIR. Morrill,, chairman OF the
finance committee, To take up the tariff bill.
The negative vote which defeated the motion
was given by Democrats PopultSts and four
Republicans senators. The affirmative vote
was entirely Republican but Its total OF u IS
less than half of the aggregate Republican
strength The result Of the vote left the Cuban
resolutions as unfinished business but these
yielded temporarily to the military academy
and other appropriation bills. The urgent ole
|
,6,O0OO0, considerable increase over the bill
passed I'M the House A resolution was adopted
directing the Pacific railroad committee to
make full inquiry into the status of the Pacific
railroads On motion OF Mr.. Quay resolution
was adopted directing the finance committee
TO investigate the alleged invasion of our mar
kets by the products OF oriental labor and to
report on the causes and remedies.
HOUSE.-After "A ten days debate the House
by vote OF 80 to 1870 in committee OF the whole
rejected the Senate free coinage substitute for
the bond bill and reported the bill TO the House
with recommendation TO non-concur and in
Sist on the House bill
Fifty-sixth day.-No session of the Senate
HOUSE. The formal vote OF the House on the
Senate free silver substitute resulted in its re-
! lection by vote OF 2l5 to 90 Tne evening
session was devoted to private pensions
Fifty -seyenth day-No session OF the Senate
| HOUSE-The attack on Secretary OF Agricul-
ture Morton for his refusal to expend the APP
| preparation for seed was transferred from the
Senate to the House and Morton was severely
scored Several bills of minor importance
were passed and a resolution was adopted dt-
recting the judiciary committee TO inquire into
the right OF an executive officer TO refuse to eX-
ecute law on the ground of its unconstitution-
ality. and TO report by bill or otherwise. This
investigation grows out of Comptroller Bow
lcr's decision IN the sugar bounty cases.
SENArE-Fifty-eight day-The speech of
Mr.. Davis OF Minnesota, supporting the reso-
luton OF which he Is author, epuncatlng the
trnc was the event of the day. The public
interest in the subject was evidenced by
crowded galleries. Mr. Davis spoke for two
hours and was accorded close attention
throughout. The language was temperate and
conservative and was not the radical utterance
some ANTICIPATED. Mr. Davis spoke with graf
ihcation OF The reports coming from across the
Atlantic that settlement OF the Venezuela
trouble was likely TO be effected, vet the Sena-
tor declared with emphasis that the American
people would never indorSe settlement based
on concession OF any feature of the Monroe
doctrine. While minimizing the possibilities
OF var. he said that a hrm ana explicit an
nGuncement OF our policy to resist European
encroachmeuts would give the surest guarantee
of peace. Mr. Mitchell. of Oregon chairman
OF the committee on privileges and elections,
presented the views OF the majority OF that
committee favoring the seating OF Mr.. Dupont
as Senator from Delaware. The rest OF the
day was devoted to the military academy APP
preparation bill The proposition of Mr. Villas
10 increase the cadet appointments by two
I from each state, an aggregate OF 80 brought
Z out much debate, the prevailing senti-
ment being favorable to the increase;
\ House The agricultural appropriation bill
2 occupied the attention of the House. great
} deal OF criticism of Secretary Morton was in
! dulged in on both sides OF the political aisle.
2 but no one arose TO his defense. An amend
} ment approprating $4,000 for a new edition OF
} the Horse Book was adopted Before the
} bill was taken up the Senate amendments TO
} the urgent deficiency bill were non concurred
} in Mr. Dalzell. from the committee on ways
} and means reported "a resolution Of inquiry,
} calling on the secretary OF the treasury for an
J exhaustive report relative to the sale OF bonds
} under the resumption act between the two
} periods between 1879 and March |, 1893, and be-
] Int i. "A
} was reported for the appointment OF a non
/, partisan commission to collate Information and
} recommend legislation to meet the problems
} presented by labor, agriculture and capital