The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-10
House of Representatives
Was in Session.
A Dozen Bills of Minor Inn
pOrtance We're Passed.
Lively In the Senate Dingley Bill
Taken Up Unexpectedly.

WdSnlnBtOn, dec. lU.-Ine mousse nelo
Q three-hour session yesterday and
passed dozen bills Of minor Importance.
Among them were the following: To
extend for Ave years the time in which
the University of Utah shall occupy
lands granted TO IL; to authorize the use
Of the abandoned Fort Bidwell military
reservation In California as a training
school for Indians: TO confirm certain
cash entries for public lands in Arkansas
made under the graduation act OF 1854;
to provide for the location and purchase
of public lands for reservoir sites in
Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming;
TO protect settlement rights where two
or more persons settle on the same land
before survey; to adjust the accounts OF
John Y. Williams, formerly agent Of the
Fort Hall Indian reservation; to author
ize Flagstaff AriZ., to issue bonds for the
construction OF water Astem; TO au-
thorize any member of the legislature OF
New Mexico to swear in the presiding
officer: to grant to the widow of the late
Brigadier General Joseph b. Carr PEN
sion of SO a month. and TO increase the
pension Of the widow of General John
Hough to $50 month.
The house also agreed to the senate
amendment approving certain acts OF
the legislature OF New Mexico for the
issue of bonds so as TO validate s1i2, 500
Of bonds of Santa Fe county. The
Shafroth bill for the protection of forest
reservations from fire was defeated. A
resolution for the distribution of the
presidents message among the various
committees entitled to jurisdiction of
he VI ad
The senate yesterday, by the decisive
vote Of 35 TO 81 adopted motion to take
up the Dinglay tariff-silver bill. Unex-
pected and surprising as this action was.
1t did not have the significance which the
vote itself appears to convey. Immedi-
ately following II, Mr.. Aldrich of Rhode
Island. one of the Republican members
OF the finance committee. moved to re-
commit the bill to that committee, and
this motion was pending when the morn
ing hour expired, and the entire matter
lapsed as though no vote had been
taken.
Neither the bill nor the Aldrich motion
to recommit enjoys any privilege or pre-
cedence as a result of the action. IL
served, however, for some lively parlia-
mentary fencing between Mr.. Allen
(Pop., Neb.), the author of the motion.
and Messrs. Chandler, Hale and Aldrich,
as well as for an exposition Of the un-
certain and shifting elements within the
senate when a vote is precipitated on an
important public question. The debate
was at times sharp and personal.
Mr.. Allen is very blunt in his express
sions, and he taunted the Republican
senator's for shrinking on the Dingley
bill after conducting atariff campaign
1T has gone out from the powers that
be, In the Republican party" said Mr..
Allen at one point, that with the in
coming administration we are to have
an extra session of congress for the pur-
pose of revising the tariff laws"
Thus Mr.. Allen ran along. touching on
many points that have hitherto been re-
served for caucus. consideration.
Mr.. Chandler reminded Mr.. Allen that
not only had tariff won, but free silver,
by the United States alone. had lost in
the recent election, and he urged Mr..
Allen to aid in a genuine effort to exc
cute the will OF the people. Mr. Hale
took occasion to state with frankness
that the Republican senators expected
an actual majority in the next senate.
which would make tariff legislation more
easy of accomplishment than ii is now.
Mr.. Aldrlch's first move was to have
the bill referred back to the finance
committee with instructions to strike
off the silver amendment, but later he
accepted the suggestion of Mr.. Harris
to omit the instructions. II was in this
form that the question of recommittal
was pending when e.eieek arrived and
cut off the debate.
The vote on taking up the bill Is not re-
garded as furnishing a record or stan
dard on which future calculations can
bc based, as party lines were broken.
II was not felt to be direct issue on the
tariff or the Dingley bill. but as an adroit
move calculated to call for the explana-
tions from the tariff forces.
Early in the day three sets OF vigorous
resolutions for Cuban independence
furnished an interesting feature. They
came from Mr.. Cameron of Pennsyi-
varia, Mr.. Mills OF Texas and Mr.. Call
OF Florida, and while differing in terms
all breathe the same spirit of recognition
by the United States Of Cuban indepen-
dence.
When asked TO explain the motive of
Ms motion in the senate yesterday TO
take up the Dingley tariff bill. Senator
Allen replied: II had no motive except,
as we used TO say i'm the army. to feel
the enemy. l wanted to satisfy myself
and the country as to the attitude OF the
Republicans toward this measure which
they have professed to be so anxious to
have become law, and think have at
least succeeded in demonstrating that
they have no intention Of trying TO do
anything"
The senator declined to say whether he
would In any way revive the question.