The herald., 1896-04-08
IN THE HOUSE
The Proposition to Adopt The netric System
Discussed

WASHINGTON, April THE house
spent the day debating a bill to fix the
standard of weights and measures by
the adoption of the metric system on
and after July 1, 1898, and a proposition
that the government share with the
District of Columbia the expense of
creating and maintaining a public Ii
brary in the city of Washington. The
latter was defeated, 113 to 127, and the
fate of the metric system bill still hangs
in the balance. On a rising vote it was
defeated, 65 to so, but Mr. G. w. Stone
of Pennsylvania, chairman of the COM
mittee on coinage, weights and meas
ures, who has given the subject much
attention and who warmly supported it,
secured the ayes and nays, and during
the roll call the house adjourned.
In advocating the metric system Mr..
c. w. Stone, Republican of Pennsyl-
vania, chairman of the committee on
coinage, weights and measures, spoke
of the great embarrassment the use of
our present system entailed in connec-
tion with our foreign trade and the in
eXtricable confusion it involved. The
metric system had proved complete
success 1t was International in char
acter and almost universal in use
among civilized nations.
Mr. Bartlett, Democrat of New York,
opposed the adoption of what he de-
nominated this French continental
system Gentlemen had come to him
since the debate began and had APP
pealed to him, saying: Let us adopt
this international system and it will
pave the way for international bimetal-
lism on which all our hopes are con-
centrated." Gaughter.) He thought
it absurd to attemt to force this sys-
tenn on 70,00o,0O0 people after a few
hours of unscientific debate
Mr. Otey of Virginia opposed the bill
in a particularly humorous speech, in
which he said it would be as easy for
him to learn German or Sanscrit as the
metric system. He took a table of the
metric system, said he, and looked in
vain for the wet measure.
"Where's your measure of Whisky?"
he inquired.
II venture to say Kentucky will have
something to say about the adoption
of this new tangled system. Her dele
CATION will be solidly opposed to it,
Haughter.)
An adjournment followed before the
yea and nay vote was taken.
CUBAN RECOGNITION
Secretary Olney called at the White
House and remained in close consulta-
ton with the president long time.
1t is believed the two We're engaged in
the preparation of a special message to
congress, relating to Cuba, and an eX-
position of the actual state of affairs on
the island as revealed in the reports Of
the United States consul and officers
and other trusted sources Of informa-
ton. There is a resolution before the
president, passed at the instance of
Senator Hoar, calling for this informa-
ton. 1t is reasoned the president in
transmitting the Information may feel
II his duty. in view Of the overwhelming
majority by which the Cuban concur
rent resolutions passed both branches
of congress to make plain statement
showing that regardless of the sympa-
thy he may feel personally for the in
surgents he is absolutely bound by the
facts, as ne sees them, by precedent
and by the dictates of international
law, to persist in his attitude.
THE PACIFIC CABLE
WASHINGTON, April THE Pacific
cable bill! was the subject of discussion
today by the house committee on COM
merce. The committee tried to frame
an amendment which would insure to
this government a frs lien on the
property and right of way for its bust
ness under any conditions which might
arise in the future. There was a unan
unity of sentiment that the bill should
be drawn to make the governments
lien absolutely iron-clad and impossible
to transfer or displacement, but no
satisfactory wording of the bill was
drawn. The bill on which the commit
tee is working. and which it will prob
ABLY report IN an al1eTuf1lenL IOTIn Is
that of the Pacific Gable company of
New York. Several amendments were
made today. The most important re-
duced the amount of theannual sub
sidy for twenty years from S160,000, the
companys proposition, to 100000. An
other amendment to insure the compile
ton of the cable to China was adopted,
as some members thought the company
might conclude not to extend it beyond
Japan. Other amendments We're ad-
ded which were mostly in order to leave
no loophole which might be the basis
of a controversy in the future
LEGISLATIVE NOTES
The president today sent the follow
ing nominations to the senate: Post
masters-James Cline, Renica, Cal:
William F. Mariantc, San Leandro.
Cal.
The house committee on military af
fairs today decided to report favorably
the resolution to bestow the rank OF
lieutenant general on General Nelson
A. Miles
The senate committee on naval af-
fairs continuen its investigation on ar
NOR plate today. Commander Folger
was further examined as to plates ac
ceptde while he was chief of ordnance.