Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-04-16
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, April 16.
SENATE.

Mr.. Morrill,, who celebrated his Seth
birth day few days since, addressed
the Senate to show the necessity of a
new building for the National Museum.
1t was not, he said, dime museum of
grotesque objects, but museum that
offered without money and without
price wonderful attractions by its rare
specimens. The several States were
represented in it by great variety of
contributions of special interest. In all
there were 3,406,9 800 specimens, many
of almost priceless value. A register
of visitors had been kept for the past
nine years and numbered g, 474, 056, an
average of nearly 400, 900 year.
At the close of Mr.. Morrill's re-
marks, the bill for the new museum
building was placed on the calendar.
A suggestion was made by Mr.. Hoar to
compliment the Senators from Vermont.
by the immediate passage Of the bill,
but Mr.. Morrill, preferred to have it
placed on the calendar, saying that he
would offer it as an amendment to the
sundry civil appropriation bill.
The Dupont election case was taken
up, and Mr.. Gray, continued his argu
ment, begun yesterday, against the
claim of Mr.. Dupont to the vacant seat
in the Senate from the State of Della
ware.
HOUSE.
By request Of Mr.. Hend erson, chair
man of the committee on judiciary, it
was agreed, by unanimous consent, that
Wednesday and Thursday of next week
be set aside for the consideration of the
bankruptcy bill, the vote on the pas
sage of the bill to be taken the first
thing Friday after the reading of the
journal.
The debate on the resolution provid-
ing for the election of members of the
BOARD of managers of Soldiers Homes,
was then resumed, Mr.. Tracey the first
speaker opposing the reelection of
General Franklin.
There was much confusion on the
floor as Mr.. Tracey began to speak,
and Mr.. Hull, chairman of the commit
tee on military affairs, asked that order
might be had.
The Speaker responded vigorously
with his gavel, saying The House
must please be in order"
Mr.. Boutelle, rising in his place near
the front, remarked II desire to say
to the chair that 1, to whom he seems
to be addressing himself, have not in.
Obliged in any disorder" (Laughter.)
The Speaker-The chair was not re-
| ferring to the gentleman.
Mr.. Boutelle-Several gentlemen
have advertised to me their opinion
that the Speaker was DESTROYS should
do something or refrain from doing
something. More laughter.)
Mr.. w. A. Stoue-I think the chair
was particularly addressing me.
The Speaker-The chair has no de-
sire, ss an individual, to call the House
to order. But it is frequently impossi-
BILE to hear what speaker is saying,
and the trouble is that every gentle
man thinks he isn't making any noise.
The attention of the chair is called to
the condition of affairs by member,
and he is only carrying out requests
made upon him.
Mr.. Tracey said his opposition
to the reelection of General Frank
lin had no basis of personal feeling.
In 1881 the per capita cost of mainte-
nance in the homes was Sis a year
1t gradually increased under Franklin's
management until in 1892 it had risen
to Sl43.75. Then the accounts of the
board, by order of Congress, passed
under the inspection of the War De-
partment and the cost of maintenance
rapidly decreased until in 1895 it
mounted to only $115.8
Mr.. Steele called attention to the
fact that the per capita cost OF mainte-
nance in the Soldiers Home at
Washington, wholly under the
control of the War Department,
in 1895, was 1896 and asked Mr.. Ira
cey how that was. The decline in
prices, especially of staple articles Of
food, would full account for the reduc-
ton in the homes under control OF the
board of managers.
Mr.. Tracey said II make no charge
of dishonesty, but 1 do say that there
have been loose, irregular and negli.
gent methods employed in keeping the
accounts of the board; that it has
grown into a close corporation, which
has grown up outside of and independ-
emit of Congress, impatient of criti-
cism."
Mr.. Tracey denounced the Kelley
cures maintained at the homes. He
said the records showed that the aver
age cost of il to the soldiers who had
taken it was 800.
Mr.. Mahon advocated Congressional
investigation of the Lesvenworth home.
Mr.. Blue-I want to say to the gem
tleman that any investigation OF this
board made by the Senate or in which
it engages will be roaring farce:
Mr. GrosYenor warmly defended
General Franklin and deprecated the
course of Mr.. Blue in bringing e1 parte
affidayits into the House and made part
of the permanent record. he said be
despised ex parte assaults; he desplsed
scandal mongers. he didn't believe
the statements made in the affidayits.
Mr.. Blue-Doesn't the report ofthe
Inspector general, outside OF the affi.
dayits, show the incompetency and
wrong doing of the superintendent?
Mr.. Grosvenor read commendatory
reference in the report to Col. Smith 8
Engagement, which, be said, answered
the gentleman's question.
Mr.. Hepburn, supporting the motion