The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
NEWS FROM CONGRESS
THE TORREY BANKRUPTCY BILL IN
THE SENATE.
western KcpubIican Senator's Not
Satisfied With the Tariff Bill
In It's Present Shape.
Special to the Representative.

Special to the Representative
Washington, d. c., April 2, 1897
The situation in congress is at present
peculiar and unprecedented Speaker
Reed has refused to appoint committees
70 transact any business save 10 pass
the Dingley tariff bill Over half of the
members OF the house have gone home,
and that body is literally doing moth
.ng; and it seems to be the intention
of the speaker not to allow it to do
anything for the remainder OF the ses-
BiOn. Since the passage of the Ding
,ey bill the house has met on every
shird day and adjourned, three days be-
ing the longest period that either house
Fan adjourn for under the constitution
without the consent of the other house.
Jerry Simpson, of Kansas, last week
took the speaker to task for his high
handed and autocratic course He de-
manded that the speaker proceed to ap-
point committees so as to permit con-
gressmen to proceed to consider and act
on important legislation in which their
constituents were concerned Of course
the speaker paid no attention to the
demand, for under the rules of the
house his will is law. In fact the house
Of representatives has ceased to be a
representative or deliberative body.
The speaker makes his own rules. and
then under the rules denies to any
congressman his constitutional right
to call up a bill or to offer an amend
ment to pending bill, or to be heard
70 voice the sentiments of his constitu-
ents on any measure. Everyone must
wait and act on the nod of the speaker
Interest in the Cuban situation was
again revived in the senate last week.
Senator Allen pushed through a resolu-
tion calling upon the president 20 in
terfere and save the lie Of General Ri
vera, the brave Cuban general who has
been treacherOusly captured by. the
Spanish, and whom report says they
intend to try by drum head court mar
tial and then to be shot. This action
will probably save the generals life
Senator Morgan has been trying to
push to a vote a general resolution to
have the United States governments to
take hand in the Cuban matter, to the
end that the barbarous warfare and
butchery by the Spaniards may be
stopped, and that Cuba may be free.
1t may be sometime, however, before
a vote can be reached on this rcsoiu-
tion.
The bankruptcy bill is now the pend
Ing question before the senate It is
known as the Torrey Bankruptcy Bill.
1t is very severe and drastic measure,
and is drawn in the interest IF credit
ors more than in the interest of debt
ors. 1t carries the involuntary feature
which would throw thousands upon
thousands into bankruptcy who would
be able to pay if let alone.
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota, has Of
fered substitute for thi, bill. remov-
Ing the involuntary feature and soften
enjH2 many of it's harl and drastic pro-
Visions. He made u very strong and
convincing arglp;cnt in favor of his
substitute, which created no little i'm
preston upon the senate. 1t is hoped
that the Torrey pill can be defeated
with the Nelson substitute. Senator
Hoar has charge Of the Torrey bill,
and is its chief defender and supporter
The vacancies caused in the senate
committees by the expiring terms of
number of senators has not yet 1ecn
filled Many committees have only two
thirds Of their regular membership,
while some have not even quorum
left. No party has majority in the
senate; therefore 70 party could by it.
self reorSanize the body or fill these va
cancies. Various conferences have been
held between representatives of the
various parties In the senate trying to
reach general agreement as to the
filling Of these committee vacancies. It
is probably that an agreement will be
reached during the coming week. No
effort at reorganization, however. will
be attempted before the beginning Of
the regular session next December.
The appropriation bill which failed to
pass ard which failed TO receive the
presidents signature last session, will
be reported to the senate during the
coming week aud will be disposed of
before the finance committee is ready
to report o.. the tariff bill.
There Is :Guci1 dissatisfaction among
Western Republican senators With the
tariR bill in It's present shape They
charge that Eastern senators and COZ
gressnien have :akAn special care Of
ths manufacturing concorns CT the East
and lave di.cr:,ptna;Sd agains: wool,
lulcbcr. hides. anu in fact every raw
material and industry of the West