The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-27
Bill i'm Which Senators and Syndicate
Are Interested Slipped Through
Both Houses of Congress.
SPEECH BY HENRY u. JOHNSON
IN OPPOSITION TO THE MONETARY
CONFERENCE MEASURE.
Passed with Only Three Negative
-RadicaI Anti-Prize Fight Bill.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 2e.-The House bill
providing for the refunding of the bonded
indebtedness of Territories. which was re-
ported from the Senate committee on Ter
ritories day or two ago, conceals as clever
a job as this session has developed. New
Mexico. Oklahoma and part OF the Indian
Territory are affected, and protests against
the passage of the bill are pouring in on
senators in such flood that Mr.. Jones, of
Arkansas, found it necessary to his peace
of mind to assure the 'kickers" that the
measure would not be permitted to pass
this session. For the past year and half
agents of a New York syndicate, in which
two United States senator's are side part
ners, have been securing the Southwest
picking up all kinds of territorial bonds
issued for every sort of purpose. Some of
these issues were bought up at 10 cents
the dollar, and from that figure up. About
$500. 600 We're accumulated in New Mexico
alone by the syndicate. The bill referred
to directs the refunding of these bonds
with the Endorsement of the Territory on
the whole batch, thus pledging all the prop
erty of the Territory to the payment of
millions of dollars of purely speculative Sc
curities n similar bill was passed in 1891
affecting Arizona. and that Territory found
itself stuck for $3,5OOOOO. The present
scheme was quietly slipped through the
House, and it was stopped in the Senate
for a few days. Tonight, however, the
bill was passed.
The speech by Mr.. Johnson. OF Indiana,
this afternoon, in opposition to the none
tary conference bill in some respects
a remarkable utterance. He was outspoken
i'm the position that the honest thing to do
was to come out squarely for the single
gold standard and quit once for all tenn
porizing dangerous financial theories. He
said what scores of other representatives
have admitted many times in private they
think but when it came to a test all but
three (and Johnson was one of the trio)
''hunked."
Representative Faris to-day obtained the
appointment of two fourth-class postmas-
ters-J. O. Thompson. Mooresville, Morgan
county and 4. G. Payne Morgantown.
Morgan county. Both gentlemen were the
unanimous choice OF Republican popular
elections. The applications. with state
ment of each case, were taken 10 the ue-
partment by MIR. Faris and the appoint
ments were made out Immediately by order
of Assistant Postmaster General Jones
In notifying the new postmasters OF inelr
appointments Mr.. Faris wrote that ne was
glad TO learn that there was perfect mar
monv among the Republicans i'm at least
two neighDorhoods in his district
A Senate amendment to one of the pend
ing appropriation bills virtually transfers
control OF river and harbor improvements
under the existing continuing contract plan
from the War TO the Treasury Department
and greatly curtais the power OF Congress
to direct operations. A great howl mas
gone up from the people who will be hurt
by the change and the proposition will be
killed.
The opposition to Speaker Reed continues
to be a matter of hot gossip in the Capitoi.
The confessed discomfort among members
at what they consider the unfair treatment
accorded them by the speaker in the mat
ter Of recognition for themselves or for
legislation in which they are interested 5
being seized upon by ambitious represent
atives as u possible means of advancing
their own chances for preferment, and also
as a legitimate weapon for organization
campaigning. The speaker mas acknoWl-
edged the existence OF this opposition and
also of the force OF the protests made
against his rule by making this sort of
statement 10 a number of his friends for
circulation IN quarters where ii VIII do him
the most good. He says: 1t Is not true
that i have personal programme Tor the
management or government OF the next
Congress. 1t is not my programme to
appoint one committee or TO appoint all
or scheme in the matter. i am the agen;
and representative of the Republican ma
jority in the lower House of Congress i'm all
things appertaining TO the programme OF
that body SO long as they continue to honor
me with the speakership. The matter or
appointing committees and Of framing a
policy for the next Congress Will be decided
on at the caucus of Republicans preiim-
mary To the organization OF the next Con-
gress. / Will not attempt to shape the ac-
tion of the caucus and will abide by what
ever result is arrived at. 1t is an injustice
to me to charge me trying TO dictate legis-
lation and with playing the role of a czar
tyrant. / am endeavoring to the best
of my ability to carry out the will of my
party i'm the House of Representatives., ana
1 sincerely believe that my position is un-
derstood and appreciated by majority of
my fellow members. When the majority
feels that do not correctly interpret their
will and am violating the trust that they
repose in me they will let that fact he
known. L ann entirely impersonaI i'm the
discharge OF my duties as speaker and
will continue to be as long as L occupy that
position.