The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-08
CONGRESS- AT WORK
The Great Pension Steal
Already Laid Before
the House for
Action.
CUBAN YAWP IN TIE SENATE
House Committee on Banking Has
an Open snarl over the Pres
ident's Recommendations.
CUBAN YAWP IN TIE SENATE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 1S97.-At the
opening of the Senate today Mr.. Davis
| (Minn) reported from the Committee on
Foreign Relations a bill prohibiting the
killing of fur seals in the North Pacific
Ocean, He asked immediate consideration
for the bill, but Mr.. Hale (Maine) object
ed on the ground of the Importance of the
measure, and asked that it be printed.
Mr.. Aldrich, of the Committee on Rules,
presented joint resolution providing that
the northern half of that part of the
Capitol formerly occupied by the Library
of Congress should be placed under the
jurisdiction of the Senate and the south
ern half under the jurisdiction of the
House.
Mr. Quay Pa.), chairman of the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds,
objected to present consideration of the
resolution. He said that his committee
would tomorrow have meeting, at which
the whole matter pertaining to the old
library rooms would be discussed.
Mr.. Allen (Nebraskal, presented reso-
luton declaring 1t to be the sense of the
Senate that Congress should with all due
and convenient speed acknowledge by ap.
propriate act the political independence of
Cuba. Mr.. Allen said that he he had long
urged the United States to recossaize the
independence of the Cuban insurgents. He
would not be content with the recognition
of belligerency. but would insist upon the
acknowledged of absolute political lib
erty. He was satisfied that the people
would not be content with the course ad-
vised by the administration. Inasmuch as
the Cubans for more than two years on
many battlefelds had demonstrated their
valor and love for liberty, he felt that
they had earned recognition of their po-
iitical liberty, and that it ought to be ac-
corded to, them without burther tempor-
should be backed by a feet of American
vessels in Cuban waters. He expressed
a belief that the owners of Spanish bonds
in this country Americans holding prop
erty in Cuba which had been injured or
destroyed by the insurgents, and carrying
trade of the country, which might be af-
vent the recognition of Cuba political in
dependence.
Mr.. Allan expressed the belief that Pres
ident McKinley's statement in his mes
sage that the recognition of the beliger-
ency of the Cuban insurgents is now un-
wise and therefore inadmssible would
bers of the Republican party throughout
the United States. The National Conven-
ton of that party had declared in favor
of the independence of Cuba, going far
ther than the simple recognition of the
belligerency. He thought that the Presi-
dent was under obligations to carry out
pledge which had been made to
seventy-three millions of people. The
President Mr. Allan thought, had been
lnlled to sleep by the declaration Of
a senli-political existence. He expressed
she belief that the Presidents neglect to
litical independence Of Cuba was an ex-
hibition of rank hypocrisy" and
fragrant neglect of public duty which
would be corrected by the 'all-ruling
power in His own good time" At the
conclusion of Mr.. Aliens remarks, Mr..
Hoar (Mass.) presented a resolution ex
pressing the regret of the Senate at the
news of the death of Representative Ash
ley B. Wright of Massachusetts, and pro-
viding for an adjournment as further
mark of respect
AT 1855 the resolution was adopted and
the Senate adjourned.
The session of the House today lasted
only Is minutes Mr.. W. A. Stone Rep.
Pa), reported the Pension bill, the first
of the Appropriation bills and gave notice
that he should call it up Immediately af-
ter the reading of the journal tomorrow.
Currency, which will have the shaping of
a considerable portion of the financial leg
lslation before the House, held its first
eraI plan of action. In view of Secretary
Cages recommendation of a comprehen-
sive revision of currency and banking af-
fairs resolution was adopted inviting !
the Secretary to embody his views in a
bill. The committee was Informed that
the Secretary was not at work on meas
ure and that it would be available for the |
committee in about a week
Mr.. Hil,-o of Connecticut, then precipi- |
tated sharp debate by moving that the
committee act at once by reporting TO |
the House bill enbodying three of the
financial features which had the Presi- |
dents approval. These were embodied
Sin bill. heretofore offered by Mr.. Bros
s4us of Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Hill now |
proposed that the first three sections be
placed before the House Immediately.
The three sections provided Bank circu-
laton up to the par value of bonds de- |
posted reduction of the tax on circula- |
ton to one-fourth of one per cent. the |
establishment of small banks in rural
communities. Mr.. Hill said the commit |
tee would do well not to go through the
tedious processes of considering and di- |
viding on these three propositions which |
appeared to meet with general accept |
ance, and had received executive ap-
proval.
Mr. johnson, of Indiana, earnestly op-
posed such hasty action. He said there
should be time to hear from the gentle |
men forming the monetary commission
and to weigh all propositions. Precipitate
action on such a vital subject would, he
said, seriously prejudice it before the !
House and the country.
Mr. Mitchell of New York, also opposed
such speedy action.
Z The debate was proceeding with anima- !
ton when, at II o'clock the meeting went
over, a vote on the Hill motion not hav-
ing been reached
Chairman Walker announced four sub
committees and assigned to each commit |
tee of the Banking and Currency bills al
ready introduced.
The subcommittee will begin work at
once on tQe DlllS DSiOTe lutui, SdGn Sup-
committee having charge of the bills in
troduced by its members The Walker
subcommittee will have charge of the
Walker BILL which has attracted consid-
erable attention in banking circles. 1t
proposes to Introduce the New England
Suffolk Bank system to the whole coun-
try, adding a Government guaranty for
ali notes issued by banks, and imposing
a small tax on bank notes as safety
fund.-
The bill of Mr. Hil also goes before
this committee Mr. Hill says he has en-
deavored to draw it on conservative lines,
meeting the financial Ills which most
needed reform, without going to radical
extent He provides for an increase of
bank circulation to the par value of bonds |
deposited; reduces the taxation on circu-
lation to one-fourth of one per cent; pro-
vides for the establishment of small banks
in rural communities and does away with |
the restrictions on the free issue and
withdrawal of national bank notes. Ex-
cept in the last particular the author of
the bill feels that he is in line with Presi-
dent McKinleys recent currency recon- |
mendations This subcommittee will also |
deal with the bills of Representative Coo, |
the ranking Democrat of the committee
The main one is generally known as
the Carlisle BiIl,' which was originally |
urged by John G. Carlisle when he was |
Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.. Cox Is /