The record-union., 1897-01-16
The Speaker to Invite Grand
Jury Investigation.
Senate Caucus PrOnOunces Against Ad-
ditional Attaches.
Congress viii Probably be Asked to Place
Import Duties On Asphalun-WOrk
in Committees

In the Senate yesterday, Androus Of
fered a joint resolution requesting Con-
gress to protect, by adequate import
duty, the asphalt industries of the
country, and it is thought that action
will be taken at an early date.
The usual number of bills were in
troduced and several resolutions were
thrown in as sauce for the occasion.
Lieutenant Governor Jeter was in the
chair, and we'll and truly did he per-
form his part The Lieutenant-Gover
nor, it would seem, is becoming popu-
lar with members of both parties, and
bids fair to become a general favorite.
REFUSED TO CONCUR.
The Senate would have nothing what
ever to do with the proposition of hav-
ing to-day declared a legal holiday. Not
a word about the business was uttered
ON the floor of the Senate. The dignity
of the body was in the hands of the
Senators, and well did they protect it.
1t was, if reports are to be believed,
broached in caucus, but met with so
blistering and whitening a blast Of sar-
caSm, such as Senator Bulla and others
know well how to emit, that it was
thrown with pronounced energy into
the hands of the Governor. The Senate
refused to concur.
ANOTHER CAUCUS.
The Republicans of the Senate eau
cused again yesterday. The word
again" is used advisedly for since the
present session convened caucuses have
been of almost daily occurrence.
The question of attaches was once
again dragged to the front, and it was
decided that Mike Dunn of Oakland,
formerly of San Francisco, should be
appointed messenger to the Sergeant
alarms at the princely salary of 81 a
day.
A cry had gone up that there were
not porters enough to perform the ar
duous duties of rustling cuspidors and
dumping waste paper baskets, and an
other was desired. The caucus looked
askance at the business. 1t wanted to
know what the eight porters who al
ready cumber the Senate were doing to
earn their per diem. Eight porters
had already been appointed, but it
seemed that only seven were accounted
for. The Senators did not like the out
look. They proposed to let nothing
crooked show up to mar the record
they seem bent on making.
Consequently instead of allowing the
additional porter they instructed the
Chairman of the Committee on At
taches, Pedlar. to ascertain just what
the porters already drawing salaries
were doing, and also to confer with Sec
retary of State Brown and report the
number of porters he employed and the
nature and extent of their duties II
looks as though no place would be made
for the man out OF a job.
The Senate Committee on Claims met
yesterday and organized. but beyond
that proceeding no bushes OF impor-
tance was transacted.
BREAKERS AHEAD.
There is at present considerable COM
ment going the rounds concerning the
duty Of the Committee on Claims. and
it was whispered that the war will be
carried into Flanders before the matter
is finally Strengthened out.
According to the provisions of the
code governing the matter, all bills ap-
proved by the Board of Examiners shall
be referred direct to the Finance Com
mittee, the board in this instance yir-
tually sitting as a committee on claims
AT the instance of any member, how
ever, unless objection be made. a bill
may be referred to any committee de-
sired and during the present session
number of bills embodying claims ap-
proved by the board have, by request
been referred to the Committee on
Claims.
II is pretty generally understood that
at least some of the bills SO referred will
be reported back adversely. and such an
action viii undoubtedly create a con-
troversy between the Board of Exam
liners and the Claims Committee.
The board or a certain portion of It,