The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-04
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.

Washington, Jan. 2S.-The cold wave
had the effect of diminishing the attend
ance at the senate today and hardly a
dozen senators were present when the
senate was called to order.
The senate bill was passed extending
the time for building the st. Paul and
Manitoba Railway through the White
Earth Indian reservation. A number of
petitions urging the speedy ratification of
the Anglo-American peace treaty were
received.
Mr.. PETER (pop.) of Kansas stated in
this connection that he was receiving
great number of letters in regard to the
treaty and the sentiment in Kansas, es-
pecially among clerical gentlemen, ap-
peared to be strongly in favor of early
ratification.
Mr.. Allen (pop) of Nebraska asked I'M
mediate consideration for resolution he
offered directing the committee on Pa.
cific roads to inquire into the powers of
the president and attorney general to con-
duct foreclosure proceedings against the
Pacific roads; also their powers to enter
into agreements as to the sale prior to
the actual foreclosure and directing the
attorney general in the meantime to re-
frain from further action. -,
Reading from the law, MIR. Allen
argued that the first duty of the presi.-
dent was to redeem first liens and not
to foreclose. The president, he said,
should be bound by the law as much as
the humblest citizen of the land. If this
point was raised it was likely to defeat
the foreclosure. ~
Mr.. Clark (rep) of Wyoming inter
rupted to express establishment that Mr..
Alien. claiming to he friend of the peo-
pie, took the position that the United
States should pay out of. its treasury
every dollar of this prior lien before re-
sorting to foreclosure,
Mr.. Allen responded that ne co'llu no.
be moved by buster. The law was plaln
and the duty mandatory on the president;
The discussion assumed technical
local character as to the construction OF
the law Mr.. Platt (rep.) of Connecticut
and Mr.. Bacon (dem.) of Georgia. taking
mart. Mr.. Platt said he confessed 70
some doubt as to the right OF the prcsl-
dent TO resort to foreclosure before, re-
demption but he was inclined to bclleVe
the power existed.
At another point Mr.. Allen declared
that the president could not foreclose uIl,
less no refused to recognize the law and
in tho language of Boss Tweed he asked:
'sWhat are you going to DO about II
1t was time to ston tins alcKerihS
by the attorney general as 10 these r3 s0e,
The executive branch had taken from
congress- the Cuban and other foreign
questions and now there was an effort
to remove from congress all control OF
our domestic affairs.
Tho resolution finally went over III
order to permit Mr.. Thurston rep, OF
Nebraska to address the senate on IL 10
morrow. .
The debate on the bill for an interna-
tional monetary conference was theh re-
sumed.
Mr.. Chandler (rep.) of New Hampshire,
who. in the absence OF MI. WoicoLt' nus
charge of the measure addfe sSo Iii III Hn
ote outlining the purpose OF the Dill. lie
said:
.Tb;s hill represents new movement
booinnirg in the United States for the
establishment of bimetalllsm; the uhi, ma
tod coinage of silver and gold as stand 4,
. nrd money. The provisions of the bill
a arn in the form desired by its TRENDS,
substantially in the language Oh ui,icb
prcyious authorizations uhuer ;ntod
United States delegates Were o nFfp
to international monetary coiileieno .,s
va ono under which no action was
M M Chandler then outlined the pro-
,,;s;nns If the bill and quoted from Mr.
McKinley's letter of acceptance, sasnmS
that Mr.. Mckinley would thkJ o un.as
means to promote an ihterh'''on'' "7'
"' Mr. Chandler closed his remarks by say
ing: :,.o, ot;onol monetary
o,farorce has been dcliberated IN ma
t;nnaI body. the majority of whose mem N,
hers are in favor of free coinage vi OF nf
ver nv the United States Independent OF
anv other nation, and who believe th ,,o
an international conference woulu w w
fruitless. but it is presented to tne ;l1;n m
the behalf that they are not UNIV a' nm,
for the experiment to be trieu aSain tho
dor favorable circumstances ana III t the
universal hope that it viii secure m;r,, ' hs
odontinn of n system of bimetallism D!
the leading commercial natlons oi so ,ns
world. 1t is also presented In the lo tha
which is desired by the friends Oh uig
measure. who have faith that II WI
nroye useful and successful in lts grea r
purpose. 1t depends for its passage up un
the votes of those senators VINO nay 1;rn m
sucb faith. They can defeat it by dirt e.
votes against it. They can defeat 1t s ni
amendments destructive of any hopeIua'
scheme for an international agreement III;
Such n result. Mr.. President l VII ii ~
anticipate. hut will ask in the pubic II.
terest for the speedy and unanirnQMi
adontion of the bill as it is now presented
for consideration and decision of the sen
ate" NJ. Cannon
WI (which gnpkg