Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-05-06
POSTAL CONGRESS.
A Resolution Appropriating ESQ.,
900 by Both Houses.
FREE HOMESTEAD BILL TAKEN UP.
lfr. Simpson, Of Kansas, Rises to Question
Of Privilege-Increased Tax ON Beer
Payment Of Indemnity to ltsl-
iana Recommended.

WASHINGTON, May AIN the senate
yesterday a joint resolution by Mr..
Chandler was agreed to without divi-
sion, making Immediately available
1000 for the purposes Of the interna-
tional postal congress about to assem-
Bile here. At l2:45 p. m. the senate
went into executive session, on motion
of Mr. Davis, Of Minnesota. The open
session was resumed at two o'clock,
and the bill known as the free home
stead bill" was taken up. The bill re-
leases settlers on public lands acquired
from Indians from the payments now
required by law, and also gives free
homesteads on such lands not now oc-
cupied An amendment was offered by
Mr.. Morgan giving all public lands,
not taken up by homestead entry on
January /, 1890, to the several states
and territories for educational pur-
poses. Mr.. Morgan's proposition
aroused much opposition. Mr.. lawley,
of Connecticut, characterized it as a
startling reversal Of the policy of the
government, involving the complete
disposal of all public lands with their
incalculable wealth of mines and for
est. The amendment was withdrawn
and an agreement reached for final
vote on the free homestead bill at three
p. IN. to-day.
"The issue was made,' as Speaker
Speaker Reed put it in the house yes
terday, on the speakers policy OF post
poning the appointmentof committees.
Mr.. Simpson. of Kansas, brought it on
by another attack upon the speaker,
which moved Mr.. Reed to challenge
him to propose resolution instructing
the speaker to appoint the committees
The Kansan evaded this challenge,
but Mr.. Lewis, a new democratic men,
Der from Washington, took up the
gauntlet which the speaker had thrown
down and moved the adoption of
resolution OF the tenor suggested by
Mr.. Reed. Then Mr.. Fleming, OF
Georgia, offered substitute embody-
ing the instructions in different terms,
and Mr.. Dingley, the republican
leader, to make the issue plain, as he
said, presented another substitute,
directing the speaker to appoint
the committees Immediately" When
the vote was taken on the proposition,
the speaker was sustained by practical.
ly the solid vote of his party, assisted
bv 80 democrats under the leadership
of Mr.. Bailey. The resolution was de-
feated, yeas, 50; nays, l24; present ID.
For the first time this session the fac
tions in the democratic ranks were
forced to put themselves on record, and
~ democrats. with all Of the populists,
Mr.. Lewis Mr.. Low, Of
New York, was the only republican to
put himself on record in support of the
resolution, while eight democrats and
five republicans answered present.
A senate resolution appropriating
$50 900 for the congress of the Uni
versal Postal union was adopted, and
Mr.. Showalter, the republican chosen
at special election to represent the
Twenty-Fifth Pennsylvania district,
was sworn in. Then Mr.. Simpson, of
Kansas, rose to question of personal
privilege and sent to the clerks desk
to be read an extract from the New
York Mail and Express accusing himof
being an obstructonist and predicting
that he would be pulverized under
the speakers trip-hammer. There was
n stack of newspaper clippings on Mr.
Simpsons desk, which it appeared he
was determined to have read, but Mr..
Dingley protested that Mr.. Simpson
had not raised any question of privi-
lege. Speaker Reed said that it would
be an unsatisfactory doctrine that
a member could consume the time of
the house with innumerable newspaper
clippings, and incidentally remarked
that 1t was evident the newspaper at
tacks do not impair the gentlemans
usefulness
The house then adjourned to Thurs
day.
INCREASED TAX ON BEER
WASHINGTON, May Am additional
tax of 50 cents barrel on beer was
voted into the senate tariff bill by the
republican subcommittee. Whether
the item will stay until the bill gets
into the senate is not altogether GER
tain. Senators Aldrich, Allison and
Woleott prepared for an all night ses-
sion in the hope of getting the measure
ready to report to the finance commit
tee, but along toward midnight they
declared they could not hope to make
a report before Tuesday. Meanwhile
they voted upon the beer tax. The
present rate Of 81 a barrel and the adj
ditional 80 cents will bring the treas.
ury about sl7,oOO,O annually on the
present rate of consumption. This in
crease in revenue will not entail dol
lar of additional expenses for collec-
ton. The beer tax is now part of
the bill.
INDEMNITY RECOMMENDED.
WASHINGTON, May 4.-President Me-
Kinley yesterday sent to congress a
message concerning the lynching of
three Italians at Hahnville, La, on the
night Of August s, 1895. He recon-
mends an appropriation of $1,000 for
the heirs Of the persons, without adj
hitting the liability of the United