The herald., 1897-01-08
PROCEEDINGS N
SENATE AND HOUSE
Cuban Sympathizers Make
Little tieadway
PERKINS EXPRESSES PREFERENCE
For the Consideration of Citizens
Affairs
RAILROAD REFUNDING BILL
Comes up For Argument by the
Congressmen
A Small Audience Present But Intense iutef-
est Shown
The Debate VIII Be Continued Untu
Saturday Eevening. and Voting VIII
Begin on Monday-A BuSi-
RAILROAD REfUNDING BILL
Comes up For Argument by the
Congressmen
A Small Audience Present But Intense .utee-
est Shown
The Debate VIII Be Continued Ontu
Saturday Eevening, and Voting VIII
Begin on Monday-A Buxi-
ness Proposition.
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE senate
had long and busy session today pass
irg number Of bills on the calendar,
including several amendments to the
laws of navigation, and also the bill au-
thorizing the president to reappoint the
naval commander, Quackenbush, whose
case has occasioned much controversy.
Progress was made in the bill for free
homesteads on Indian lands, but final
vote was not reached.
Mr.. Platt opposed the bill in a lengthy
speech, pointing out that 1t would cause
the government loss of many millions.
1t was disclosed during the day that
Representative-elect Edward e. Rob-
bins was the author of the letters from
Havana read in the senate yesterday.
The other Cuban development of the
day was a joint resolution offered by
Mr.. Mills of Texas, declaring that the
power of recognizing the independence
of Cuba and appropriating $4,000 for a
United States minister to the republic of
Cuba. Mr.. Mills will speak on the res
olution next Monday.
Petitions as to Cuba and for and
heavy. A petition from the Commercial
club of Chicago expressed approval OF
! the present policy of the administration.
Mills of Texas, a member of the COM
| mite on foreign relations, brought for
ward a new phase of the Cuban ques-
! ton by offering the following joint reso-
! luton:
Resolved, BY the senate and house of
representatives, that the expediency OF
recognizing the independence of a for
eign government belongs to congress,
and when congress shall so determine
the executive shall act in harmony with
the legislative department of the gov
ernment.
Second, that the independence of the
republic of Cuba ought TO be and here
by is recognized, and the sum of $l0,-
600 is hereby Appropriated for salary and
expenses of minister to that govern
ment whenever such minister shall De
/ appointed by the president.
Mills said he would address the SEN
| ate on the resolution Monday.
Perkins of California unsuccessfdlly
tried to get Wednesday next made
special order for his labor, agricultural
/ and capital commission bill. To Cars
T suggestion that the Cuban discussion
/ might be up then, he replied it was time
! we gave our own citizens some consider
alton.
j Morgan offered a substitute for the
Pacific railroad bill. which provides for
a board of trustees, consisting or nlns
members, four to be appointed from
| west of the Mississippi river, four east,
! and one, who shall be president. whose
locality was not specified. THESE men
j shall not be stockholders of the roads
| and shall be appointed by the president
and confirmed by the senate. They shall
| take control of the roads and manage
! them as corporation, with view OF
/ settling the debt. a provision is made
for a per cent sinking fund. The whole
! debt is 10 be refunded in bonds bearing
per cent interest, running thirty years.
Senator Morgan says under his bill the
! roads can be made to pay all Liabilities
within twenty five years.
Chairman Powers of the Pacific rail-
road committee said it had been ar
ranged that the time for and against
the measure be equally divided, he to
control the time in it's favor, and Hup-
bard. Republican, of Missouri, member
of the committee, who made minority
report, against. The house confirmed
the agreement
Powers then made an opening argu-
ment The bill, which the committee re-
ported, he said constituted plain, bus
mess proposition and he asked the MEM
bers to consider it as such He described
| the necessity which existed in the early
! COS for q trans continental TdllfOdu,
and the difficulties which beset the un-
dertaking at the time when the south
was ablaze with red war, the hopeless
ness of private capital being able to ac-
complsh anything without government
aid and the determination of the SOW
| ernment to back the hazardous enter
| prise by large grants of lands and by
| floating the bonds Of the roads up to
! SIG, 900 per mile as far as the Sierras ana
S32 900 for the district across the mount
! aims.
Sherman. Republican, of Ohio sought
| to secure the passage of bill directing
the secretary of agriculture to estaD-
lsh a uniform standard of grain and all
| classes of cereals to be known as the
United States standard. but there We're
sharp objections.
Hale, Republican. of Maine, thought it
conferred sweeping powers on the sec
retary of agriculture.
| Allen, Populist, of Nebraska salo the
bill was opposed to the grain produc ers.
taking out of their hands the right TO
| classify their own grain
Gear Uowa. Rep.) said commerciaL
bodies and producers were in iavor OF
1t
Sherman explained that he presented
the measure at the request of organiza-
tions in his state. 1t sought merely to
establish uniform standard but did
not interfere with any private contract
as to standard.
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