The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-05-05
NEWS FROM CONGRESS-
THE SENATE VOTES AGAINST THE
TORREY BILL, AND PASSES THE
NELSON SUBSTITUTE.
The Bankruptcy Bill-Chandler Gre
Rtes a Sensation.
Special to the Representative.

Special to the Representative.
Washington, D. c.. April &c, 1897
| The house is continuing it's do nothing
| policy. 1t meets every third day and
Immediately adjourns for another three
days. Baily, the Democratic leader,
and majority of the Democrats agree
| with the Republicans in this "do-noth-
ing" policy. Bland and DeArmond, of
Missouri; Richardson and Mcmillan, of
Tennessee, and others of the more pro-
nounced free silver Democrats object to
this "do-nothing' policy and approve
of the position taken by the Peoples
party in demanding that Reed should
appoint committees and that congress
should proceed to legislate.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.
The most important action taken by
| the senate during the past week was on
the banruptcy bill. The TOrrey bill, a
very bad and vicious measure-a bill
which would have created bankrupts in
stead of relieving bankrupts-was de-
feated by vote of "a to %. Senator
Nelson's substitute, which is a very
fair and equitable bill, and provides for
only voluntary bankruptcy, was passed
instead.
Senator Allen introduced a resolution
expressing sympathy with Greece In her
heroic and patriotic struggle against
the tyrannOus and oppressive Turks.
The bond holders and usurers of Eu-
rope are on the side of Turkey in this
fight aginst Christianity and liberty
They care more for their profits from
Turkish bonds than they do for justice,
was reported to the committee on for
eign relations, and will probably be up
next week for discussion.
CHANDLER'S BILL CREATES A SEN
SATION.
Senator Chandler's bill providing for
the government to take charge of the
Bethlehem and Carnegie armor plate.
factories, and to operate them until a
sufficient amount of armor plate could
be made to be used in the new YES
sells now being built, was somewhat a
surprise and created no little sensation
among the mOnopolists in and out Of
the senate. These factories have been
charging the government about five
hundred dollars per ton for armor nlete
To hn 70 hot
this plate could be made for less than
three hundred dollars per ton. and that
these same factories were furnishing.
the same armor plate to foreign cOun-
tries at about two hundred and sixty
dollars per ton. Acting on this inform
alton, the last naval appropriation bill
provided that the secretary Of the navy
should not pay more than three hun
These factories. having a monopoly of
the business, have refused to furnish
the government armor plate at that
price Therefore, the government must
either build armor plate factories of it's
own, or take charge of these factories,
as Senator Chambers bill directs. or do
without the armor plate. These factor
les operate on the same principle that
all monOpOlies do. They charge what
ever price they see fit, and refuse to
serve the public unless their greed is
satisfied Railway corporations of the
country, street car lines gas companies
in every city, and all other mOnopoiies
act on the same principle, and the public
is at their mercy.
AN INTERNATIONAL HUMBUG.
Since the appointement last week by
the president of the International None
tary commission, consisting Of ex-Vice
President Stevenson, Senator Wolcott,
and Mr.. Payne of Massachusetts, the
chances of accomplishing anything have
been considerably discussed, pro and
con. 1t is generally conceded by the
Republican politicians, in private, that
the whole thing is farce, and that it
is not possible for anything to come out
of it. There is no more chance of get.
free coinage than there is to get a pro-
fessional usurer to agree to give us part
of the profits that flow steadily into his
pockets from usury. England profits by
the gold standard, we suffer by iti
England profits at our expense. Clad
stone has frankly stated that this was
the reason that England favored the
gold standard, and the reason why she
would never agree to free coinage. This
commission, no doubt, will be made to
play part in the next campaign. The,
chances are that the gold-bug press
and the Republican politicians will try
to make the people believe during the
next campaign that the commission is
about on the eve of accomplishing some
thing. The whole thing is political
scheme to fool the people again. Mr..
Stevenson, however, has the opportunity
of doing his country a great service.
Let him test whether or not anything
can be done before the next campaign
and state the truth to the people. If