The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-12-17
THE PENSION BILL.
It Carries S141, 263, $50 and Is
Passed by the House.
SECRETARY CAGES CURRENCY VIEWS
The Secretary of the Treasury to Divide
His Subiect-DemOcrats to Caucus
Civil Service Conference.-The
Free Homes Bill

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE house
yesterday passed the pension appropria-
ton bill without amendment and ad-
iourned till Monday. The amend
ments offered by democrats to correct
alleged existing abuses were all ruled
out on the point of order that they
were new legislation. As passed, the
bill carries SAL, 1868, $50. The debate
covered a wide range. 1t touched not
only the question of our pension poll
CIV, but that of civil service reform and
the receipts and expenditures of the
treasury under the Dingley law. On
the latter question, Mr.. Dingley made
an important statement, in which he
expressed the opinion that the receipts
would equal the expenditures before
the close of the present fiscal year, and
predicted a surplus of Sl0,O00,0O0 next
year. The civil service law was saw
agely attacked by several members,
notably by Mr.. Brown, republican, of
Ohio, and Mr.. Linney, republican, of
North Carolina, and was warmly de-
Tended by Mr.. Johnson, republican, of
Indiana. On motion of Mr.. Foss, of
Illinois, Saturday, December Is, was
set apart for paying tribute to the
memory of the late representative E.
D. Cook, of Illinois.
Mr.. Maxwell, of Nebraska, intro
duced bill to punish bribery, coercion
or intimidation of voters. 1t provides
that anyone who shall bride or at
tempt to influence any elector in CIV
= l.. IL
held pursuant to the laws of the United
States shall, on conviction, be impris-
oned in the penitentiary not over one
year and be fined 1000. The person
bribed is declared to be a competent
witness and not liable to prosecution
under this act The bill also provides
Imprisonment of not more than one
year for any creditor, employer, over
seer or agent who attempts to coerce
or intimidate any electors, debtors or
other person under their authority to
vote contrary to their inclination, or
deter him from voting.
SECRETARY CAGES CURRENCY VIEWS.
WASHINGTON, Dec lit was stated
in reliable quarters about the house of
representatives yesterday that Secre-
tary Gage had made his purpose known
not to embody his financial views in
one comprehensive bill, but to cover
special subjects in a number of special
bills, some of which would go before
the house committee on banking and
currency and others before the COM
mittee on ways and means. The
banking and currency committee had
formally invited the secretary to pre-
sent bill covering all the phases of
financial reform suggested in his re-
cent recommendation to congress, and
the desire of members of the commit
tee was to treat the subject as an en-
tirety. For that reason there was con-
siderable comment when it was stated
that Mr.. Gage would divide the sub
ject into several bills, some of which
would go before the ways and means
committee.
DEMOCRATS TO CAUCUS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1L.-Chairman
Richardson, of the democratic caucus,
yesterday issued a call for caucus on
Tuesday evening next, December Il,
to consider the four subjects of Cuba,
Hawaii, finance and bankruptcy. As
to the action on these, pretty general
understanding has been reached
among the democratic leaders. On the
subject of Cuba the sentiment is prac-
tically unanimous in favor of a resolu-
ton favoring the recognition of Cuban
belligerency. On financial questions
the caucus probably will take a posi-
ton against the several plans of finan-
cial reform recommended by Secretary
Gage. Opposition to the bankruptcy
bill is also contemplated by the caucus.
On the question of Hawaiian anneXa-
ton it is stated by those who have
canvassed the feeling on the demo-
cratic side that it is practically unani-
nous against annexation, either by
treaty or legislation.
CIVIL SERVICE CONFERENCE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-Representa-
tive Pearson, of North Carolina, has
secured - signatures to the paper cir
culated among republican members of
congress for a conference relative to
the civil service law. In speaking of
the conference Mr.. Pearson said it
should be understood that quite a
the call were in favor of the civil serv-
ice idea. They felt, however, that the
principle itself was at stake by the
present administration of the law and
they were, therefore, ready to join in
considering what remedy could be had
for the present defects.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE house
committee on public lands organized
yesterday and took some preliminary
steps toward the consideration of some
Of the more important land legislation
proposed for this session. The free
homestead bill, which passed the SEN
ate at the last session. viii be taken
up and acted on. As it passed the SEN
ate it would cost the government, it
was estimated, SIS. OOO. 900 or upward.
The committee does not favor the SEN
ate measure, and if reported to the
house it will be essentially modified.
Alaska is another subject that is ex-
pected to figure extensively IN the
house.
naa & ODD OE