Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-15
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is.
SENATE.


Mr.. Gallinger secured the adoption
of a resolution directing the Secretary
of the Treasury to transmit to Congress
all correspondence regarding the right
of collectors of internal revenue to az
point their own assistants and also the
correspondence with the civil service
commission relating to the right of the
commission to review appointments
made by such collectors.
Mr.. Allen presented a resolution re-
questing the President if not incompat-
ible with the interests of the govern
ment to send to Congress the instruc-
! tons given to the international none
| tary commissioners, the reports they
| have made and the correspondence RI
lating to the subject. On objection the
| resolution went over until tomorrow.
The concurrent resolution adopted
by the House providing for recess OF
Congress from Saturday, December is,
1897, to Wednesday, January 5, 1888,
| was referred to the committee on ap
preparations.
A resolution authorizing the Secre-
tary of War to send supplies to the
American miners on the Yukon river
and appropriating S250,000 for that
purpose and providing for the transpor-
tation of the supplies by means of rein.
| deer was called up.
Mr.. Cockrell thought it strange that
the government should have to pay for
supplies sent to The klondike miners.
As be understood it the miners
were perfectly able and willing to pay
for such supplies. He was of opinion
that it was bad precedent to estab-
lish. 1t was referred to the military
| committee.
The bill prohibiting the killing Of fur
seals in the waters of the North Pacific
o n was then taken up and letters
from Secretaries Sherman of the State
Department and Gage of the Treasury
Department, favoring the immediate
passage OF the proposed measure, were
read. Mr.. Davis understood that an
amicable arrangement concerning the
fur seal industry was now in process OF
formation by the representatives, of the
United States, Great Britain, Russia
and Japan, and the passage of the bill
proposed would materially assist the
representatives of the United Suites in
the pending negotiations.
Mr.. Pettigrew entered sharp pre-
test to the passage OF the bill because it
deprived Americans OF privileges &C
corded to people of other countries.
!, He thought it was time for the United
States to definitely dispose of the ques-
lion by killing all of the seals as
they land upon the Pribyloff Islands.
He thought that the United States had
suffered enough humiliation on account
of the seal business and be believed
that the proposed bill ought to be
amended so that if Great Britain did
not by the first of June next agree to q
uspension of pelagic sealing this cour-
try would kill all seals, male and fe-
male, and thus settle the question once
for all.
After an animated debate the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Pettigrew was de-
feated. The bill was then passed by a
vote OF 81 to IA.
HOUSE.
A resolution for a holiday recess
from Satu day, December Is, to We'd
nesday, January s, was adopted.
Another resolution for the payment
OF the employees of the House and
Senate for the month of December on
the 18th was adopted.
The House then went into committee
of the whole and resumed the consid-
Grafton of the legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill.
MIR. Livingston submitted some ger-
eral remarks in opposition to the civil
service law, which he denounced as a
humbug and fraud.
Mr.. De Almond in an impassioned
speech reproached the majority for not
voting upon the Cuban belligerency
resolution passed by the Senate at the
last session. His remarks were given
added importance in view of the action
of the democratic caucus last night ad
vising an aggressive support of the
recognition of Cuban belligerency. He
declared that he could not be mistaken
in his belief that the American people
without distinction of party sympathiz-
ed with the Cuban cause. He inveigh-
ed against the selfish agencies at work
TO prevent action by this government
aud asserted that every hours delay Of
our recognition Of Cuban belligerency
lent aid to the oppressor and placed US
in the attitude of doing what we could
to slihe freedom within sight Of our own
shores.
Mr.. Moody called attention to the
"extraordir airy proposition" advocated
by Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Vanderlip to establish in the Treasury
Department what 10 effect would be q
civil pension list. As one of those
who believed in the merit system he
thought Congress ought to meet this
proposition at the threshold. "If this
system which We support is to lead to
the establishment of civil pension
list" said he impressively, then the
people ought TO wipe it out of exist
ence." General applause. Gas
friend of civil sely CO Reform, said he,
IL say its worst enemies are not those
who are fighting it openly like Gen.
Grosvenor, but men like the author of
this proposition who sits in the Cabinet
by the side of President Mckinley"
Applause.
Finally Mr.. Bingham appealed to the
House to let this subject, which had
been postponed until after the rest OF
the bill was completed, 60 over and
the debate subsidized. The bill was
then read for amendment.