The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24


House-The Senate Discusses Duty on
Alcohol for Use In the Fine A~rts-Ssnator
Stewards Question of Personal Privilege.
The Houses Disagree OIL the Bill for Aid
for Klondyke Sufferers
SENATE.
Washington, December IA spirited
debate was ~precipitated in the senate to-
day by the submission by Senator Platt.
of Connecticut, of the report OF the spe-
cial joint committee of the a and
house, appointed to investigate the use
of alcohol in the arts. 1t developed that
a wide divergence of opinion exists
among senators as TO the practicability.
from the point of view of government
revenue, of reducing the present tax
upon alcohol used in the arts.
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, who
favors such reduction, expressed the
opinion that if congress would lay aside
political considerations and deal with the
liquor question courageously and honest
ly, by the imposition of an additional tax
of a dollar a barrel on beer, the ques-
ton of the governments revenues would
take care of itself.
Senator Vest, of Missouri, stree l;ously
OppOSSO oily IDA oI Nv.
Senator Allison deprecated any attempt
to raise the question at the present time.
He said it was not pertinent and that it
had not been made clear that alcohol
used in the arts could be from
taxation without impairing the revenues
beyond what they could stand. He added
that the interests of American
turFers using alcohol had been carefully
guarded otherwise in the new tariff law.
He Thought also that recent events had
gone to show that the 81. 10 tax on alco-
fhol could be collected and expressed the
hope that an earnest effort in that direc-
tiOn would be made.
At the suggestion of Senator Hawley,
chairman of the military affairs commit
tee, the bill passed by the house for the
relief of the miners in the Klondyke re-
gion was taken up at once. He moved
that all after the enacting clause of the
house bill be stricken out and the senate
bill be substituted. The motion was car
ried and the bill as amended passed. Sem
ators Hawley, Carter and CockreN were
named as cOnferees on the part of the
senate.
Senator Stewart, of Nevada, rose to a
question Of personal privilege to reply
to a charge, which, he said, had been
made against him by Senator Chandler,
a charge which he characterized as a
very grave one. He referred to the as
sertion of the New Hampshire senator
that he CStewar) had misrepresented
the attitude of the administration on the
financial question. He had extracts read
from the statement made yesterday by
Secretary Gage before the house commit
tee ON banking and currency to show
that the administration was committed
to the gold standard. He contended that
this statement fully confirmed all that he
had said. and further, that it manifested
a determination to place the control of
the currency in the hands Of the banks,
giving them all the advantages and ex-
acting from them no security.
A favorable TeOOrt being made uDOn
the joint resolution accepting the invi-
tatiOn of the government OF Norway to
take part in the international fisheries
exposition to be held at Bergen, Norway,
from May ITO September, 1898. Senator
Nelson. of Minnesota, the author of the
resolution, secured it's immediate pas
be Immediately available to defray the
necessary expenses of the display Of the
United States at the exposition.
h consideration of pension cases
was then begun and 1873 bills We're passed.
One of the bills granted a pension of $50
a month to Cassius NJ. Clay, ST., Of Ken
lucky. a major general of the United
States army during the civil war.
Senator Turpie, of Indiana, then pre-
scented the regular order of business. the
consideration Of resolutions on the death
of William Steele Holman. a late repre-
sentative from Indiana. Tributes to the
memory Of Mr.. Holman were paid in elo-
quent eulogies by Senators Fairbanks, OF
~1ndiana; Mills, of Texas; ockre OF
Missouri; Frye, of Maine, and Turpie, of
Indiana.
passed and as a further mark of respect,
the senate at 4.25 o'clock p. m. adjourned
until tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The house today completed the consid-
GRAFTON of the legislative. executive and
judicial appropriation bill, excepting the
paragraph relating to the civil service.
BY agreement the debate on this latter
paragraph will go over until after the
holidays. Two amendments OF some i'm
portance We're adopted. The bill. as re-
ported, abolished the assay office at
DeadwOod. S, D., and the mints at Car
son CITY. New. and New Orleans. La. To
day the Representatives from the first
successful fight to continue the appropri-
aticns for Deadwood and Carson City. |
The appropriation committee was beaten
in each instance.
Mr.. Browniow. republican. of Tennes-
see, asked unanimous consent for the
consideration of d resolution reciting the
TACT that The report of the secretary of
the navy on the location of the armor
plate FACTORY made no mention of the
boards visit to the soueh and calling
upon him to cause the data procured by
the board as to the advantages of the
south to be prepared and Forwarded to
the house.
Mr.. Steele, republican. OF Indiana. /
wanted to offer al Amendments to cover
Indiana and Illinois, but Mr.. Dingley, re-
publican. of Maine. objected. and the res |
oiutfon and amendment were referred un-
der the rules.
On MI. Cannon's motion the house dis
agreed TO the senate amendment TO the
bill for the miners of the upper Yukon
and agreed to a conference.
On motion of Mr.. Mercer, republican. |
or Nebraska. a bill was passed to in
crease n cost OF the government build
Ing at the Trans-M Mississippi exposition
1880 and the cost OF the gnvernmenf
exhibit a like amount.
AT 4:5O O'Clock the house adjourned.
One Minute Cough Cure cures quick.