The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-12
SOME LOOSE METHODS.
THE MOUSE PASSES A DJPLiC1TE
or ANN ALREADY 4 Law.
President-Criticised for Failure to Noiiiy
Congress ofa Change In Dipiom"fic-He>
Iaiions Ssmi-CoIon Causes Debate.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., FEB. ia GU
rlous illustration of the extremely loose
bushes methods OF Congress was iuf-
nished I'm tho Senate to-day wnon MI
Vest reported back from the Committee
on Commerce House bill which had
been referred TO that committee anu
stated that the same bill precisely had
passed both Houses al the present session
had been approved and signed by the Pres
ident and was now law.
THE NEW REPUBLIC.
The diplomatic and consular appropria-
ton bin carrying an aggregate OF Slo'o'-
30s was passed. after some caustic re-
marks by Mr. Morgan on an item of So
600 for a minister plenipotentiary TO the
States Of Nicaragua. Costa Rica, and sat
vador. Two OF these States. he said,
had. according TO newspaper reports.
formed with Honduras, "A new govern
ment called the Greater Republic OF Gem
tral America. sending a Minister 10 Wash
ington. who had been formally received
bv the Pre- sidant and closing their respec-
tive foreign Offices so that an American
Minister could hold no diplomatic rcla-
lions with .nem individually. But Of
this change the President of the United
States had not condoscended 20 give any
Information TO Congress or the people
Mr.. Morgan spoke OF this state Of affairs
as having brought about very awkward
complication but he said that he had
no proposition 10 make about II. Meth
or had Mr. Hale Rep. OF Maine). who
was in charge Of the bin and who rec
oanizod the force OF Mr. Morgans OBJ
servatiOns. but said that the committee
on Appropriations had thought IL better
TO leave tho usual item in the bill and
let the State Department arrange tho
difficulty i'm the way that might seem best
10 IT,
An agreement was reached 10 have the
vote on the conference report to the I'M
migration bin taken at 4 p. NJ, next
Wednesday
At half past o'clock the Senate went
into executive session on the arbitra-
ton treaty. and continued to sit with
closed doors till AS Z. NJ, when It adj
journed
Semi-Colon Causes Debate.
A displaced 5emi.colDn in the bill pro-
vidlng for ,he refundins Of the bonded
indebtedness of The several Territories
was the innocent cause Of a wholly UNI
expected debate on the monetary question
I'm the House to-day. lasting two or three
hours.
Two or three years ago Congress au-
thorized Arizona 10 sell some gold
then the delegate from that Territory.
because the Territory could get better
terms for such bonds than for lawful
money bonds. The bill under discussion
authorized the iefundng OF these par
ticular bonds in gold bonds. but the
presence OF a semi-colOn I'm the text sug-
eosted to the mind of Mr. McMi.lin ODen.
OF TENNESSEE the possibility that the bill
could be so construed as 20 warrant the
issue of gold bonds for all the bonds is
sud hy Arizona. From Mr. Payne ,kep.
OF New i0rk declaration that he could
see no harm hat would result II all the
bonds were made payable In gold.
lively discussion sprung up, in which
members took part, and which took "A
wide range.
OK \ GOLD BASIS.
The most important statements I'm the
course of the debate were those Of Mr..
Knox (Rep OF Massachusetts, In charge
Of the bill. that the country was upon
"a gold basis. that it would doubtless con-
tinuc on that basis. that IT would not ini-
tiate an international bimetallic confer
onco. and that there was sufficient states
manship I'm the Republican party to pro-
vide for the largest possible use Of silver
and that it would not be through the
unlimited coinage of that metal
At Mr.. Knoxs suggestion the semi
colon was replaced by comma; on Mr..
McMnlan's suggestion the bonds. other
than the Arizona gold bonds, were made
payable I'm the lawful money Of the
United States" and the bill was then
passed.
Tho sundry civil appropriation bill for
the year ending June 80, lSis. was re-
ported by Mr. Cannon RepJ, Of Illinois.
and placed ON the calendar.
Mr. Bartlett Oem). Of Georgia, pre-
sented the unanimous report OF Elections
Committee No. T. upon the contest Of
Thomas T.. Watson US. J. G.. Black. from
the Tenth district of Georgia. I'm favor
Of Black. and stated that he would call
10 up az the first opportunity
The bin making appropriations On total
Of 80 25332j) for Notifications for the
year ending June 30, ls9s, was consid-
cred and passed.
Tho pOstoiiice appropriation bin was
taken up i'm Committee or the Whole
and discussed for an hour without action.
The House then at $40 Z. NJ, adjourned.