Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-07-12
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, July IL.
SENATE.

SENATE.
In the Senate to-day a resolution by
Mr.. Butler was agreed to, directing the
Secretary of State to secure from dip
lomatic representatives abroad full In.
formation as to the operation OF postal
telegraphs, telephones and postal saw
ings banks.
Consideration of the deficiency APP
preparation bill was then resumed.
The expediency of attaching private
| claims to the bill was discussed at
length. Mr.. Foraker had offered an
amendment covering three insurance
claims adjudicated under the Bowman
act.
Mr.. Hale made a point of order
| against the amendment.
The Vice-President in deciding the
point, held that "~priyate" referred to
such measures as were for the benefit
of individuals without application to
the general public. For this reason
the Foraker amendment was ruled out
as covering private claims, not to be
attached to general appropriation bills
under the rules of the Senate. The de-
| cision operated to exclude a large num-
Der of private claims which were to be
offered as amendments to the deficiency
bill.
In view of this exclusion of private
claims, Mr.. Hale secured the adoption
of an .amendment appropriating $1,000
for extra labor to enable the committee
on claims to examine fully all pending
claims and to report a comprehensive
bill, covering all meritorious claims, to
the next session Of Congress.
Mr.. Gear offered an amendment for
the payment of a judgment of the court
of claims for 81 ,310,427 in favor of the
Southern Pacific railroad company.
MIR. Allen proposed q modification Of
the amendment providing that the
money be retained in the treasury IN
til the fnal adjustment of the claims OF
The United States against the Southern
Pacific and Central Pacific railroads.
Mr.. White took occasion to say that
| if this amendment was pressed in its
original form there would be a protract-
ed debate and no immediate adjourn.
ment.
Mr.. Hale appealed to his associates
not to press the amendment, saying he
would move to table it if extended de-
bate resulted.
| Mr.. Chandler also urged that the SEES.
sion might be indefinitely prolonged il
the amendment was pressed.
Thereupon Mr.. Gear withdrew the
amendment.
Mr.. Morgan offered another Pacific
railroad amendment, providing that no
part of the sinking fund of the Union
Pacific railroad company held in the
!, treasury of the United States shall be
used in pursuance of any agreement
between the President of the United
States or any officer of the United
States and Louis Fitzgerald, chairman
of the reorganization committee of the
Union Pacific railroad company, or any
other company or corporation.
Mr.. Morgan spoke at length in SUI
port of the amendment, saying the pend
ing agreement between the executive
branch of the government and the
Union Pacific reorganization committee
was in fragrant disregard of law,
amounting to robbery, which, when
fully understood, would cause amaze
ment among the American people.
At one stage of his remarks Mr.. Nor
gan referred to the House not being 10
session tomorrow and was reminded
by MI. Gear that the House would be
in session tomorrow.
II am delighted to hear that Con-
gress will not be running on n
Wheel" proceeded Mr.. Morgan, "and l
invite the attention of the House to the
fact that by adopting this amendment
it can save $50, 000,0 900 to the govern
ment, which otherwise the government
will be robbed of. These are strong
words, but 1 use them knowing what
they mean. Let Congress adjourn
without taking hold of this transaction
and the United States government will
lose $50, 600 900 and the people will lose
God knows how much in the future"
Mr.. Morgan severely criticised the
agreement made with the reorganiza
ton committee.
HOUSE.
On account of the death of Senator