Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-13
SENATE AND HOUSE.
FERNS OF rosTMAsTERs AND OF
THE PRESIDENT.
REMARKABLE SPECTACLE.
Ncpreseufative johnson. of Califor-
MIA. Acknowledges Having bee"
CriminsIiy Indicted - speaker
Reeds Decision on Railroad Bill.

WASHINGTON, January l2--After the
transaction of some routine morning
business. the Senate, at 1915. on motion
of Mr.. sherman Republican), OF ONO
proceeded TO the consideration OF execu-
tive business. The doors were reopened
II 1890 and legislative business was re-
eumed.
A bin was introduced by Mr.. Hill, ana
was referred TO the Post-Ofiice Commit
tee. proposing to fix the term OF fourth-
class postmasters at four years. except
in the case of appointments to fill vacan-
ries, when they are TO be for the uneN-
pired portion of the term. He explaihe1
and advocated the measure as one wnich
would start political bookkeeping on
rorrect principles. and which would be
fair to all parties.
Mr.. Hnl alluded in passing TO the whole
sale removal of fourth-class postmasters.
The resolutions, on which Mr.. Proctor
spoke yesterday. fixing the presidential
term at six years. and prohibiting re-
election, were taken up, TO give an oppor-
tunity 10 Mr.. Stewart PopulisD, OF Ne
He favored the prohibition Of reelection,
but considered the extension of the term
10 six years as most Objectionable. lie
would much prefer 10 have the term
limited TO two years. The strain OF a
four-years' election was about all that
the country could stand IL the Presi-
dent were elected for two years, ne
would come into power in harmony Win
the Congress elected at the same time.
referred TO the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
a petition from Henry n. Dupont was
presented, claiming to have been elected
TO a seat in the United states Senate on
MAY .. 1895. and urging reopening OF the
question The memorial was referred 10
the Committee on Privileges ana Elec-
lions.
The House bill for free homestead ana
public lands. acquired from Indian tribes
was taken ND as the unfinished business.
II was advocated by Mr.. Allen, who de-
clared that the existing reign of bank
ruptcy and suicide" was the logical con-
sequence of the financial policy adopted
by the government. Ii was opposed by
Mr.. Villas. because it would give rise TO
claims for the refunding of the money
heretofore received by the government
from settlers on Indian lands. In the
rourse Of the discussion there was an
ries between Senators Villas and Allen
I'm relation TO which was the real Demo
cratic platform, that adopted at Chicago
or that adopted at Indianapolis, Mr.. Villas
asserting that the former was against
the best interests Of the United Safes and
the latter that it was founded through
out on Democracy.
The bill went over without action, and
at i. NJ. the Senate adjourned until
noon tomorrow.
House of Representatives.
a member Of Congress acknowledging
on the floor of the House OF Representa-
tives to his brother members and TO the
galleries that he had been guilty Of
violation Of the criminal laws. and had
been indicted for IT, was the remarkable
spectacle presented under the Capitol
dome to-day. The circumstances con-
nected with the affair followed in ma
tural sequence the bitter debate last
Friday, while the Pacific refunding bill
was pending. On that day, Mr.. Johnson,
OF California, made an attack on Mr..
William r. Hearst of the New York
Journal, and the San Francisco Examiner.
To-day he found in the Congressional
Record column of print devoted to per-
sonal references TO himself, inserted by
Mr. Mcguire, OF California, under leave
10 print.
Rising to make a personal explanation,
Mr.. Johnson his voice frequently break
ing with passion. criticised Mr. Mcguire
severely for attacking him In that man
ner, and not on the floor. He admitted
that he had been indicted in Syracuse.
as charged by Mr. Mcguire, but had
atoned for his offence. He said that his
full record was known to the people OF
his congressional district, and that they
had shown their belief in him by sending
him to Congress. MIR. Johnson's remarks
were applauded several times. Concern
ing Mr. Mcguire, his colleague called him
'human hyena," and other such terms,
and also bitterly denounced Mr.. Hearst.
Quite as vigorous was Mr.. Maguires
response He defended Mr.. Hearst and
himself and did not spare Mr.. Johnson.
After several roll-calls. the House dis
bosed OF the matter by expunging Mr..
Maguire's remarks from the Record.
RAILROAD BILL DECISION.
The hope OF those members of the
House who were anxious to secure some
legislation with reference to the Pacific
railroad at this session was quenched
by decision of Speaker Reeds. Yester-
day Mr.. Powers moved that the bill be
recommitted 10 the Committee on Pacific
Railroads, but objection was made that
this was not in order, as other busi-
ness had interviewed.
Speaker Reed asked until to-day 10
render a decision, and soon after the
House met he stated his opinion, which
was that the motion of the gentleman
from Vermont to recommit the bill was
not In order.
The motion, he says, could have been
made If the House had passed the bill
TO a third reading, or II other business
had not interviewed.
No demonstration followed the an
nouncement.
The bill TO better define the rights of
nliens in the Territories, which was pass
cd over temporarily yesterday, was taken
Op under the call Of committees Mr..
McEwan said that, with the exception
of one section, this was the same bill
that had been defeated in the House De-
cember 10th: but he made no point of
order on that ground, and the bill was
passed by a rising vote-ayes, SO; nays. 26.
A resolution providing for the payment
Of the expenses of the last illness and
funeral of Speaker Crisp, amounting to
81 $50, was passed.
A bill was passed providing for a
bridge over the reservoir at Alexandria,
la. by the Kansas City Watkins, and
Duluth Railway Company.
At5 O'clock the House adjourned until
tomorrow.