Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-02
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March 2.
crnJArp

Senate joint resolution for the pre-
vention of the introduction and spread
of contagious and infectious diseases
into the United States was passed. lin
view of the alarming nature and
spread of the bubonic plague, now
prevalent in India and adjacent coun-
tries, and in view of the danger of this
scourge being brought to the United
States"
Mr.. Cameron offered resolution,
which was agreed to, calling on the
State Department for correspondence
in the case of United States Consul
McCord, of Pennsylvania, arrested in
Arequipa, Peru, in June, 1895.
House bill regulating fraternal bene-
fciary societies, orders, or associations
in the District of Columbia was passed.
Mr.. PETER moved to take up the res
olution offered by him several weeks
ago instructing the finance committee
to inquire into the issue and sale of
of bonds.
Mr.. Vest stated that subcommittee
of the finance committee bad gone to
New York last summer to carry out
similar investigation and had reported
the testimony taken land that that report
contained ell the information that the
resolution of the Senator from Kansas
sought. When the b-committee put
the questions to Mr.. Morgan and MIR.
Belmont as to their profit, and as to the
persons to whom the bonds we're sold,
they absolutely refused to answer those
questions. All other points of the in
quiry had been fully answered. The
sub committee reported to the full ii.
nance committee the refusal of Messrs.
Morgan and Belmont; but the finance
committee had never acted on that re-
port.
Mr.. Allen asked why Messrs. Nor
gan and Belmont had not been arraign-
ed for contempt of the Senate.
Mr.. Vest explained that that power
applied only when the investigation
was carried on in the District OF Coum-
bia. These witnesses, however, had
appeared before the committee in New
York. The subcommittee had report
ed the facts to the full committee and
asked for its decision, but no decision
was ever made.
After some further discussion the
matter went over without action.
Mr.. Cullom gave notice that he
would move to take up the House anti
scalping bill at the first opportunity.
On motion of Mr. Platt it was order
ed that after the passage of the two re-
naming appropriation bills (the fortifi-
cation and the deficiency bills) House
bills on the calendar, unobjected to,
shall be taken up.
The Notification appropriation bill
was then taken up. The amount ap-
proprjated in the bill as it passed the
House was 50, 253,325. AS recommend
ed by the Senate committee on appro.
priations the bill carries 1911, 141.
Mr.. Hawley called attention to the
fact that Congress had been very liberal
in the matter of Notifications and arma-
ments (having appropriated $50, 100000
for those purposes within the last ten
years., but that no garrisons were sta
toned in the forts, and no artillerists
were taught to use the splendid guns
that had been provided. The condi
ton of the coast defenses was lamenta-
bly, undefended-no men being kept
there and trained to handle the splen-
did and costly machines placed there.
The general deficiency bill (the last
of the appropriation bills) was then
taken up, but its consideration was in.
terrupted and the House amendments
to the international monetary confer
ence bill were laid before the Senate,
when Mr.. Chandler moved that the
Senate concur in the amendments.
Mr.. Dubois argued that the bill
seemed to be a political proposition
and nothing else. All admitted that
nothing could be done in an interna-
tional conference without the consent
of England. He should vote for the
bill, and hoped that it would avail; but
he was convinced that republicans did
not intend to, and would not, accom-
plish anything by the bill. 1t was
playing politics" and nothing else.
MIR. Dubois read extracts from letter
received by him recently from Mr..
Moreton Frewen, of London, stating
that the movement in England for cur
rency reform was apparently hopeless
and headless.
The Senate concurred in the House
amendments to the monetary confer
ence bill and it now goes to the Presi-
dent for action.
HOUSE.
The assumption by the Senate of sole
direction and control of the inaugural
exercises at the Capitol was made the
subject of resolution of inquiry offer
ed by Mr.. Dockery Immediately upon
the reassembling of the House at ten
o'clock this morning in continuation of
yesterdays session. 1t asked the COM
mittee on rules to investigate and re-
port by what authority the stand for
the inaugural exercises on the east
front of the Capitol was being erected
against the Senate wing and accessible
only from the corridors in that wing,
instead of being erected in front of the
central portico, and equally accessible
from both House and Senate wings as
had been the unvarying custom since
the Capitol was built. Also to report
whether or not the House had any part
in the arrangement for and manage
ment of the inaugural exercises.
Mr.. Richardson said stand was be-
ing erected in front of the Capitol to-
ward the House end and asked if it
would be in order to amend the resolu-
ton by having the committee inquire
and report by what authority that was
heinp done