The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-12
Took Another Shy at President
Cleveland.
MORE TREATY ARGUMENT
SEMI-COLON CAUSES A DEBATE
IN THE HOUSE.
Three Hours Devoted to the Science
of Punctuation-Jim Watson Not
Seated by the Committee on Elec-
tions-Proceedings in the Two
Houses of Congress Yesterday.

Washington Feb. 1.-THE diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill carrying
an aggregate of s1O969. 30S was passed
after some caustic remarks by Mr.. Nor
/ gan Dem, Ala.) on an item of $4,000
! for a minister plenipotentiary to the
states of Nicaragua, Costa Rico and Sal
vador. Two of these states. he said. had,
according to newspaper reports. formed,
with Honduras, new government called
the Greater Republic of Central America.
sending a minister to Washington who
had been formally received by the Dresi-
dent and closing their respective foreign
offices. so that an American minister
could hold no diplomatic relations with
them individually, but of this congress the
president of the United States had not
condescended to give any information to
congress or the people. Mr. Morgan
spoke of this state of affair." as having
brought about a very awkward comD1-
cation, but he said that he had no prop
os-tion TO make about ii. Neither had
Mr.. Hale (Rep., Me.). who had charge OF
TIE bill, and who recognized the force
of M Morgan's observations, but said
that the committee on appropriations had
thought il better to leave the usual item
y, the bill and let the state department
arrange the difficulty in the way that
might seem best TO it.
An agreement was reached to have the
vote on the conference report to the
immigration bill taken at p m. next
Wednesday. AT 1870 the senate went into
executive session on the arbitration treaty
ard continued to sit with closed doors
until 4:45 p. m, when it adjourned.
A displaced semi-colon in the bill pro
viding for the refunding of the bonded
Indebtedness of the several territories was
the innocent cause of wholly unexpected
debate on the monetary question in the
house today, lasting two or three hours.
Two or three years ago congress author
lied Arizona to sell some gold bonds
hn nf
the delegate from that territory, because
the territory could get better terms Tor
such bonds than for lawful money
bonds The bill under discussion author
lied the refunding of these particular
bonds in gold bonds. but the presence of
a semi-colon in the text suggested to the
mind of Mr.. McMillin Dem., Tenn:) the
possibility that the bill could not be SO
construed as to warrant the issue of gold
bonds for all the bonds mentioned From
Mr.. Payne's (Rep., n. W declaration that
-e could see no harm that would result
. all the bonds were made payable in
gold. a lively discussion sprang up in
which many members took part and took
a wide range. The most important state
those of Mr.. Knox (Rep., Mass-), in
charge of the BILL that the country was
uDon a gold basis, and that 1t would
doubtless continue on that basis; that it
would not initiate any international BIZ
metallic conference. and that there was
sufficient craftsmanship in the Republic
an party to provide for the largest posi-
BILE use for silver and that it would not
be through the unlimited coinage of that
METAL
Mr. Knox's suggestion. the semi-colon
was replaced by a comma, on Mr. Nc
Millans suggestion the bonds, other than
the Arizona gold bonds named. were made
in the lawful money of the United
States" and the bill was then passed.
The sundry civil appropriation bill for
the year ending June 80. 1898. was reported
by Mr.. Cannon (Rep-, Ills). and placed
on the calendar.
Mr. Bartlett Dem.. Ga.) presented the
unanimous report of elections commit
tee No. ] upon the contest of Thomas
e. Watson VS.. ]. J. C. Black from Tenth
district of Georgia in favor of Black. and
stated he would call it up at the first OPP
portunity-
The bill making appropriations "a total
of 50. 25s, $3.50 for Notifications for the year
ending June 3d. 1898. was considered and
passed
The postoffice appropriation bill was
taken up in committee of the whole and |
discussed for an hour without action.
The house then adjourned at $40 P. m. J