Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-02-20
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, February 90.
SENATE.

by Mr.. Cameron and agreed to without
objection:
Resolved, That the Senate of the
United States, being mindful of the
sympathy of the people of the United
States expressed for the Greeks at the
time of their war for independence, now
extends like sympathy to the govern.
ment of Greece with its intervention on
behalf of the people of the neighboring
island of Crete for the purpose of free
ing them from the tyranny of foreign
oppressors, and to restore peace, with
the blessings of Christian civilization,
to that distressed island.
On motion of Mr.. Quay the Senate
took up for consideration the bill pass
ed by the House last session authoriZ-
ing the appointment of a non-partisan
commission to collate information and
to consider and recommend legislation
to meet the problems presented by
labor, agriculture and capital.
Mr.. Platt opposed it as the most
remarkable bill, both in its details and
purpose, ever presented to Congress. l."
1t proposed to Offset government by
Injunction by government by COM
mission" That commission was to be
composed of three men representative
of labor, three men representative of
agriculture, three men representative
of manufacturing and three men repre-
sentative of business.
Each of these commissioners was to
receive $1,000 year, or $4,000 Each
,ft ha fan IN q
lawyer at $1,000 year, or $4,000
Each division was to have a clerk at
5000 month, about $4,000 q year
more; making about 100000 year to
the officials of the commission. In adj
dition to all these there were provisions
for reading clerk, for shorthand re.
porters, rent of quarters, etc.
Mr.. Allison, chairman of the commit
tee on appropriations, interrupted MIR.
Plat with proposition to lay the bill
aside ard to proceed with appropriation
bills.
Mr.. Quay objected to that. He said
that he was not in charge of the bill;
but that he had called it up at the re-
quest of the representatives Of the great
labor organization of the government
which believed it to be q measure Of
great magnitude and Importance.
Mr.. Aldrich characterized the bill as
utterly impracticable and NONSENSE
CALI
After further desultory talk Mr.. AL
.. lison moved that the Senate proceed to
the consideration of the Indian appro
priation bill.
Mr.. Hill demanded the yeas and nays
and expressed the hope that the friends
of inc labor commission bill would vote
down the motion.
The Senate then proceeded to the
consideration of the Indian appropria-
ton bill.
HOUSE.
A little family affair occupied the at
tention of the House when it met to-
day. Yesterday afternoon motion
had been made to strike out Of the gen
eral deficiency bill an item of So ,202
to enable the sergeantat-ar to re-
fund the amounts withheld from the
salaries of members on account of alb
sence. MIR. Sayers, a member of the
appropriations committee, explained
how the committee came to allow the
amount.
Mr.. Sayers showed that the Judiciary
committee had decided that the
money could not be deducted. He
did not believe in refunding it, how
ever, and would vote against the item.
Mr.. Sayers referred to an attack made
yesterday on the item by MIR. Hopkins
and read q statement showing how
many times Mr.. Hopkins had not re-
sponded to roll calls.
Mr.. Hopkins contended, in reply,
that this was an attempt TO get the re-
publican House to wash the dirty linen
of the democratic 53rd Congress. He
said that Mr.. Sayers could have put
the item in deficiency bill while chair
man of the appropriations committee,
but had waited to unload it on repub-
lcan Congress, and then go to the
country claiming it as an instance
of republican extravaganza. The
table read by Mr.. Sayers, he said,
did not show that he (Mr. Hop
kins) had been absent. He had been
engaged in his committee room scores
of times during roll calls and did not
answer.
Mr.. Livingstone protested against
making the question a political one.
During the debate Mr.. Johnson, ris
ing to question of personal privilege
involving some remarks he had made
about Mr.. Sayers, was called to order
by the chairman of the committee of the
whole (Mr. Payne, of New York; for
9oing into matters outside the province
of personal privilege. Mr.. John
son and MIR. Payne had lively to-
terchange of words and considerable
confusion ensued. Finally, however,
the chairman ordered Mr.. Johnson to
sit down and be complied.
When the debate had ended Mr..
Bartlett caused some establishment by
making the point of order that members
individually interested financially in
any question were not permitted to
vote on that question, under the rule
providing that no member can vote on
a question if he has direct personal
or pecuniary interest in it.
The chair expressed the opinion that
each gentleman must decide the ques-
ton of his interest for himself.
FAUoUIER NoTEs.-Some enterpris-
ing gentlemen contemplate building a
town hall at The Plains.
Mr. CbaS T M Mccarthy and Miss