The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-16
BUSY DAY IN HOUSE.
Sixteen Bills and Resolutions Passed
I'm Five Hours.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 15-The House put
in busy day. The time was devoted to
consideration of bills and joint resolutions
presented under the call Of committees, and
sixteen of more or less public Importance
We're passed. An order was also entered
by unanimous consent for consideration OF
the Loud bill, relating to second class mail
matter, on March /, ? and g. and the order
for consideration of the bankruptcy BILL
which begins tomorrow, was modified so
that the final vote shall be taken on Satur-
day. instead of Monday, as arranged last
week.
When the House convened Mr. Cooney
(Dem., MOI, rising to a question of privi-
lege, called attention to the fact that a
resolution of inquiry introduced by him
Dec. il, calling on the secretary OF the
treasury for the statement and accounting
of the receiver OF the First National Bank
of Sedalia, Mo-, which was referred to the
banking and currency committee, had not
been reported back Under the rules reso-
luton of inquiry not reported on within
seven days is privileged.
After an explanation by Mr.. Johnson
(Rep., Ind on behalf of the subcommittee
of the banking and currency committee.
who said action on the resolution had been
delayed by peculiar circumstances and that
he thought the subcommittee would report
on the resolution tomorrow, Mr. Cooncy
withdrew motion he had entered to dis
charge the committee.
Mr.. Payne (Rep., n. ", chairman Of the
committee on merchant marine, called UP
the Senate bill TO amend the navigation
laws of the United States. Mr.. Payne ex-
planned that the bill had been prepared Ivy
the Treasury Department and was designed
solely 10 protect our sea-coast trade along
the Pacific coast with Alaska
Mr.. Terry (Dem., Ark said the bill had
much broader scope than appeared al first.
Tt related TO the entire cOastwise trade OF
the United States. He believed that this
trade belonged to the United States. our
shipping laws were oil antlquatcd. but there
should he a general reVision-not special
laws. Special laws, in his opinion, simply
fostered tho shipping rust As long as
American owners were unable 70 place the
American flag over q fOreign-buit vessel
he was opposed 10 such bills as the pending
measure.
Mr. Dingley said the pending bill was de.
signed TO carry out the traditional policy OF
the government of restricting our coast
wise carrying trade TO American vessels.
The bill was passed without division
The committees We're then called Mr..
Updegraf (Rep Ia.l. from the committee
on judiciary. called up a bill TO amend the
act of 1887 relating to the fees Of United
listing abuses and 1t was passed.
Mr. Cox Dem, Tenn), from the COM
mittea ON banking and currency, called up
bin ito better control and TO promote the
safety of national banks" The bill provides
that 40 national bank shall make loan 70
the president or amy other officer or enl-
ploye Of the bank until such officer enl-
ploye has submitted the proposition for the
loan in writing 10 the directors. and II has
been approved by u majority or them, and
In no ease shall the loan exceed the amount
permitted by law. The report of the chm
troller. Mr.. Cox sa,id. showed that ~ per
cent Of the failures of national banks were
due To the appropriation or absorption of
the banks funds by its officers. A situiiar