Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-02-02
Bankruptcy and Currency.

There is much talk about bankruptcy
BILL The Committee on the Judiciary has
reported bill practically the same as the
| Torrey bill. Gen. Henderson of Iowa is
the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
He is also member of the Committee on
Rules. The bill will probably be brought
before the House by a special order. If
this is done the friends of the Nelson bill
will offer that as a substitute, unless pre-
cluded by the terms of the special order
another spring in the box. At all events
it seems safe to say that if the House
passes any bankruptcy bill whatever this
season it will be the bill reported from
Gen. Henderson's' committee. There is
no probability, however that such a bill
will pass the Senate. 1t can be amended
in that body so as to make it entirely un-
acceptable to the leaders IN the House
The differences between the two bodies
are apparently so great that they cannot
be settled in conference.
The same is true of a financial or n cur
rency bill Men of experience in both
houses agree that there is no probability
of the passage of any such measure this
session. If necessary, the appropriation
bills may be used to send them awry. AT
all events, there will be no Sabine assimi-
lation. The situation was aptly describ-
ed by Senator Thomas H. Carter of Mon
tana who said that to ask the Senate TO
pass a financial ILL based on the plan of
the monetary commission would be like
Squirting water against the wind"
The Committee on Rivers and Harbors
is in session and giving hearings to those
interested in such appropriations. 1t is
clear thai an effort to pass river and
harbor appropriation bill will be made be-
fore the end of the session. Such a bill
has the same privilege, under the rules,
as the other appropriation bills, and is
usually so framed that it can pass the
House by a two-thirds vote on suspension
day, without debate This was the case
in the last House, and this House is equal
" as eager on the question of internal i'm
provements.
Another bill of Importance is what is
known as the anti-scalping bill. 1t was
brought before the House in the last Con-
gress under special order from the Com
mittee on Rules. In the Fifty-fourth
Congress it was put to sleep in the Senate.
Its opponents had the benefit of the short
session, when appropriation bills were
crowding each other to the wall. They
used these bills to defeat it. They will
have no such opportunity in this session,
for it is the long session, and Congress is
not compelled to adjourn by the 4th of
March. In strong contrast with this
stand what arr Known as the letter car
riers' aud postal clerks bills. Be have
reached the calendars in previ Con-
crosses, but their friends have L ser been
able to get a special order for their con-
sid, ration.
Another bill attracting considerable at
tention is what is known as the Loud bill.
1t reyises the rates for second-class mac
ter in the mails, making stringent limita-
tions affecting the newspapers, and all
periodical publications. This proposition
was brought before the House on a spe-
cial order last session, and will probably
receive similar treatment this session.
Like the anti-scalping bin, it came up last
year In the short session, and was buried
in the Senate This year, however, it
win have q free course, and the Senate
will give it due consideration.
Army and Navy Affai.s.
The army and navy are especially inter-
ested in legislation this session. The
Committee on Military Affairs is consid-
ering bill providing for two additional
regiments of artillery. The proposition is
strongly favored by the War Department.
These regiments are wanted to man the
guns in the new Notifications planned and
hainr huijt for coast dpfpnSp IF the an