The record-union., 1898-05-05

ney-General, to effect an adjustment
between the United States and Sioux
City and Pacific Railway Company in
relation to certain bonds issued by the
United States in aid of the construction
of the railroad
An amendment to the bill offered by
Harris of Kansas provides that the
commission may not accept less in set
tlement Of the Government claim than
the principal of the bonds issued in aid
of the construction of the railroad.
Morgan of Alabama made an extend
ed speech upon the measure, in the
course of which he indicated the great
Importance of the measure as a preca-
dent
At the conclusion Of Morgan's speech
Cockren of Missouri secured the pas
sage of the following resolution:
THAT the Secretary of the Treas
ury is hereby directed to make d re-
port showing the coming value of the
silver bullion in the treasury, and the
amount of the seigniorage and the
amount of the existing treasury notes
issued in its purchase, and the amount
of standard silver dollars coined under
the Act of July II, 1870, and the
amount of the seigniorage and the
amount of treasury notes redeemed in
such dollars and retired"
Harris, continuing the debate upon
the pending railroad bill, urged the
adoption of his amendment as the
very least that Congress could do III
protecting the interests of the country.
Pettigrew of South Dakota said that
the Sioux City Railroad was link so
important to the Northwestern system
that if the Government should insist
upon the payment of its principal claim
in full, about 81 600, 900, the North
western would pay it. He declared
that the Northwestern officials had for
years falsified the returns from the
Sioux City Railroad with the plan in
| view of securing the road at a noml-
nal price. He said he proposed to OF
| fer an amendment to the amendment
| providing that not less than S3,0JU,OUO
should be accepted by the commission
| in settlement of the Government
| claim.
At > o'clock the railroad bill was dis
posed by a special order which was a
joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States providing for the succession IN
the case of the death of the President
elect before his Inauguration.
The proposed amendment was favor
ably reported from the Judiciary Com
mittee.
Mills of Texas offered the following
| amendment in the form of a new sec
ton:
Section .. Direct taxes shall be
n1 tnt
which may be included within this
Union, according to their respective
numbers. but Congress shall have pow
er to lay and collect direct taxes as du-
ties, imposts and excises are levied and
collected"
Mills explained that his amendment
was offered in order that the points
raised by the Supreme Court against
the income tax proposition might be
met
Hoar made an appeal to Mills to
withhold it, promising that any time
in the future he would aid in getting
consideration for his income tax
amendment.
Mills insisted upon his amendment,
and Hoar then moved to lay it on the
table.
Upon this the ayes and noes were
demanded.
Pending the voting, Mills, when
pressed by Hoar for a reason for in
sisting upon his amendment at this
time. said: Il want to tie it to the pend
ing resolution, so that it may reach the
American people, who are in favor OF
it,
Discussing the amendment, Mills in
uuired who was to maintain the great
struggle upon which the country had
entered. He declared the war might
set ahame the whole of Europe, and
this country might be involved for
wears. vet the Congress had no power
to raise money except t9Xing what Is
now taxed and by the issuance of
bonds. e had no power to make the
great incomes pay their proportion OF
the taxes.
Foraker of Ohio announced that he
was both in favor of the resolution and
the pending amendment. He was III
favor. he said. of an income tax. 1t
was. however under the circumstances,
better to lay the amendment on the
table.
In the course of other remarks on the
amendment by Mills and Stewart,
| Chandler pressed them hard to know
why they were not willing to separate
| the propositions, which had not the
! slightest relations to the one without
the other. Not receiving satisfactory
replies. he commented sarcastlcaiiy up
on the high order of craftsmanship
| that induced them to employ such
| tactics
Hoar declared that the income tax
proposition was as big a piece of dem