The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-09
REPUBLICANS FOR HARMONY
IN ORDER TO SECURE BANKING AND
CURRENCY LEGISLATION.
Members of the House Who Have
Rival Plans May Not BE Put ON the
- Proposed Caucus Committee.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. S-The Hpdianapo-
lis public building bill was left in pre-
carious situation this evening by the filibus-
tering tactics in the House of members of
an honest opposition to the omnibus build
ing scheme which was before the committee
of the whole, and by disappointed advocates
Of the seventeen or eighteen bills which
were cut off by the motion of Chairman
Mercer to cut short the proceedings in or
der to give opportunity for the passage of
those measures which had been favorably
acted upon up to the time of interruption.
But for this unfortunate interruption the
indianapolis bill would have passed the
House and been on its way to the Senate,
where, through the help of Senator Fair
banks, it would have been assured of enact
ment into law.
There is wailing and gnashing of teeth over
the situation with regard to public build
ings. For four years efforts have been vain
to get action in the House on bills authoriz-
ing the construction of federal buildings
Yesterday and to-day gave the first oppor-
tunity for congressional approval of such
improvements. The friends of a great mass
of building schemes which were without
merit availed themselves of the opening to
force their jobs the House. The result
was a revolt. There is still hope, however,
for the indianapolis bill and few other
meritorious projects.
Representative Overstreet, in brief in
terview this evening, said: IF Congress
passes any bills for the Construction of fed
eral buildings the Indianapolis bill will be
on the list. 1t is one of the measures which
is recognized in both branches of Congress
as being urgently required. Speaker Reed
assured me, this evening, that ii had his en-
tire approval and Endorsement. Representa-
tives Dockery, Of Missouri, Maddox, of
Georgia, and Handy, of Delaware, who led
the flibuster to-day, came to me personally
and assured me that if the Indianapolis bill
could be presented on its merits, they would
not only not obstruct its passage, but would
do everything in their power to help it
along. There are three ways by which pub
lie building bills may now come before the
House with a show of favorable action
One is by the adoption of rule which may
be reported by the committee on rules which
will allow day or a portion OF a day for
consideration of this class of bills. This ad-
ditional time may not be granted. The Sec
ond way is by unanimous consent, which is
hardly worth considering. The third is by
taking advantage of the rules which permit
bills to be considered during the last six
days of the session by two-thirds vote 1
expect results under the last condition that
have named. Cleveland and probably half
q dozen other cities are i'm about the same
position that Indianapolis is in. Both
branches of Congress are favorably dis
posed to these urgent and necessary bills
and If there is half a chance they will be
given proper consideration. 1t will be seen,
therefore, that Indianapolis has yet a hope
OF securing new federal building.
The Associated Press says: The net result
OF the work during the two days allotted
for consideration of public building bills in
the House was the passage of single bill
providing for the erection of a building at
Newport News, Va. at a cost of $75. 600.
SiXty-five bills in all. carrying or authoriz-
ing the expenditure of about S12 900 600. were
favorably considered in committee of the
whole when the committee rose to-day. bur
because seventeen other bills reported had
not been acted on in committee. fihbustering
tactics were resorted to and all efforts TO
advance the bills favorably acted on in COM
mttee were blocked. The second bill. appro-
priating $4,000 for building at Blair CITY.
Neb., got as far as the third reading. when
demand for the production of the en-
crossed bill prevented it from being placed
on its passage. The previous question had
been ordered on the Altoona. Pa. bill. car
rying $4,000 when the House adjourned
so that it viii be the unfinished business
tomorrow All the other bills. however
lose the privileged status they had.in virtue
OF the special order. Another day. there
fore, will have to be allotted to secure ac-
tion on them and assurances have already
been obtained for another day as soon as the
appropriation bills are out of the way Twen-
ty-four bills were favorably acted upon bN,
the committee to-day.
General Grosvenor who has the naming
OF the Republican caucus committee to re-
port to the next Congress plan of none
tary legislation. has about decided 10 omit
from the membership Of the committee rem
resentatives who are on the banking and
currency and the coinage. weights and
measures committees He will do this in
the interest OF harmony The members of
the banking and currency committee have
been embroiled in fight that has lasted for
two years. and every one of them is COM
mitted TO some sort of plan of his own.
The same is true in a minor degree of the
members OF the committee on coinage.
weights and measures. 1t is the desire of
the Republican leaders that the unseem
~ exhibitions TO which the country has
been treated during the past two years be
avoided in the future and that whatever
disagreements there may be among those
selected to devise a plan for currency re-
form be fought to finish in star chamber
sessions. Ii this idea can be carried out a
plan viii be submitted TO Congress next
winter which viii have the appearance, at
least, Of being the peaceful and harmonious