The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-22
WORK OF CONGRESS-

Grafton Of the currency bill, beginning
Monday. The general debate will con-
tinue until Friday; on Saturday
amendments may be offered under the
five-minute rule, and on the following
Monday the vote will be taken. The
Democrats, Populists and Silverites
presented solid front against the
adoption of the resolutions and cvery
Republican voted for it. Mr.. Richard
son, leader of the minority. tainted
the majority leaders at the change of
front in coming out flat-footedly for
the gold standard, but Mr.. Grosvenor
and Mr.. Cannon good naturally replied
that they had learned something with
advancing years. The former said the
democratic party was the only living
demonstration of the survival of a
great organization which refused to
learn anything.
Washington, Dec. IL. - The feature
of the opening day in the debate on
the currency bill in the house was the
speech Of Mr.. Dolliver of Iowa. 1t
was characterized by all the wit and
eloquence for which the Iowan is
noted. and held the members without
regard to party for more than two
hours. Mr.. Dolliver declared that the
last doubt of the Republican party as
to the wisdom of enacting the gold
standard into law had been dissolved
by the experience of the business
world during the past three years. He
scored Mr. Bryan and generally ridi-
culed the alleged prophecies of the
Democrats in 1896.
Mr.. De Almond of Missouri was the
heavy gun on the Democratic side. He
warned the Democrats from the West
that they could not deceive their con-
stituents in the coming election that
they had yielded to the judgment of
their colleagues in caucus.
Mr.. Overstrect opened the debate for
the Republicans and Mr.. Maddox of
Georgia replied to him. Mr.. Mcclellan
of New York was the only other speak
er. He announced his opposition TO the
bill on the ground that it would con-
tract the currency. eXtinguish the bank
notes and enhance the value OF coin
bonds. He appealed to those of his
Democratic colleagues from New York
who. it is reported, intend to vote for
the bill, not to do so.
I'm the Senate.
An appeal by Mr.. Mason for an eX-
preston of sympathy with the South
African republic in it's war with Great
Britain was the feature of the session
of the senate. 1t was the first formal
address made in the senate this session
and was the cause Of close attention
by the senators and large gallery.
BY resolution of Mr.. Lodge the resolu-
ton was referred to the committee on
foreign affairs, Mr.. Lodge considering
it too delicate question in view of
the position of this government to be
passed upon without serious discus
sion. No business was transacted by
the senate and an early adjournment
was taken.
Washington, Dec. 12-There is such
great pressure for time on the part Of
members on both sides of the house
who desire to participate in the cur
rency debate that three night sessions
have been ordered. Interest in the de-
bate is not keen, judged by the at
tendance in the galleries. although the
members themselves arc listening at
tentively to the speeches. Only one
Democrat thus far has spoken in favor
of the bill, Mr. briggs of New York,
who announced that lie had pledged
himself before election to support the
gold standard, and proposed to redeem
that pledge. He will be Joined by
several of his Brooklyn colleagues and
probably several others. The features
of the debate were tho speeches of Mr..
Grosvenor of Ohio. for the bill. and of
MI. Cochran of Missouri and Mr.. New
lands of Nevada. against it. The other
speakers were Ntessrs. Parker (N. j..
William Alden Smith (MichD. Prince
Un), Lawrence (Mass.) and Powers
(Vt.,, for the BILL and Messrs. Shaforth
(Colo) and Sims (Tenn.) against it,
In the Senate.
Whether Admiral Dewey, acting for
the United States government, formal
ly or informally. recognized the Philip
pine republic at Manila. is Il question
which MIR. Pettigrew of South Dakota
desires the navy department to an
swer. He introduced resolution di-
recting the secretary of the navy to
supply the senate with information on
the subject, but Mr.. Chandler of New
Hampshire objected to it's immediate
consideration. Following this objec-
ton Mr.. Pcttigrew and Mr.. Chandler
had a sharp tilt over the resolution Of
fcred the previous day by the former
demanding from the secretary of war
an explanation of certain charges
against Gen. Merriam in his conduct
of the Occur tl'Alene trouble. Politics
were injected into the controversy and
the personal references made by each
senator against the other lent some
livellness to an otherwise quiet session.
Washington, Dec. 14.-The currency
debate in the house lasted from II
o'clock yesterday morning until 1880
last night, with recess of three hours
for dinner. The pressure for time to
speak continues as most of the mem.
bers desire to make contributions to
the literature Of the occasion. Much
of it, however, seems to be for home
consumption. There has been very lit
tie cross-fring thus far and no eXcit-
ing or dramatic incidents. So far as
known twelve Democrats, eight from
New York, two from Pennsylvania and
one each from Maryland and Massa-
chusetts, will vote for the bill. The
speakers before the recess were
Messrs. Fowler of New Jersey, Lacey
of Iowa, Cushman of Washington,
r -