The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-04
SENATES SESSION STORMY
WARM DEBATE OVER IMPORTANT
CONFERENCE REPORTS.
Speaker Reed and "Log Rollers
Grievances Denounced by Frye.

/ $
| WASHINGTON. March 3-crowded gall
| leries looked down on the struggling MEM
bers of the House to-day as the closing
scenes Of the last legislative day OF this
Congress were being enacted. Step by step
the leaders in charge OF the appropriation
bills pushed them through the final stages
| and during every lull i'm consideration OF
| conference reports members clamored for
recognition for belated local bills in the vain
| hope of rescuing them from death on the
calendar. At times the House was like Bed
lam Pound as the speaker would with his
| gavel IL was almost impossible TO preserve
| order and to the casual visitor in the gall
| lery the proceedings on the floor must have
been about ineligible as an exciting DAY
in the wheat pit would be to a parish priest.
| The noise and confusion on the floor. pune
tuated with the constant banging Of the
| speakers gavel or backgrounded with the
\ droning voice of the clerk, irate members
| facing each other and talking at the same
time, pages scurrying up and down the
aisles, all this was utterly distracting. But
| the people in the galleries stayed on and
there were a dozen persons in line in the
| corridors waiting for every vacant seat. 50
| great is the attraction of a dying Congress.
| Mr. Walker, of Massachusetts,, after many
unsuccessful attempts, got an opportunity
| during the afternoon to voice his views on
| currency reform and severely criticised
some of his Republican colleagues.
When the great beacon light on the -ovrne
| blazed forth as darkness fell thousand
| upon thousands were attracted TO the bril-
liantly Illuminated wings of the Capitol.
| where the two houses were 10 sit out the
night. In the reserved galleries OF the
1 - H.
| society OF the national capital. while the
| public galleries were banked 10 the doors.
| Stylishly gowned ladies and gentlemen IN
| evening dress added eclat 10 the occasion.
! The big questions I'm dispute between the
! two houses, naturally the last to be ad-
iusted, were postponed far into the night
| From time to time short recesses were
taken. These were simply breathing spells.
| however, and soon the leaders were at IL
| again harder than ever.
| The House convened at IL o'clock a m.
The desk Of the late Representative Gram
ford, OF Texas who died at midnight last
night, was shrouded in black and covered
with flowers Immediately after the read
ing of the journal Mr. Burke ODem., Tex)
announced the death Of his colleague I'm
feeling words. and the usual resolutions
were adopted. A committee was appointed
| TO attend the funeral
The bill TO permit the reimportation or
wild animals for exhibition purposes was
adopted.
WALKERS SPEECH.
Mr.. Walker, chairman Of the COMMITTEES
on banking and currency. then took the
floor under a privilege granted him. He
| made statement, largely personal, show
ing the efforts Mr.. Walker had made dur
ing long series Of years to secure none
II "a hEa
answ cred published criticisms of his course
| and went into elaborate explanation or
the long fight In his committee which re-
| suited in the report of a bill and its subse-
quent withdrawal.
HIS colleague, Mr.. Barrett (Rep., Mass.),
demanded an opportunity TO reply, claiming
that Mr. Walker had agreed 10 yield him
time.
Mr. Walker denied this, saying he always
kept his promises TO God and man. but
mot according 10 the standards Of his
| colleagues"
Mr. Barrett denounced the denial as an
''unmitigated falsehood."
Mr.. Walker proceeded TO criticise the cur
rency committee selected by Mr.. Grosvenor.
chairman OF the Republican caucus Mr..
Walker spoke in high terms of Mr.. IL. H.
| Hanna, of the indianapolis monetary com
he and his colleagues had lobbied about the
Capitol for alleged currency reform. The
difficulty with these reformers." said he, ''ls
that they obtain their facts from canvas
| back and terTapin and their arguments from
| champagne. The result is robbery"
do you expect the next Congress" inter-
posed Mr. johnson CRep.. Ind). Ito enact
any banking and currency legislation
| worthy OF the name? 1 do not
| III il does" replied Mr. Walker, 1T will
| mean certain defeat for the Republican
party There is more dynamite connected
with banking and currency than any sub
ject ever introduced in the House Any
party that attempts settlement OF the
/ currency question before the silver question
Is settled will be swamped"
JOHNSON WANTS EXTRA SESSION.
Mr Johnson declared that the Republican
| party was committed to currency reform
and that II was the duty OF the President
| TO call an extra session. not TO create a
| permanent standing army OF 10000 men
| but 10 put on the statute books currency
| legislation so that IL could vindicate itself
before the next general election should
this be done the party would have done its
duty 10 all sections. and its calling and
election would be sure.
Mr.. Cannon presented the conference re-
port upon the sundry civil appropriation
bill and moved IT'S adoption. He explained
briefly the points upon which the confer
ence had agreed and the report was adopted.
| Upon the item in dispute ne movs that
| the House insist upon disagreement. This
! was done after a short debate.
I, The House conferees were specifically in
stIucted 10 Insist upon their disagreement