The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-10
CAUCUS OF DEMOCRATS
MINORITY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
APPOINT TWO "WHIPs.v
Also Name a Congressional Campaign
in COurt-MOntana's Scandal.

WASHINGTON, Jan. "a well-attended
caucus of the Democrats of the House of
Representatives was held tonight Mr.
Newlands, of Nevada, of the silver party.
was present by invitation of Mr.. Richard
son, the Democratic floor leader, for the
purpose of presenting plan for the united
action by all of the elements opposed to
the Republican organization. The actual
business transacted by the caucus was
confined to the adoption of a resolution for
the appointment of the usual committee of
one member from each State to look after
congressional elections, and the selection of
Messrs. Underwood, of Alabama, and Ep-
pes, of Virginia, as whips for the ar
rangements of pairs.
The chief interest of the evening GEN.
tered in a resolution presented by Repre-
sentative Robertson, of Louisiana, with
view to securing steering committee
which would have the power to formulate
the Democratic policy on important ques-
tons OF legislation. The resolution met
considerable favor, but some of the in
huential members urged him not to press
the matter for the present and he con-
sented to withdraw the resolution until
later.
AT the Cabinet meeting to-day the SUBJ
ject of the alleged corner in hemp was dis
cussed in connection with the numerous
requests which have been received to open
a number of ports in the Philippines for the
expectation of hemp to the United States
1t seems to be the settled policy of the gov
eminent to open all of the Philippine ports
as rapidly as troops can be spared to garri-
son them. Secretary Gage explained the
letter which he will send to Congress in
answer to resolutions regarding the de-
posits of government funds in national
bank repositories.
The Senate committee on finance had the
nomination of Hon. w. d. Bynum, to be
general appraiser at New York under con-
sideration to-day, but failed TO act, owing
to the opposition of the Democratic MEM
bers. They based their objections on the
gound that he was named a Democrat,
which, they claimed, was false designa-
ton.
The claim of Admiral Dewey and the of
ficers and men of his squadron for the
"head money" arising out Of the destruc-
ton of Montejo's fleet in Manila bay was
argued before the Court of Claims to-day.
The contention of the claimants was that
the force of the enemy was superior at Ma
Mia bay; also, that the land batteries and
submarine mines should be considered in
deciding the question. Assistant Attorney
General Pradt argued against the claim for
$500 head money" taking the ground that
the statute expressly stipulated vessels, -
and contained nothing as TO "land bat
teries." e
Ex-State Secretary Whiteside, of Mon
tana, continued his testimony before the
Senate committee on privileges and cleo
tions to-day in the Clark case. He was
cross-eXamined by Mr.. Faulkner. He iden-
titled two envelopes exhibited, which he
said had contained money given TO him to
Co.. Of n 81
were marked by initials and otherwise.
which, Mr. Whiteside said, had been placed
on the envelopes at the time the money
was deposited in them. An effort was made
to show that Mr.. Whiteside had not had
positive knowledge of the placing of money
in the envelopes from which the $4,000 was
taken and turned over to the State. In
this connection counsel for Mr.. Clark stated
show that Mr.. Whiteside had placed the
money there himself.
The following statement regarding Gen.
eral Greely's condition was given out to-
day: General Greely's condition is still a
cause for anxiety. The superficial wound
is healing we'll, but the symptoms OF shock
appeared.
Jospeh Furnace, the assailant of Gen.
A w. Greedy, appeared In court to-day
and it was decided to hold him without
bail.
Commissioner Wilson, of the Internal
Revenue Bureau, has decided that where
an officer of a bank holds a membership
i'm a stock exchange for his bank, and the
business done by him on the stock board
is the bank business, neither he nor his
bank is required to pay special tax there
for as broker, the bank being exempt by
the express provision of the statute de-
filming.
Senator Allen to-day offered a resolution
calling on the secretary of war for infor-
nation as to the names of transports, the
persons from whom they were acquired
the prices paid and all other information
relating to the transport service. 1t was
adopted.
A record and brief have been received by
the clerk of the Supreme Court of the
United States in a case from the Supreme
Court of Michigan nat may have a bear
ing on the financial question. 1t is the
case of Baker VS.. Baldwin, in which Il. "A
Baker, a Michigan lawyer, seeks TO test
the constitutionality of the provisions OF
the Bland-Allison act, making the silver
dollar of 81 % grains of pure silver ful
and unlimited legal tenuer in the payment
of all debt, public private. Mr.. Baker
claims that the act of 1873 establishing the
gold dollar of % % grains of pure gold as
the standard of value Is the only valiC
act in existence making coined money q
since entered into payable in money with
out stipulation as to the kind of money
can be settled only in gold dollars, or in
United States notes redeemable in gold
He contends that the Bland-Allison act 1:
unconstitutional, because the bullion value
of the silver dollar at the date of the pass
age of that act and ever since then ha:
been less than the value of the gold dollar
and that Congress mas mo right under
the power to coin money TO issue a de
based coin and to make 1t an unlimited
tender where no provision is made fol
it's redemption in coin of full
value" Mr.. Baker Is an advocate of sill
yer ana in 1896 was chairman OF the Demo
cratic state central committee of Michi
gan. but he believes that the new STANDARD
of value, which wouIu result from the res
toration of bimetainsm, should be adopted
for future contracts only, and that al
existing public and private debts con
tracted since 1873 should be paid in gold
unless the contract specifically provides
for the payment OF some other kind o
money.
The President to-day sent the following
nominations TO the Senate: Lewis ]. Win
ston. of Mississippi 10 be collector of Gus
toms for the district of Natchez, Miss. In
diana postmasters: j. s. Birch, at Oxford
III. L. Kramer. at Indian Mineral Springs
j. Nj. Pickerel, at Argos. Also, numbe
OF nominations for promotion and appoint