The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-17
URGENT
DEFICIENCY
DISCUSSED.
Mr.. Richardson Attacked Secretary
Gage on Sale of New York
Custom House.
Mr.. PFTTIGREW'S
OF Inquiry and lEr. Lodges substi-
tuts Were Laid on the Table
in the Senate.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s.-The urgent
deficiency appropriation bill was taken
up in the house to-day under an agree
ment which limited the general debate
to to-day. 1t was the general expecta-
tlon that It would open up stormy de-
bate upon the question Of expansion in
view of the large army and navy items
It contains, but the members early be-
came very much engrossed in discus
sion of an item Of $4,000 for rural free
delivery, in which all are personally I'M
terested, and the subject Of expansion
was barely touched upon. The last
hour OF the debate was enlIvened with
an attack by Mr.. Richardson. the NIL
nority leader. upon the secretary of the
treasury for his course in connection
with the sale OF the New York custom
house. He rehearsed the charges that
Secretary Gage had been guilty, tech
nicaliy, OF embezzlement In connection
with the sale of the custom house in de-
posting the proceeds in u national
bank which was a government deposi-
tory instead OF the treasury of the
United states, but said that this charge
would not hold. His purpose, he said
was to show that the City National
Bank had been favored on account OF
the contributions of Its directors to the
Republican campaign fund Of 1895, and
to show that the course OF the secre-
tary in allowing the purchase price to
remain in the bank, while at the same
time paying rent for the property and
Keeping 1t exempt from taxation, was
not dealing fairly with the trust funds
OF the government.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois, championed
the course Of the secretary. declaring
that his reply to the house resolution
answered every charge brought against
him and displayed business ability that
must meet the approval Of all fair
minded people. He insisted, that the
title to the custom house passed to the
bank when It purchased and took pos
session Of the property. and that 1t had
been exempt from taxation since 1t had
been purchased. The debate caused
very little excitement, and there was no
attempt to renew the assault upon the
secretary after Mr. Hopkins closed.
The urgent deficiency bill will be taken
up for consideration under the fve min
ute rule tomorrow. =
The senate is still in the throes Of dis
cusslon of the Philippine question and
apparently there is no near approach
to a delIverance upon the subject. Mr.
Vest (Mo.), to-day voiced the opinion
Of many senators when he said that
such discussion as was now in progress
was of no consequence, as the country
was confronted by state of facts that
could not be changed by talk.
Mr.. Pettlgrew's resolution of Inquiry
and Mr.. Lodges substitute for 1t, were
laid on the table to-day and Mr.. Hoars
general resolution of inquiry as to the
facts OF the Philippine war was taken
up An effort of Mr.. Pettgrew to
amend 1t so rs to call for the Presi-
dents instructions to the Paris peace
commissioners lead to a prolonged de-
bate. After the senate had considered
the matter behind closed doors, the
amendment was rejected by a vote OF
Il to 20.
The debate for the day was concluded
by Mr.. Vest, who made notable
speech in opposition to the assumption
in some quarters that every man who
does not agree with the policy of the
administration is traitor to his coun-
try. Mr.. Vest threw into his utter
ances all the nervous force and energy
and the accomplished oratorIcal ability
for which he is famed. and commanded
the attention of the senate through
out.
Mr.. McLaurin, Dem., S. c.), address
ed the senate on the financial question
making an argument in favor of his
proposition to confer authority upon
state banks to issue circulating notes
The detailed vote by which the Petti-
grew amendment to the Hoar resolu-
tiou requesting the President to furnish
the senate with copies of the instruc-
tious to the Paris treaty committee, all
papers pertaining thereto, was laid on
the table, is as follows:
Yeas-Aldrlch, Allison. Baker, Bur-
rows. Carter, Chandler, cuilom. Davis
pepew. Fairbanks, Foster Frye, Gall
niger Hale. Hansbrough, Hawley'
Kean. Kyle, Lindsay, Lodge, Mcbride
MoIaurin, Mcmillan, Nelson, Perkins,
Pettus, Platt, Comm; Platt, IN. ";
Pritchard, Proctor, Quarles, Ross
Scott sewell. shoup. Simon, spooner'
stewart, Thurston, wetmore, wolcott-
Nays-Raeou, Berry, Butler, cafrery'
chiffon. Clay, CocGre't llbertson,
Heltteld, Hoar, Jones, Ark); Martin
Money, PettIErew, Tullaferro, Teller
Tlllman, Turlcy, Vest, wellington-2o'
A Patriotic Act.