The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-03-15
CONGRESSIONAL.

InS nOus5 passbu tnb COuloiohOo 10
port on the currency bill by vote OF
1876 to 1870.
Congressman Otey has rec mmended
w. W. Ballard. Of Lynchburg, for ap'
pointment as commissioned officer In
the native battalion Of troops being or
ganized in Porto Rico.
Secretary Gage discussed the provis-
ions OF the new currency law, and
Comptroller Dawes declared that appli-
cations for bank charters would be sub
iected to most careful inspection.
Gen. Wheeler seems 30 think that the
filing Of hrs resignation from the army
several days before Congress opened
should disarm any opposition 10 his &C.
cupying that seat in the House.
In the House MIR. Rixey introduced
q bill 10 pay Miss Attic Lewis, OF Wash
ington, formerly OF King George coun-
ty. 81, 1872 for supplies taken by the U.
S. army during the war between the
States.
Representative Lamb introduced a
bill for the relief of ID. b. Cox, Of Ash
land, providing for the payment OF $500
for property destroyed by the Federal
army after the surrender at Appomat-
tox
Senator Foraker met with such Wig
orous opposition to his Puerto Rican
bill in the Senate that he threatened
TO drop the measure and substitute one
therefor giving the island territorial
government. free trade and all.
Senator Turner. Of Washington, made
a vigorous attack upon the provisions
Of the Puerto Rican bill Republican
Senators met in caucus and for two and
one. half hours discussed the Puerto
Rican bill, but adjourned without
reaching a compromise.
Congressman Hay has introduced o
bill for the relief Of Isaac Hollingsworth
(deceased) of Frederick county, Va. to
pay his heirs %, 23l for supplies fur
nished the Federal troops during the
civil war. Also. a bill TO pay Opequon
Presbyterian Church the sum OF $500
for the use Of and damage to Its prop
erty by Federal troops during the war.
A delegation Of State adjutant-gen-
erals, representing the Interstate Ma
tional Guard Association, met the
House committee On militia and asked
for an increased appropriation for the
citizen soldiers Of the country. Two
million dollars is the figure named as
being the least possible sum the ma
tional guard can respectable get along
on during the next year. The appro-
priation for the purpose contemplated
by the committee is 800 600.
DR. r A. Wise has been awarded the
seat in the contest with Hon. W. A.
Young, Of the Second district. Preyi'
Gus to taking the vote, Hon. John 5.
Wise, of New York. who was formerly
member Of the House from Virginia,
and who is a brother Of Dr. Wise and
his attorney in the case, was excluded
from the hall by Speaker Henderson on
the protest of the Democrats that he
was abusing the privileges OF the floor
to which he was entitled by the rules,
by interfering with the debate upon the
case. The votes were exceedingly close
and were attended with considerable
excitement. While none Of the Repub-
licans voted with the Democrats enough
were absent and impaired to reduce the
Republican majority upon the final vote
from sixteen. the normal majority, to
seven.
1t is charged that had it not been for
the absence Of four or five democratic
members of the House when the vote
was taken in the Wise. Dung contested
election case, the democratic contested
would have retained his seat. Repre-
sentative Hay who closed the argument
for Mr.. Young said he hoped the Re-
publicans would avail themselves OF the
favorable opportunity then afforded
them to give practical evidence that
bygones are really bygones and that
the country is again one.