The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-30

IIousc sIdetrncLs Weather bureau
BilI-Democrats Score Gage.

BiII-Democrats Score Gage.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29--The bill for the
reorganization and Improvement Of the
Weather Bureau. which includes a provis-
ion for pensioning disabled and aged en-
ployes of the service. received a black eye
in the House to-day. The bill was bitterly
fought By the opponents of civil pension
rolls on account of the life tenure provis-
ions 1t contained and it was sidetracked
on a test vote of 81 to 70. Although the
speaker ruled that it remained unfinished
business when the House was again in
committee of whole. the opponents OF the
measure believe the action to-day kills it.
The early portion of the day devoted
TO lively scrimmage over the Sulzer res
oiution to investigate Secretary Gage
which the committee on rules recon-
mended should be sent TO the ways and
means committee. as the latter committee
has the response of the secretary in its
possession. There was no opposition to
the proposed action, but Mr.. Richardson, of
Tennessee, and Mr.. Sulzer, of New York,
used IL a text for renewing their attacks
upon the secretary. Mr.. Gage was de-
Tended by Mr.. Hopkins. of Illinois. Mr.
Hill, of Connecticut, and Mr.. DalzelI. of
Pennsylvania.
A bill to require pilots and officers of
steam vessels to make oath to their APP
plications for licenses was passed. A bill
was also passed to appropriate $4,000 for
military hospital at Fort Leavenworth,
Kan.
During the debate on the SuIzer resolu-
ton Mr.. Richardson. leader OF the minor
lily. said he was not opposed TO the ref
erence of the resolution to the ways and
means committee, but he was decidedly of
opinion that an investigation should be
made He renewed his assertion made in
previous debate that the reason why the
National City Bank of New York had not
completed its title to the custom house
property purchased from the government
was that IL had been the intention of the
secretary of the treasury to give the bank
relief from its tax obligation to the State
and city OF New York by retaining the
title in the government. The government
had agreed TO pay rent for the property,
yet the bank was not TO pay taxes upon
II. IF that was the secretary's motive"
said Mr.. Richardson, emphatically 81 am
here to condemn ii and to insist that il
Ill becomes the secretary of the treasury
TO go into partnership with private cor
pOratiOn.
Mr.. Sulzer. the author of the resolution.
said the people of the country were deeply
interested in ascertaining the truth. He
characterized the counduct of the secretary
or the treasury as Infamous and his con-
nectlon with the Rockefeller bank, which
had been urged, he said. to manipulate the
stock marke. against adverse interests, as
scandalous. I'VE demand this investiga-
ton, said he, Ito ascertain who the stock
holders and directors of this bank are that
they are entitled to special privileges from
this administration" Ever since the pres
ent secretary had been in office, Mr.. Sui
Ger said he had been aiding the National
City Bank at the expense of other national
banks He declared that the people of the
country recognized that the secretary of
the treasury was unfit and incompetent to
hold the pursestrings. The United States
treasury was made the instrument Of the
Standard Oil trust. Aye, more he said;
they believed the secretary should be i'm
peached.
Mr.. Hopkins, in reply, said that all this
discussion was premature and out of place.
i simply rise" said he,s"to protest against
the unfounded, unwarranted and untrue
charges made by the gentleman from Ten
nessee (Richardson.) What right has he to
impute false and fraudulent motives to
the secretary of the treasury? Is there
any evidence upon which to base them?
None whatever. When the secretary of the
treasury was called on for the facts he
presented full response"
why did the $50.0oO remain unpaid?" in
terrupted Mr.. Richardson
iii come to that" replied Mr.. Hopkins.
Proceeding, he said Mr.. Richardson had
charged that the secretary had entered
into fraudulent contract. IT affirm" said
ne. that there is no support whatever
Tor the charge. The custom house prop
erty was sold to the National City Bank
1T took possession and made a lease. I
claim that the city and State Of New York
can proceed to the collection of taxes lust
as If the paper title had passed. The sec
rotary Of the treasury sold the property
to the highest bidder. Was there any
money with the bank? That bank Is a
government depository, selected by Dem
ocratic administration because of its finan-
cial standing, and deposit in that bank
was the same If il had been in the
subtreasury itself. ask. then, in the name
of decency and justice, where is the wrong
done by the gentleman who presides with
such dignity and ability over the Treas
Mr.. Hill declared that the resolution for
an investigation was pure buncombe. in
tended for political purposes, just as a
similar resolution directed against the
Democratic secretary of the treasury in
the last administration was.
II asked the gentleman from Illinois,"
(Hopkins), again interposed Mr.. Richard
son, why $4,000 had been held back He
did not answer it. / propose the same
interrOgatOry to YOU.
Mr.. Hill replied that the law under which
the property was sold compelled the pay
ment of only $4,000 cash. the remainder
from time to time. The secretary was COM
PEELED TO receive any cash payment In ex-
cess of $4,000 He could not help himself.
The gentleman from Tennessee Orchard
SOM made the specific charge that 1T was
done for the purpose of defrauding the
city of New York of taxes: 1T i'll becomes
him." said Mr.. Hill, Indignantly, Ito charge
the secretary of the treasury with fraudu-
| lent intent Furthermore, If he had gone
deeper into the investigation he would have
ascertained that the city could not lose the
taxes upon the property" He proceeded
to explain the tax laws of New York rela-
| tive to national banks. Therefore" said
he. in conclusion, 1.-The disreputabe charge
| that the secretary of the treasury did
anything with fraudulent intent falls to the
ground" Applause on Republican side.l
Mr.. Richardson replied in two-minute
speech. Neither Mr.. Hopkins nor Mr.. Hill,
he said. had made any answer TO his ques-
ton as to why the secretary Of the treas
ury had not taken a paper credit for 49,
| 265, 900 instead of $3215.0O0. He also ques-
toned the right of the National City Bank,
with capital of 100000, to buy real es-
| tate TO the amount of its capital.
In closing the debate Mr.. Dalzell said
| the whole question of referring the SUBJ
| ject to the ways and means committee
had been used to renew charges that had
been answered over and over again by
none better than by prominent Democrats
| in the House and country.
"Who are they?" cried several Demo-
Gratis.
| Mr. Dalzell paid no heed to the cries.
| So far as the right OF the bank TO pur-
chase the property was concerned, Mr.. Dali
| zell said. it's purchase had been authorized
by the act that authorized the sale.
The resolution was then adopted without
a division.