The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-17

Washington. January 4-The re-
cent bond issue by the treasury de-
partnent was again the subject for
discussion in the senate today, being
brought forward by a resolution Of
fered by Senator Culberson calling on
the secretary for additional infornla-
tlon concerning the reasons that in
duced him to award bonds to national
banks instead Of to individuals who,
he declared, offered higher price
Mr.. Aldrich insisted that the reso-
luton should not be adopted until
after Secretary Cortelyou's reply to u
resolution formerly adopted by the
senate was received, but promised TO
aid in securing additional information
if that reply was insufficient. MI
CulbersOn's resolution went over un-
der the rules.
During the session Senator T:l!noer
offered a resolution embodying a new
series of inquiries concerning the
financial situation.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Cul-
berson today directed the Secretary
to inform the senate of the amount
of circulating notes issued by each
national bank which was awarded the
Panama bonds under the treasury
circular Of November IS, 1907, which
notes were issued in consequence of
the award or these bones.
Mr.. Culberson said that the act Of
congress under which Shese bonds
were awarded provides 'distinctly and
unequivocally'' that the bonds may be
disposed of by the secretary of the
treasury at not less than their par
value under such regulations as ne
may prescrfba .'giving,' contisued
Mr.. Culberson "to all citizens of the
United States an equal opportunity
to subscribe therefor"
Not only that" he added, the
circular of the treasury department,
dated November IS, 1907, contains
this statement: In considering bids,
the bidders offering the highest prices
will receive the first allotments.
81 DESIRE" said Mr.. Culberson, ito
submit to the senate one or two facts
which indicate that the secretary Of
the treasury has violated the law i'll
issuing the bonds he has awarded.
He wanted this resolution adopted
at once, in order that the secretary
might reply to it when he sends IL
his reply to the resolution offered by
Senator Aldrich. He read a letter from
J. T. Coston. of Osceola. Ark, who
said he had bid for s2,500,000 of these
bonds and added that several MIL
lion of dollars worth of these bonds
had been disposed Of below the
amount he had bid. His bid had
been lU1.4 l.UUU,UVO vi Tic DOAlNS
and 1885 for $1,500,O0. He had ask
ed the secretary for an explanation
and had received the following In
rerlv to YOUR letter of the 18th inst,
YOU are Informed that the department
did not accept any individual bidS
where the amount exceeded $1O,ooo.
Mr.. Culberson sad he had a letter
from an attorney in TINS cl6y say saSlnS
he had bid sIO4 20 for E105,OOO of
the Panama ponds. Bonds had been
bid for by individuals, he said, ag-
prppating s27,9O0.000 and not one OF
these bids was below S1O2s and yet
according to newspapers, bCndS were
awarded to the national banks agere-
eating S7.262 500, the bids for when
were below those of 1ndlvoualS'
Mr. Aldrch asked that the resolution
he not pressed until the secretary
reply is received.
He insisted upon his objection ana
the resolution went over.
THE HOUSE.
rhe amount of the fine and the
length of the term of Imprisonment
to be meted out to officers and dlrec-
tors of corporations for violating the
law with respect to money contrlbu-
tions for political purposes furnish
ed material for a lengthy debate IN
the house today connection with
the consideration of the penal code
bill All amendments which increase
the penalty or enlarge the scope OF
the Jaw, however, were voted down.
These amendments, without exception
eDanated from the iemocraSc SIDE,
but the one that brought forth the
most discussion was by MI. Cochran
of New York, who wanted the nne
fixed at $4,000 instead of at not
more than $1,000, and the 1mprlson-
ment at ten years instead o. not more
than one year.
York. the republican floor leader,
charged that the democrats and not
the republicans were delaying the pas
sage of the bill emitting political pun
combe rs colleague, Mr.. Fitzgerald
refuted the statement and sald tna'
the democrats were only seeking 10
improve en- the bill.
There was a sharp debate over the
section prohibiting the enticing or ar
tificers ard workmen from govern
meut arsenals or armor1es by prlValS
EMPLOYERS and all attempts 10 ameuu
the provision so as to make 1t apph-
cable in time Of var or pubhc enl7F-
gency were voted down
Mr.. Hardin, Of Texas, offered an
amendment to section S5 making II
unlawful for any corporation TO MAKE
any money contribution i'll connection
with any election at which state leg
5s1ators are to he voted for who upon!
election shall have the right to elect
a United States Senator, hut 1t was
voted down. .,,+
Mr.. Kinban, Of Kentucky. thought
the section should include oesiie9
money contributions any other thlh5
of valne," and offered an amendment :
On division the amendment was car
ried sc TO 54 hut the republicans
rallied their forces aud defeated H.
II to 81.
A drastic amendment, covering vio-
latiors o< the law prohibiting national