Congressional News

Senate.- 41st dav.- The flnanclal question was the cause of as stirring scènes as have been witnessed in the chamber for many days. Mr. Vest gave a personal tur to the debate by declaring that the President had declared war on silver and was seeking to make Congress accessory to the weiding of the simple gold standard on the people. The Senator asserted with dramatic emphasis ttiat he had thus fr held hls peace. but that there must now be a separating of the wavs between hlm and the President. Hedid not believe the people favored a retirement of iMO.O.000 of greenbacks and treasury notes and the substitution of no eurrency at all. He du! not bellere they favored gold obligatlons running 50 years with interest aggregat.ng $?5,000.tXIU at the end of that time. lt was a selfishsuggestion that posterityshould be left to pay this bud debt. Mr. Sherman. of Ohio. spoke for the first time slnce the new phases of the financial situation were presented. He said that he did not believe the country could nnd relief in the free colnage of silver. And yet the Senate was being brought face to face with the alternative of taking free silver or nothing. If there was to be a choice between the two coin standard, tUen the Senator believcd in taking the one which was recognlzed the world over as the best. But he did not believe suoh a course was iiuperative. He still believed that both metáis could be uscd. ; "Hut 1 am bound to sny," said Mr. Shermun, "that the finauce committee isntterly helpless. We are equally divided. We are nót able to report uniess concesyions are made to silver." The Japanese treaty was ratlfled in executive session. House. - A bilí was taken under consideratlon to fund the debt due thegovernment from the Union Paciüc and Kansas Pacitic railroads with 3 per cent 50-vcar bonds. Senate.- 42nd day.- A crttical stage ol the financial discussion was unexpeeteily preelpitated at a late hour. Intermittent reference had been made to the subject throughout thé day. but it was without detinite form or purpose, and the Senate linally lapsod into a discussion of the District of Columbia appropriation biil. But the tinancial question arose incidentally and Mr. Gorman iaunched a speech which proved to be one of the one of the most effective he has delivered at the present session of congress. He poinled out the gravity of the treasury situation, intimating that the facts were being held back, and that an investigation would show startling deücieneies. He defended the Senate against charges of impotency and declared that ie had perfect faith that this great body would do its full duty before it adjourned. He said a linancial remedy would. if necessary, be added as a rider to an appropriation bill. Spurred on by the energy Mr. Gorman had suddenly injected into the question, the Senate at once proceeded to consider and pass three important resolutions calling on Secretary Carlisle for information concerning every detail bearing on revenues. reserves, deticiencies. etc. A warm party debate occurred during the day on the question of party extravagance. Mr. Chandler, Mr. Platt and other Kepubllcan Senators asserted that the total appropriationsfor this Congress would reach il, 001.000.000, a million in excess of the billion appropriated by the Fifty-tirst eongress. House- The House deyoted six hours to the debate on the Pacific railroad funding bill. Senate. - Í3d day- The financial question again carne before the Senate as an incident to the consideration of the pending District of i Columbia appropriation bill, and Mr. Teller made an effective speech to give the suggestive raming that he would see to it that so far as the present session of Congress was concerned there should be no hasty or weak legislation on the Unes now proposed. In view of Mr. Tellers recognized position as an authority among the element favorable to silver. the statement was regarded as hiving an important bearing on the situation. Referring to the proposed new bond issue. Mr. Teller said it would be about as effective as pouring water in a sieve. And these bonds are being put out when the administration was claiming to have ampie revenue for expenses, Mr. Teller added with great force. "The administration of our financial affairs has never before been in absolutely incompetent hands, but if the Senator from Maryland is right they are in such hands now."' Horsic. - A scène of the wildest and most intense excitement occurred at the conclusión of the debate on Mr. Hitt's Hawaiian resolution itrowing out of a personal dirtlculty between Mr. Breokmrldge, of Kentueky. and Mr. Heard, ol Missouri, in which epithe'ts like "lmpertinent puppy.' "ooward," "sooundrel," "Har," were bandied. Üne blow was struck when fviends interposed and the sergeant-atarms arrested the two offenders and brought them to the bar of the House, when Mr. Breckinridge, in the course of an explanation, practically challentred Mr. Heard and demanded personal Batlsfactlon. Later apologies were made and peaoe once more reigned. The Houi e gave anhourto the debate on the Pacific railroad funding bill. A resolution was adopted calling on the President for all corresponrtence and information regardlng the alleged aid furnished the rebeN in Hawaii by representatives of the British government and ihe remainder of the day was consumed by the District of Columbia committee. Sknate.- 44th day- Senator Carlisle submitted the followlng: "In reply to the Senate resolution of January 28, 1K95, that the secretary of the treasury be directed to inform the Senate what is the estimated detlciency in the revenues of the government to pay current expenses between the 31st day of December 189), and the 31st day of December, 1895, and if the 1W.337, 579.98 cash balance in the treasury on the 8]st day of December, 1894, will be sufflcient to meet such deficiency. I have the honor to state that from estlmates made upon the basis of laws now in force, it is believed that for the 12 months ending December Hl, 1895, the revenues of the government from all sources will exceed ordinary expenditures by 22,663,02a Kespectfully, John G. Cahlisle, Secretary." The reading of the letter was closely followed by the Senators. Mr. Gorman smiled signlttcantly at the secretary's direct snd positive estímate of the ampleness of revenue. Mr. Vilas. from the judiciary committee. favorably reported the bill retiring Mr. Justice Howell Jackson from the United States supreme court bench. The House bill to establish a national military park at Gettysburg Pa., waspassed. The House bill was'passed to regúlate commerce on the great lakes and eonnecting waters as to iights. signáis, etc.. to extend the international code already established. The Senate then resumed consideration of the District of Columbia appropriation bill. HouaE. - An attempt was made to pass an omnibus bill for payment of bilis for supplies contlscated from loval people in the south during the war, amounting to i?l8.i!o:t. lt exolted muota opposltlon, especlally from Fennsylvanla members interested in Pennsvlvania war claims, amounting to Sl.Oim.OO i. and not included, and the measure was defeated í)" lo 148. A rule was then adopted for the consideration of the eurrency bill for two days. The remainder of the day was devoted to ihe ayricultural appropriation bill which was pe without amendment. The conferem e n in the fortilications and army appropriatious bill were adopted.