Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 27, 1885, Page 1

\ \ i | | ) FOURTEENTH YEAR. THE OMAHA DALY BEE OMAHA, EB.. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 27, 1885. NO. 164, LEGISLATIVE WORK. The Senate Deers'a Good Day's Work Passing Seventeen Bils, The Houses Also Passes A Num-= ber of Important Bills, Among Them the Uelebrated Rail- road Commission Bill, Omaha Not Likely to Get A New Charter, Senator Love's Anti-Adultery Bill Turned Into Ridicule. The Subject of Convict Labor Dis- cussed— Stout Wants to Build Two New Penitentiaries, THE SENATE, Special Correspondence of The Bee, LiNcowy, February 26—The senate frittered away much of its precious timo this morning in committee of the whole over House Roll 46, # bill giving the Hebrew socicty of Lincoln wo lots, owned by the state, for church pur- poses. "The bill was strongly supported by Senator Bunn, who displayed long petition from 1,000 German citizens, asking for the lots, He argued that the state had granted lots to every other church, and should make no in- vidious distinction, Objection was made by Senators Sowers and Dolan, who thought the bill unconstitutional, and the former did not think the state wanted to go into partnerahip with any church. Senator Paul introdnced an amendment to sell tho lota for 850, He knew of no city that needed churches worse than Lincoln, and wonld like to see one good city, and Lincoln necded praying people. Senator Motz said there could not be too many churches Senator Mo! 21 instoad of S5 After much wrangling as to legality and constitutionality some one moved that the committeo rise, report progress and ask learc to sit again, This was done and another ses- sion was held immediately, Church Howe's gambiing bill was brought up, and by the efforts made by Senator Me- Shano to amend it or gob. ¥id of it entirely thero are suspicions that he was the Omaha man who plaged that noted game of poker in which Howe was 80 bad'y flseced the night before tuis bill was intr.duced. The bill was finally recommended for passage. Somao half dozen other bills were considered and hurriedly_recommendod for passage, None of them elicited any discussion nor are of particular interest. \ne moved to make tho price Afternoon Session. Special telegram to Tig Bre, LincoL, February 20.—As in the morning session the senate again wrangled much of the afternoon over donating a lot for the Lutheran church, The bill wasso amended as to sell the lots for $500, and was recommended for passage, Altogether the semate’s afternoon work was good, seventean bills being consid- ered and disposed of. Senate ¥ile 216, Senator Smith, of Till- more, & bill to provide for the election of United States senator was indefinitely post- ponad, being but a repetition of a statute now existing. "The grave senators grew very hilarions over Sonator Love's bill for the punishment of adultery. The bill was commeadable, but it and the seventh commandment were treated as a hugs joke, and tne senate facetiously re- ferred the bill to the committee on federal re- lations. Daring the discussion of the bill the lady spectators left in diegust. Y Another attempt to kil Howe's gambling bill was not a success. At a late hour the railroad committee bill was callod up for third reading and passed.only Hastings, l.ove, McShane, Mills and Sher vin voting no. 3rown, Day, Hastiogs, McShane, Meikl and Mills explained their votes, and record, Thus dues the great railroadZana conda swallow even state seuntes. THE HOUSF, Special Correspondence to Tix Bik, LixcowN, February 26,—The business of the house this morning was of a most uninter esting nature, More than an hour was wasted discusking the advisability of making Senate File 14 a special order for this evemng. This, o railway vill, was sent from the senate, and Mr. Nettleton opposed it because, i his opinion, it is unconstitutional, He thereforo wanted it brought before the committee of the whole to make the bill passable and straight, Members desirous of making a railroad rec- ord opposed this method of procedare snd wished the bill engrossed for third roading, the seekers aftor railroad record bbing evi dum.l{ of apinion that anything called a rail- road bill, good or bad, will do to pacify their constituents, The bill was urJrr--«! to be en- grossed, On the third reading of bills the following passed the house: House Roll 25-Compelling railroads to make an annual statement of their accounts to the state auditor, House Roll 79 ~Making it unlawful to trap wertain wild animals at preseribed times, House Roll 194—A bill rogulating the pay of_the militia, House 1ol oaunty, “Tho appropriation bill, House Roll 401, was read a thivd time, and Mr. Stout allowed his 80,600 for a new boiler, After Ilouse Roll 236, a bill to prevent the diging of altches within fifteen feet of the public highway, had been passed, the house adjouriied uotil this afternoon A poesivility exists that Gmaha will yet vet no new ity chur er. There isa row in the Douglas deleg stion camp. This rumpus originated by s cArdle on Wodnosday might when he offered biis feeble protest agail the bill on its passage through the house, At that time members not of Douglas thought it a good joke and floc ked around the end of the house where the Om.\ba people sit to watch the fun, But MeArd.'e stood no chance, the 73—A bill to organize Blaine scene soon ended and the bill paseed a third McShane now appears on the scene and discovers that there are sections in the bill relating to grading and paving which want amending and unless amended he will try to do so on the passage through the senate. A meeting of Douglas delegation was called last night at 8 o'clock, and was attended by Messrs, Woolworth, Rosewater, Barker, Ken- nedy, Ogden, O'Keefe and others, as woll as the members of the delegation. Mr, Brumer was appointed chairman and the wrangle be- gan at 8 o'clock, Senator McShane versus all the others, Mr, McArdle was absent, At midnight Mr, Whetmore warned the d tion not to trifle with the bill, and asserted that others in_the house would only be too glad to destroy it. He thought this was ap- sarent when Mr, McArdle opposed tho bill on Wednesday, and he strongly urged members to become unanimous and l{!fl' the members of the legislature that the Douglas delegation waa solid and desired the bill to pass. The sensible remarks of Mr. Whitmore were of no avail, Nobody would concede a point, Senator McShane showed the advisa- ility of altering and amernding the bill, and assured the delegation that if 1t passed as it stood it weunld ruin half the small landowners in Omaha, Ha could not snpport the bill un- less it wae amended. At one o'clock the per- sonal abuse began and continued for an hour, Mr. Barker, of the Omaha street car com- any, now took the floor and_condemned the Bl but onaningly refrained from aaying his opposition was becanse of the powers it seeks to bestow on the municipal council over the street railroads, Outsiders now began to dis- eemble, and at three others followed. Their example having satisfied themselves that no change had _ been or would bo made, At 4 o'clock, like the fight of the Kilkenney cats, there was nothing left but the tails, the tails in this case being Me- Shane, Mr. Brunner and Mr, Creighton. At the hour of flve Mr, Brunner, having assured the senator that he did not care a damp about him and the senator having asserted that “them were his sentiments’ towards Mr. Bruoner, the meeting adjourned. Brunner had ‘done nothing except exchange of courtesie: Today the Douglas men have framed the f lowing resolution and so tha matter stands at present, Wiikneas, The people of Omaha have re- quested certain amendments to the charter of said city and by the city attorney of said city duly _ nuthorized, have incorporated said smendiients in bil, the ssmb’ belog’ Honsh Roll 207, and said bill baving passed tho house, and it coming to the knowledge of the Douglas county delegation in the legislature that certain great changes are now attempted to bs mide in said billby Hon, J, A, Me- Shane of the senate, and WhERRAS, At this late day the amend ments suggested will prove fatal to the entiro il Now Therefore. Ba it resolved that we the undersigned members of the legislalure, of Douglas couniy, do not concur in_any amend- ment whatever to said bill offered or made by the senate, and that the secretary of the meet- ing, A, C, Troup, be instructed tonotify eaid Hon, J. A. McShane of the action of said undersigned members. A. C. Troue, 8. E. Riey, S. H. WINSPEAR, ‘WiLLIAM ‘LUTT] T, C. BRUNNER, ‘W. G, WHITMORE, Afternoon Session, Special telegram to the BEE. Lixcovs, February 26.—At the atternoon session Boss Stout’s bill, H. R. 235, t him to construct two new | provide for leasing the convict labor, was dis- cussed at length, Bofore the debate began a resolution was passed, rostricting the members to five minute speeches on all subjects during_the remuinder of tho sersion. An hour was taken up in read- ing the bill, and Riley proceaded to speak, after five minutes, the resolution_ pacsed an hour before, was set aside, and all members speaking in the present dobate were allowed as long as they wished. Riley quoted statistios and read letters from several persons, all showing that the states mentioned had heen ber efitted by leas- ing their convict labor to contractors. As the bill stood, he objected to it, but would sup- port it 1 amended as his labor friends had suggested. He accused Turtle of suppressing the petition from the labor union of Omaha, and to the Douglas_delegation, and after and hour's speech, finished by urging the mem- bors to support the bill, Winspear followed with_bis statistics, and contradicted all Riley had said of the states, Riley had quoted that he never made any contracte, Convicts in New York cost the state twelve and a half conts a day, whilo Stout’s cony cost the state forty-five, He opposed the bill and _objected to having Ne- braska made a convict ettlcment. arlan followed and in an animated spoech condemned the bill and characterized it as a gigantic piece of jobdery. He wondered at any man having the astounding cheek to pre- sent a bill of this kind to the house. Holmes supported the bill, saying that Stout would build the two reformatories at his own expense, He urged the leasing of the convicts, saying that formerly under the state mavagement each convict cost a dollar and a half « day, against forty-five conts ¢ present. Stevenson raid that if Stout wantedto build the prisons at his own expense he needed noact to enable him to doso. 1lo wasat liberty to go and build whenever be felt inclined. Ho spoke of the bill as o gigantic tyranical outrage, Builington and Kaley both supported the bill, as did Russell, who advised more mod- eration in the discussion in the house, With- out proceeding further the committea ros asking leave to sit again, In the houso a long and disorderly cene ocourred. Nettleton first moved the report of the com- mittoo be rejocted and the bill indefinitely postponed. ~_ After considerable wrangling this wna carried—49 to 45, A motion to reconsider this was now pro- posed, followed by a motion to table, which was carried, and the house] adjourned until to-morrow, The following members voted for an in. definite postponement of Stout’s conviet labor contract bill: Aiken, Bassett, Blaine, Booth, Callahan, Casper, Cole, Cornelius, Corr, Crawford, Crook, Emerson, Everett, Gi Gumaer, Hale, Harlan, Heimrich, Hiagins Holt, Howard, Huff, Jendra, Kehoe, Kilmer, Kroney, Lee of Morrick, liebold, Marble, Martin, Miller, Mulvahill, Munn, Nettleton, Neumeyer, Paynter, Robertaon, Root, Sco- ville, Stevenson, Sutherland, Thomas of Col- fa Turner, Tartle, Whitmore, Williams, Winspear and Wobach, Those voting for the bill were: Adawms, Bailey, Buckley, Blace, Bradt, Brunner, But- ficgton, Burnham, Congez, Cope, Cox, Demp- ster, Glenn, Hazen, Honry, Holdsworth T wim, Jokwston, Kaloy, Le ot Furnas, Livec feldt, Luoe, McArdle, Neligh, Newcomer, Nichol, Olmstead, Osgood, ¥ eterson. Riley, Robioson, Russell, Smith, Staver, Taggart, Taylor, Thomas_of Oass, Thompson, Troup, Varner, Wait¢, Wright and the speake The following did not vote: Barney, Eber. wan, Hocknell, King, Miles, Rice, Sterling and White, THE CITY [CHARTER, THR RESULT OF THE MERTING OF THE DOUGLAS DELEGATION IN LINCOLN, Special Telegram to The Boo, Liscows, Neb,, Febroary 26,—~The legisla- tive delegation of Douglas county met last night to discuss charter amendments pro posed by McShane, who suddenly claims to have discovered numerous material errors, He had been in close consultation with represen. tatives of the street railroad, as and other companies and the tax shirking elements of Joseph Barker strips, The meeting was attended by James Creighton and Andrew Rosewater and a very long and bitter discus- sion ensued. MeShane sought every subterfuge to cover up the attempt to defeat the charter, The meeting lasted till 8 o'clock this morning, The delegates, including Senator Clark, except MeArdle and McShane, signed the agreement o oppose any amendment at this time, recog- izing tuch an attempt cortain to kill the bill. Kenuedy, in the discussion of the sewer tax question, demanded Rosewater to name any signer of the petition for a sewer on 8t. Mary's avenue, To the surprise of all, Rosewater produced the name of Kennedy himself, as well as Woolwerth, The secret of the opposition to tbe bill is the rogulation of stre ilroads and other corporations, and the provision to equalize sewer taxes, . The 1llinois Senatorial Prospects, THE DEATH OF JUDGE LOGAN RENDERS IT IN- POSSIBLE TO ELECT A SENATOR FOR ON MONTH, Special telegram to the Bex, Cnicaco, February 26,—Ths death of Rep- resentative Logan wonderfully complicates the senatorial situation 1n a joint seseion when a United States senator is to be voted for. There is nothing left now for the republicans to do except to refrain from voting, Dut this has been the eituation right along. Thero must be 103 votes cast in all for the election of a United States senator, for it takes 103 to conatitute a constitutional quorum. The death of Logan blocks the game for about a month, Notice must be given by the county clerk of Whiteside connty to the governor, of the vacancy, and then the governor must order & special election, The county clerk must then order a special election Notice of this special election must then, un- der another statute, be 1lmsted for not less than twenty days, Judge Logan's seat cannot be filled under three weeks, Logan's district is overwhelmingly republican, and has always roturned a republican senator, yet with the United States senatorship depeudent upon this district, the special election will likely prove a most remarkable contest. It will, perhaps, be the most remarkable contest ever recorded, More money will probably be spent, mora talking done, and more wire- It will be the fiercest and strongest ever known for 8o small a territory. It holds only two counties, Whiteside and Carroll. One correspondent teleg mi-hn from Spring- field: The death of Judge Logan helps John A. Logan, for it puts any republican out of the question until this deceased member'’s place is filed, All Senator L gan will need to do now is to keep his party men from voting; he need fear no bolt and no_conspira- cies on the part of Farwell or his other com- petitors, Of course this calamity may help Morrigon, He can now devote himself te Whipping in his_party men, and to getting one republican fo vote, Ho need not fear Logan for thirty days. The Journal's Sprigfield despatch says, however, on the same subject: “'It gives the democrats & majority of two in the house and one in the joint assembly, and deprives Haines of the balance of power. The st ering com- mittees of democrats would not enter into an agreement to adjourn the houses until next week, claiming that the law requires that the two houses shall meet and ballot every day. It was finally agreed between the steering committees of the two parties, that each of them should have a committee present, and that the two houses should hold a nominal session, and take a nominal ballot until next Tuesday, so as to_comply with the letter of the law. Nearly all the members intend going home, and only the members of this committee will remain, Tvery ono agrees that it still takes 103 to make a quorui of a joint session of the two houses, and if the republicans do not vote for thirty days, arepublican successor to Logan will be elects It is not probable that will be done, how One republican can make a quorum for the democrats, whils it will take two democrats now to make a quorum for the republicans. In brief, the democratic chances of electing a United States senator have not increased, but the republican chances have diminished,” i ———— The Toledo Election Kraud, Torkno, February 26,—The third day of the Hurd-Romies contest brought forth some interesting vestimony. Precinct B, ward§, where Romeis held 220 majority, is under consideration. The first witness, LouisJobns, was one of the republic: His testi- mony showed that one of the jucges did not live in the precinct, that both the clerks were republicans and that thero wasa big mix in general, The tally sheets did not correspond with the poll box, there being more tickets than names on the book, The clerks and judges attempted to fix things by distributing around the extra tickets, After this was dono ttere were still more, showing very con clusively that somebody was tampering with the box, There were preeent besides the judges ten or twelve members of each party. At 1 o'clock the judges got mad and signed the sheets regardless of the consequ The testimony of James Kelly, democratic judge, taken before another notary, eubstan. tiated Johns' throughout, —e— The Pauper Wabash Out, Cu10AGo, February 26,—The Wabash offi- cials here state they have no knowledge asyet of any strike among the employes of the rail- way in this city, Notizes, however, have been posted up in the shops and in the yards here, and the em]vlu{zl state they are await- ing the action which may be taken by those in the employ of the road at Springfield, 11, SrRINGFIEED, February 20,—About half the employes of the Wabash shops went out on a strike this morning against a reduction of wages of 5 t010 per cent. The strikers are not all organized. Abomt 400 men are em- L.luyed in the works, Tho strikers claim to uve received telegrams from Chicago, Moberly, Fort Wayne and Decatur informing thom of co.operation in the strike The superintendent s { he has no intimation of the strike at Fort Wayne, e e—— e A Wrestling Match, Special telegram to Trr BEk. CH10AGO, February 26, —Edwin Bibby and Jame: Faulkner wrestled here tonight, catch as-catchcan and Graeco-Roman, Faulkner won the first fall, Bibby next three and the match, CONGRESSIONAL, The Senate Takes Up Tne Silver Coin- age Bill, And The Trade Dollar Engages Their Attention, Relief for The New Orleans Ex- position is Mentioned. The Pacific Railroad Funding Bill is Discussed. The National Theatre a Prey to the Fiery Element, There Will Be No Incresse of Annnal Clerks to the Senate Committeocs, BENATE, WasHINGTON, February 26,—Hale, from the committes on appropriations, reported with amendments the regular annual naval ap- propriation bill, Placed on the calendar. Halo eaid ho would endeavor t§ call up the bill to-morrow. Sewell, from the committee on railroads, re- ported favorably the bill already passed by the house, extending the provisions of the Pa- cific railroad construction act to such roads as may ba constructed through the Niobrara val- y. Calendar. Hoar introduced the Pacific railroad fund- ing bill, containing the provisions of the bill already reported from the judiciary commit- toe, but with amendments suggested, ho said, Dy experienced senators, while that ‘bill was on the calendar. 1t was unlikely the said bill could be considered this seesion,” The subject desererved serions attention avd_might in volve considerable discussion. He thought it useless, therefore, to refer to the judiciary committee the bill now introduced, but he in- troduced it for the information of the public. He boped that before the next session the matter would roceive the careful attention of tho business men of the country so_that con- gress might receive the benefit of their sug- gestions as to the justice or injustice of the measure, He moved the bill be printed and lie on the table. Agreed to, Ingalla said o short executive seesion was desirable, and moved the senate proceed to consideration of executive business, Two democrats opposed the motion, but 1t passed, 31 to The senate then went into execu- tive session, When the doors reopened the sonate resumed consideration of the legisla- tive bill. "All amendments yesterday proposed by the senators to increase the number of annual clerks to tha senate committees were voted down by a vote of 33 nays to 15 yeas, The senate agread to the senate amendment striking out the house section providiog for a new apportionment and electionintheterritory of Wyoming. The bill was read the third time aud passed substantially as reported from the senate committee of appropriations. Tho silver bill was then takea up, Sherman said he was willing to vote for the' bill as it came from the senate committee, he maintained that there was no obligation of any kind to give the trade dollar any preference over the bullion purchased in open market, " This dol- lar is like silver bars and had been ‘issued for bullion purposes and trade only —not for cir- culation. After recitiog the history of the tiade dollar, Sherman showed that the bill taking sway its legal tender quality has been passed without objection being raised, McPherson asked why the government should have taken away the legal tender quul- ity of the trade dollar without providing for 1ts retirement. Sherman replied that to have talked of pro- viding for the retirement of the trade dollar when the law was passed taking away 1t legal tender quslity would have been folly, because that dollar was at home worth _thir- teen cents on the dollar more than United Statesmoney. Perhaps it would have been better if the arrangement had at that time been made, permitting holders of trsde dollars to convert them into greenbacks, but it would hava been simply considered ludicrous and ridicnlous, # :McPherson thought that the fact that the Umted States paver money was worth loss than gold at that time was no reason why the trade dotlar should have been robbed of its valuo as & cf iog medium, What not had congress given to the holders of that coin that the legal tender quality was to be taken away? Sherman eaid that the law was a notice to everybody, Owing to the appreciation of pa- por money in 1677, the trade dollar became of less valuo than ‘paper, and while Sherman sympsthized with those’ who may hold trade dollarg, still he could not see that they had any right to call on_the government to repair their losses, any more than if they had in- sisted on wheat or corn, Although there was no obligation on the part of the government, vet if congress chose to pay 50,000,000 to redeem those coins, Sherman would not ob- ject, It would make good some bad bargains of tho bullion dealers, 1f the bill stood as the house had passed it, Sherman would have opposed it, but as amended by the senate committee he would voto for it. All commercial trausactions in the United States, Sherman continued, wera based, and had been since 1847 on the gold dollar, 25 §-10 grains solid gold, The market value of silyer bullion had been steadily declining_ since tho passage authorizing the coinage of standard silver dollars, 1f this shculd lead to large ex- portation and the hoarding of gold, the stand- ard value wonld in time be based on the mar- ket value of the standard silver dollar, the ef- fect would be the contraction of curre.icy »o sharp as to send a shock to every village in the country, The volume of paper’ money bein insufficient for the demands of business, it would be used for labor, but its purchasing power would gradually decline, until 1t Toachod @ lovel markat value, Teawired by gold, This depreciated currency would then take the place of hoarded gold and the laborer would receive his pay in de- preciated money, while the capitalist would stipulate for gold, Then we should hear the cry for the redemption of the stan- dard dollar in gold, and rightly haar hecause we had provided that it was to be received and paid in all respects like gold coin, It was true that the interests of all classes was to maintain the circulation of both metals, but this must be done on a base nccording, a8 nearly n‘rosulhls. with their relative market values and that alone by the constitution on bi-metalism. Avy demonetizing of either metal would b o wide reaching calamity. | Sherman's idea of the remedy for the threat ened evil would be either, first, by an_inter national agreement to maintain the fres coln ago of silver and fix its ratio, or second, by suspending the coinage of silver until de manded by the wants of business, or third, by the adoption of the American bi-metalic policy of & free coinage of silver and gold according to their market value, The senate committee of finance did not seem prepared Sherman said to adopt 8o broad an_economi- eal policy, and #o he would support the pend- ing bills but his own idea was boldly to pro- claim the purpose of the United States to maintain the bitmetalio money even if we stood alone among the nations on_ earth, We were better able to establish such fiscal policy thah any other nation, but the policy intended was, perhaps, in advance of the sentiment of the country, and Sherman would not press it and would be content to deal with the provision that gave us some safe gua against what he regarded a ereat threatened ovil, the demonetization and hoarding of gold. Sherman approved the idea of endeavoring to secure an international agreement as to the ratio of value between silver and gold,but had not much faith that an agreement could be reached, Beck read from the report of Fx-secretary Folger to controvert the position assumeo by Sherman on the trade 5ollnr. As to the suspension of silver coinage. Beck said we should not in the last hours of congross at- tempt to strike down siiver. Neither should we give any president power in his discretion to strike down the coin ot the country, Beck would as lief give the president power to do- clare war, He was glad to be able to say there was no danger that any president would get such power, Hill maintained the time was an indefinite remove when the gold would be in demand for export, He criticised tho position of Sherman, Morrill and Bayard on the eilver question, alto the attitude assumed by the finance committee, Heinsisted it was i1l ad- vised to attempt to dispose of such an impor- tant moasure in the closing hours of he session, He thought that the late period in the session at which the bill was in- troduced, was calculated to favor a plan that may have been formed in certain quarters to secure a snap judgment in coneress, and sound a false alarm through the country to the enemies gain in certain classes, Cook said the suspension of silver coinay would itself be o contraction of $50,000,000 earin currency. This closed the silyer de- bate for the day and without action the matter went over. Van Wyck offered an amendment to the PACIFIO RATLROAD FUNDING BILL this morning, submitted by Hoar. The amendment providas first, that no dividends shall be declared until the interest upon the bonds shall have been paid. Second, That the consolidation of the Union Pacific with the Kansas & Denver Pacific shall not be legalized, and third, That no stock shall be considered legal for which no money was paid, Ixecutive session adjourn: HOUSE. ‘WasiiNGTon, February 26,—Forney sub- mitted a conference report on the army appro- priation bill. Adopted, An agreement was reported onZall amendments except that rela- tive to the hours during which ceurts martial may hold their sessions, A further conference was ordered. A concurrent resolution was agreed to, ten- dering tho thanks of congress to Col. Casey and his assistants and workmen for the admir- able manner in which he and they performed their respective duties in the completion of the Washington monument. Thomas moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was adopted. In order to oppose the resolutlon, he called attention to the fact that its effect would be to extend the period of Col. Casey’s active ervice ten years. Ho did not wish to detract from the achievements of Col. Casey, but did not want the thank of congress madet too cheap. He did not think it rightthat Oasey’s term should be extended three years for achieving a simple civil enterprise while no honor was given the officers fighting on the frontier, The motion to reconsider was agreed to and the resolution laid on the table. Cobbjmoved to suspend the rules and take from the speaker’s table for reference to the committee on public lands the house bill re- pealing the pre-emption, timber culture and desert land laws with senate amendments thereto, Tn supporting the motion Cobb said no greatar evil had been done to the future of the country than had been done through fraud and perjury under the laws which it was pro- posed to repeal. Converss asserted that more fraud had been committed under the homestead than under the pre-emption laws, and mstanced the case of Tstes Park, Colorado, which had all heen taken up by Lord Dunham under the home- stead law. Payeon controverted thia statement, and stated Estes Park was taken up under the pre-emption law, s Valentino thought he voiced the sentiment of the people of the west 1n protesting against the repeal of these lawe. The denand for repeal came from two sources —railrond cor- porations snd cattle kings. The_former, be- couso they could not raise the price of their lands when the homestead laws were in force, and the latter wanted the timber culture act repealed in order that their herds might roam over the prairies undisturbed by settlers. Perkins, Converse, Magionis and Holman spoke in the same strain, In the senate the legislative appropriation bill was passed and the silver bill taken uo, Uobb's motion was lost—yeas 165, nays 93, not beine the necessary two-thirds in the aftirmative, The postoffice appropriation bill, with the senate amendments, was taken from the table of the committee of the whole. Randall moved to suspend the rules, so that the sundry civil appropriation bill might be considered for four hours, which time shall bs occupied in_debate on the clanses relating to the kuspension of silver coinage and the world’s industrial and cotton exposition, three heurs to ba devoted to debate on the first named item and one hour on the latter, The bill shall be subject to amendment, to strike out or amend clauses, after which the previous question ehall be considered as ordered, Bland demanded a second to the motion, The motion was seconded—105 to 89, The half hou debate under the rules was not asked for, and the house proceeded imme- diately to vote on the motion, Randall's motion to suspend the rules for the consideration of the sundry civil bill wi lost—yeas 118, nays 140, The result was r ceived with applauss. Raudall then moved to suspend the rules 80 a8 to take up the sundry civil bill and con- sider for one hour the clause relating to the New Orleans exposition, This was objected to as ot specially elimin- ating the silver question, and thereupon Ran- all asked unanimous consent to stiike from the bill the silver coinage clause, but Hepburn objected, Then Randall modified his motion ko as to move to suspend .the rules and passthe sun dry civil bill, with the silver clause stricken out, After two hours’ debate on the New Or leans proposition, with the opportunity being offered to amend the same, after (uite u rd [ naval lengthy discussion Randall's motion was agreed to and two hours’ debate under it was begun, Amone those speaking agalnst the exposi- tion appropristion were Hoar and L'otter, The latter eaid that to make such an appro- [ristion would be to ehange the government nto one of patronage. O'Neil (Pa.) said his constituents would not indorse his action if he did not vote to give away this £300,000, Cannon, Keifer and Russell spoke in favor of the appropriation. The debate having ceased, the bill went over until to-morrow and the house ad- journed, WASHINGTON, February 26, committeo of appropriations increased the appropriation bill as follows: Two millions for continuing the work on double- turreted monitors, $500,000 for the armament of the new cruiters and gunboats, $1,150,000 for the construction of steel cruisers and gun boats, $500,000 for the general maintenance of the bureau, yards and docks, Negotiations have been in progress betweon the United States and Spain for an extension until May 18, 1886, of the time within which the Spanish reciprocity treaty will be ratitied by the United States senate and put into effect by congressional legislation. The pres- ent limitation is six months from November 18, 1884, Itis understood that the negotia- tions have been practically concluded, with the effect above indicated, THE PACIFIC RATLROAD FUNDING BILL mtroduced in the senate by Hoar, differa from the bill of the eame subject reported from the renate committee on judiciary, as amended in the house bill, in several importaut particu- lars. These differences are substantially as follows: It fixes the date for the ascertain- ment offthe indebtedness of the compaies on April 1886 instead of 1887, and provides that in computing the indebtedness and deducting therefrom the amounts in the sinking fund, the value of any bonds in such sinking funds shall be computed at their market values, and it provides bonds of redewmption to be delivered to thesecretary of theftrensary by the companies shall mature ‘at the expiration of each six months, beginning with October 1, 1886, ‘The committee’s bill provides that the bonds of redemption shall bear interest at the rate of three per cent per annum for the time each bond has to run (interest oneach to be payable semi-annually), and that each bond shall be for an equal one hundred and_twentieth part of the balance of the debt, and interest com- puted thereon—computed as due_the United States at the time the bond was issued, Hoar’s bill provides that each of the bonds shall be for the same sum, which sum shall be ascertained by adding to the balance tho in- debteduess, computed to the time the bonds are issued, interest at three por cent per an- num from that date to the average date of the maturity of tho bonds, and dividing such ag- gregato amount by 120. It contuins also, in addition to the provisions of the judiciary committee's bill, a clause providing that every disposition of any stocks or bonds, or other securities of other corporations, now owned by the companies, whether by sale, pledgo or otherwise, shall be reporte: to the secretary of the interior within thirty days, and the clause authorizing each com- pany to expend in each year whatever sums necessary to maintain its railroad, rollng stock, equipments and operatiog property of every deecription, in as good condition as the same now are, and in all respects in a proper sondition to do the business of such company. Also a provision authorizing and directing the secretary of the treasury to require the com- panies to pay out any balances of net income left in any year, after the requirements of this act have been complied with, and after the payment of euch sums as sre reauired for the muintenance and improvements of their ra - roads, equipments. and BN dividends not to exceed 6 per cent per annum on their individual capital stock, such sums | 3 not to exceed 10 per centum of such balance as he may think proper. The money so paid to be invested by him in the sinking fund to be held by him as_additional security for the bonds of redemption, NOMINATION. Post chaplain, Rev, B. C Hammond, Ta. RIVERS AND HARBORS, WasniNGToN, February 26,—Reprosenta- tive Willia_submitted a “proposition to the members of the committee on rivers and har- bors, individually, to abandon the river and harbor bill now before the house, and to re port & mensure recommending an appropria tion of §5,000,000 to be expendod undir the direction of the secretary of war in completing or preserving_the unfinishhd works ot im- provement. No conclusion was reached. If the proposition is favorably received, ‘Willis will endesvor to pags the propesed bill under suspension of the rules, Representative King intends to introduce a joint resolution providing an appropriation of 1,000,000 to be expended under the direction of the president 1n the prosecution of such works of improvement on rivers and harkors 48 are NOW in Proguess, Senator Gibeon introduced a bill to-day providing for the appropriation of $2.800,000 tor the improvement of the Mississippi river, to be expended under the directicn of the tary of war, in s ccordunce with the plang, ification, estimatos and recommendation of the Mississippi river and harbor commis- sion, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, was in sossion four hours to-day, consider- ing the participation of this government in the Congo conference. A conclusion was practically reached that the resolution pre- pared by {(epn‘«‘nl-fl.h‘u Thillips would har- monize with tho views of the committee, The resolution provides that no prospect of commercial advantsge warrants a depart- ure from the traditional ‘mlicy of this gov- ernment which forbids all entangling alliancgs with the nations of the old world. That the participation of drlA-;intun from the United Statos in the so-called Congo conference while, as your committeo belioves is carefully guarded in the purpose to confine their pow- ers, to the consideration of the commercial interest exclusively, is unfortunate if it should be anywhere recognized as a departure from the policy which forbids the government of the United States to participate in any. po- litical combination on movements outsi of the American continent THE NATIONAL THEATIE BURNED, WasHINGToN, February 27—1:40 a. m,— The National theatre was discovered to bo on fire at 1:30 o'clock and is now burning fiercely, lighting up all the contral and western por— tion of the city, The fire had gained consid- erable headway before it was discovered, It evidently started in the rear of the stage and was first observed h{ two police officers on their beat in the neighborhood as it burst through the roof just over the center of the stage. They sroused the engineer of the theatre, who was asleep in the second story of the building. So rapidly had the flames spread that they were compelled to put a 16ddar up tobis window, ad he oaly eseapod in his night clothes, — “ Andy Wyman, of Citil Bend, dropped bis thumb’ on & buzz saw the other day. BULLS AND BEARS. The-Bears Were Relentless, and Pot May Wheat Down to 79 3-4c. Absurd Reports Used to Affeot The Whest Market, Oorn Sympathizes With Wheat, and Drops 380, The Cattle Market is Lower Than Last Week, Hogs Were Plenty ani the Market Olosed Weak, Provisions Drop 10c, in Sympathy With the Bear Movement in Wheat. OHICAGO MARKKTS, Special telegram to the By Cricaco, February 26.—1'he bears wera relentless again to-day, they put the price of May wheat down to 80 and then, as if not satisfied with that, sold a fow lots at 703 just for the sake of getting the price below 80, At one time during the forenoon a num- ber of small shorts who wera obstinate yester- day swearing they would not cover a cent above 70 became suddenly uneasy in their ‘minds from some cause or another and buying all at once, put the price up to 80§ which was the higheat point of the day. The close at 1 o'clock was weakat 803, The extreme des cline of the day was partly effected through the most absurd reports, Yesterday every= body interested in m‘ain heard of the alleged action of the French government in placing a duty of 15¢c abushel on American wheat, 8o this moming when it was roported thut ‘the French were solling wheat here, quitc a splurge on the bear side, and & general selling movement among the scalpers ensued. Wheat went down to 80 and about that time it leaked out that the only Frenchman eelling wheat on the Chicago market to-day was a gentleman who put out perhaps 200,000 bushels and that he did eo to accommodate some long-headed shorts who thought 80 would be n good point to realize, Then came the purchases by other shorts, which Lrought about a reaction to 80jc. Elsewhero there was not much to attract the attention of epeo~ ulators, Fluctuations of only e in corn made opportunities for ecalpers there very meager, and pork, too, was comparatively steady at $12 824@12 9. QTaken altogether, the market was only interesting in view of the complications in the wheat pit. On the call there was renewed excitement and activ= ity, wheat closing at 79jc for May and 81jc for June. In fact, there was another boar raid. Whoat was depressed from the opening fc for buyers, showing a total fall for twenty- four hours of 18¢, Corn sympathized fc and. provisions 10c. oATTLE. Tho market was slow, the pens full and trado did not fairly open until » late. hour. The ordinary run_of shipping of last week, and common to medium sells 3 c lower, The best cattle on the market to-day were tho sort that are selling around about $5 50@b 90; good fat steers, such as are ordinarily bought by shippers and dressed beef operators, and such as form the bulk of current receipts aro making $480@4 90 and faur to medium_$4 60@4 75, with common around about 84 25@4 60, Fat cows and heifers are making equally a8 good prices s at any timo, but medinm to common sorts aro more plentiful and generally quoted lower, while cauning was quoted 15@20c lower, Bulls in good demand and steady. Stockers’ and feeders’ in active demand and firm: 1,050 t0 1,25 $1 00@4 75; 1,250 to_1,850 ibe., $400@ 1,300 to 1,600 Ibs., $5 H0@6 00; cows and mixed common, 2 00@ me- dium, 83 00@3 50: good, ¥3 75 4 26; stock- 3 40@4 10; foeders’, 4 70; Tex- 3 Te@4 75, g HOGS, With the frech receipts and the number left last night there wero at least 50,000 on salo. Tho general market opened rather active and about 10c higher than lowest of esterday, but abovt steady with closing of ast night, The sdvance however was not fustained, as toward the clogse the market be- came dull and weak and so closed. The prime cauve of this weakness at the close was the absence of the class of buyers that ship to New England and_want choice heavy sortd, They refused to_follow the advance of the morning. New York shippers aud miscella- neous tuyers of light surts bought freely, Packing and_shipping, to 400 pounds, $4 70@b 00; light, 140 to 210pounds, §4 00@ 0. t— THLEGKRAPH NOTIEZ, A church at Pontiac, Ills,, erected in 1860, was burned last night,” Loss, $25,000; ineur- ance, $5,000, The greenbackors of Michigan have fused, and the probibitionists and republicans have coalesced, and all is quite in |the peninsula, The grand lodge of the Ancient order of United Workmen is in sesion in Peoria, Chicago has been chosen as the place for hold- the next annual meoting, 'he convention of persons intsrested in the clectric light concluded its session at Chicago to-day, after effecting a permanent organiza- tion with the same officers chosen for the con- veution, About seventy-five machinists In tho Wa- bash shops at Tortieth strest avd Stewart avenue, Chicago, atruck this afternoon a short time béfore the ¢lose of working hours, 0, C, Titts and_J, Osman_have boen con- victed in the U. 8. court at Springfield, IlL, for obtaining i bogus pension claim of $1,200, The alleged father of the girl for whom' the pension was obtained was killed in the war three yoars beforo the ¢irl wus born, Dong Tong, a Chinese painter in Chicago liviug with his wif o in respectable quarters of the city in o civilized_sort of way, applied to the county court for the privilege of adopting Phillip Brown, » white child, four months old, now in the custody of the foundling’s hotie, The court refused to grant the privie lege on tho ground that the child was born under one civilization and conld not, owing to 1t infancy, assent or object to its adoption into another civilization, If the court should give consent no earthly power could prevent the child being taken to China to grow up under another civilization, i ea o or aro lna where recognizea as indispensibfe ‘Smoking Tobacco. gyeen teverywhere, Because every- 89 INGGNENsIvie fo Peafer a\oz Why Gondumer, Lna, and store & iew. ) lecf o the ¥ best Jobaceo etal W“" wWits tl it attains patts, and dressed d | beet steers are 20@25¢ lower than at the close