SURPRISE IN CONGRESS

William V. Allen.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, December 10, 1896.

SURPRISE IN CONGRESS.

The Dingley Tariff-Silver Bill Taken Up.

LIVELY SCENE IN THE SENATE.

Motion to Recommit, However, Leaves the Bill Much in the Position It Was in Before—The House Hard at Work.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—The senate by the decisive vote of 35 to 21 adopted a motion to take up the Dingley tariff silver bill. Unexpected and surprising as this action was, it did not have the significance which the vote itself appears to convey.

   Immediately following it Mr. Aldrich of Rhode Island, one of the Republican members of the finance committee, moved to recommit the bill to that committee, and this motion was pending when the morning hour expired and the entire matter lapsed as though no vote had been taken.

   Neither the bill nor the Aldrich motion to recommit enjoys any privilege or precedence as a result of the action. It serves, however, for some lively parliamentary fencing between Mr. Allen, the author of the motion, and Messrs. Chandler, Hale and Aldrich, as well as for an exposition of the uncertain and shifting elements within the senate when a vote is precipitated on an important public question. The debate was at times sharp and personal.

   Mr. Allen is very blunt in his expressions, and he taunted the Republican senators for shrinking in the Dingley bill after conducting a tariff campaign.

   "It has gone out from the powers that be in the Republican party," said Mr. Allen at one point, "that with the incoming administration we are to have an extraordinary session of congress for the purpose of revising the tariff laws."

   Thus Mr. Allen ran along, touching on many points that have hitherto been reserved for caucus consideration.

   Mr. Chandler reminded Mr. Allen that not only had tariff won, but free silver by the United States alone had lost in the recent election, and he urged Mr. Allen to aid in a genuine effort to execute the will of the people. Mr. Hale took occasion to state with frankness that the Republican senators expected an actual majority in the next senate, which would make legislation more easy of accomplishment than it is now.

   Mr. Aldrich's first move was to have the bill referred back to the finance committee with instructions to strike off the silver amendment, but later he accepted the suggestion of Mr. Harris to omit the instructions. It was in this form that the question of recommital was pending when 2 o'clock arrived and cut off the debate.

   The vote on taking up the bill is not regarded as furnishing a record or a standard on which future calculations can be based as party lines were broken. It was not felt to be a direct issue on the tariff or the Dingley bill, but as an adroit move calculated to call forth explanations from the tariff forces.

   Early in the day three sets of vigorous resolutions for Cuban independence furnished an interesting feature. They came from Messrs. Cameron of Pennsylvania, Mills of Texas and Call of Florida, and while differing in terms all breathe the game spirit of recognition by the United States of Cuban independence.

In the House.

   The house held a three hour session and passed a dozen bills of minor importance. Among them were the following:

   To extend for five years the time in which the university of Utah shall occupy lands granted to it; to authorize the use of the abandoned Fort Bidwell military reservation in California as a training school for Indians; to confirm certain cash entries for public lands in Arkansas made under the graduation act of 1854; to provide for the location and purchase of public lands for reservoir sites in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming; to protect settlement rights where two or more persons settle on the same land before survey; to adjust the accounts of John Y. Williams, formerly agent of the Fort Hall Indian reservation; to authorize Flagstaff, Ariz., to issue bonds for the construction of a water system; to authorize any member of the legislature of New Mexico to swear in the presiding officer; to grant to the widow of the late Brigadier General Joseph B. Carr a pension of $75 a month and to increase the pension of the widow of General John Hough to $50 per month.

   The house also agreed to the senate amendment approving certain acts of the legislature of New Mexico for the issue of bonds, so as to validate $172,500 of bonds of the Santa Fe company. The Shafroth bill for the protection of forest reservations from fire was defeated. A resolution for the distribution of the president's message among the various committees entitled to jurisdiction of the several topics was adopted.

CONTRACTS AWARDED.

Canal Repairs in Many Parts of the State Provided For.

   ALBANY, Dec. 10.—The following contracts have been awarded by Superintendent of Public Works Aldridge:

   For a cast iron pipe culvert across the Oswego canal at Bloody brook and improving the channel of Bloody brook, etc., E. V. Baker, Lockport, $14,070.85.

   For rebuilding culverts No. 36 and 38 in the town of Brighton, Monroe county, S. P. Smith, Rochester, $4,919.70.

   For rebuilding culvert No. 50, Erie canal, Daniel Baldwin, Port Byron, N. Y., $2,265.50.

   For steel trunk for aqueduct on the Erie canal at Saquoit creek, near Yorkville, Hilton Bridge Construction company, Albany, $7,345.

   Governing the rebuilding of the berme abutment of the Jay street bridge over the Erie canal at Rochester, John Calnan, Rochester, $2,637.25.

   Middle division contract No. 17, for rebuilding culvert under Erie canal at Canaseraga creek, Owego Bridge company, Owego, $8,893.

Trained Nurses Off For Cuba.

   BUFFALO, Dec. 10.—Leon M. Lynch of Buffalo and George Heath of Watertown, N. Y., professional nurses, have left this city for Harrisburg, Pa., where they will be joined by Joseph Cox of Youngstown, O., also a professional nurse. The party will then proceed to Havana for the purpose of establishing a hospital corps for the relief of the sick and the wounded. Speaking of the expedition before leaving Mr. Lynch said: "Our sympathies naturally lie with the insurgent forces, and we intend consulting with the Cuban junta before leaving New York. If we find that we cannot reach the insurgent lines we intend going straight to Havana and will try to secure permission from Gen. Wyler to establish a field hospital and look after the sufferers on both sides."

[BURGLARS] AT IT AGAIN.

[Cortland] Druggist Watson's Gum Machine Stolen and the Money Taken.

   The question on the lips of nearly every one met in the street this morning was, "Who was burglarized last night?'' These petty burglaries have become so common a thing that most people expected that some place had been entered last night. But so far as reported the depredations of last night were confined to the stealing of a gum machine from Druggist George I. Watson. Mr. Watson has had one of these machines locked to a staple driven in the outside wall on the Tompkins-st. side of his drug store. Sometime during the night this was torn from its fastening and carried away. This morning Judge S. S. Knox discovered something partially covered up by weeds and rubbish at the rear of his barn on South Main-st. investigation showed that it was Mr. Watson's missing gum machine. The back had been torn off and the contents, between one and two dollars in pennies taken.

   A report was in circulation that H. M. Kellogg's hardware was entered last night but this proved to be without foundation. At about 11 o'clock last evening some one on Railroad-st. thought he heard a sound as if some one was scraping putty from a window pane and he fired a shot into the air which attracted the officers and quite a crowd. The sound proved to emanate from an iron blind at the rear of the third story of the Collins building swinging to and fro.

Cortlandville Grange.

   At a regular meeting of Cortlandville grange, No. 461, held Wednesday evening, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

   Master—Manley Kinney.

   Overseer—Mrs. Ella Kinney.

   Lecturer—L. N. Hopkins.

   Steward—R. B. Fletcher.

   Asst. Steward—H. M. Phillips.

   Chaplain—Mrs. Louise Buchanan.

   Treasurer—Sanford Buchanan.

   Secretary—Geo. A. Wilbur.

   Gate Keeper—I. L. Kinney.

   Pomona—Mrs. Nettie Phillips.

   Flora—Mrs. R. B. Fletcher.

   Ceres—Mrs. Fannie Kinney.

   Lady Asst. Steward—Mrs. L. N. Hopkins.

Compliments From Greene.

   In speaking of a recent appearance in Greene of Daniels' orchestra, the Greene American says:

   "The festivities were opened by a very fine concert by "Happy Bill" Daniels' orchestra of Cortland and for an hour they delighted a large number of spectators with their finely rendered selections. If the orchestra were fine in their concert music, they were certainly more than agreeable in their musical selections for the dance program. Harmony, excellent time and skillful rendition prevailed, and it was a pleasure to listen to their enchanting strains.

   As a prompter, "Happy Bill'' Daniels has few superiors. He feels and expresses every note coming from his orchestra, and is in perfect touch with the merry throng gliding before him. He is the soul of the hour, and his good humor permeates the entire company, and creates happiness in a marked degree."

"W. J. Perkins, City Drug Store."

BREVITIES.

   —Case & Ruggles yesterday erected a neat new sign at the front of their dry goods store.

   —Lady Madeline, the mandolin player, is attracting considerable attention in the south windows of Tanner Bros.'

   —There was a large attendance at the Universalist church supper last night and an excellent supper was served.

   —This morning Yager & Marshall of the Fair store strung a large advertising banner over Main-st. from their store to the Keator block.

   —Miss Ellen M. Stone of Bulgaria will give an address on foreign missions at the Congregational chapel at 7:30 o'clock this evening.

   —The loyal circle of King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt on the corner of Main and Union-sts., Friday, Dec. 11, at 2:30 P. M.

   —The regular meeting of Jas. H. Kellogg camp, No. 48, S. O. V., occurs tomorrow night. The annual election of officers will take place.

   —The Alpha C. L. S. C. will meet with Mrs. Augusta M. Graves at 85 Madison-st. on Monday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 P. M. Rollcall, "Joan of Arc."

   —William Tracy, an employee at Cooper Brothers', spilled a quantity of molten iron on his left foot Tuesday, scalding the foot quite badly. He will probably be laid up for some time.

   —The Cortland branch of the Ladies' Catholic Mutual Benefit association will be organized in the C. M. B. A. rooms tonight. Mrs. Ada C. Ryan of Syracuse will be the organizing officer.

   —New advertisements to-day are—W. J. Perkins, Christmas Presents, page 5; I. Whiteson, Clothing, page 5; O. A. Brazie, Holiday Goods, page 6; Tanner Bros., Lady Madeline, page 6.

   —Mr. and Mrs. H. L. deClercq were very much surprised Tuesday evening when they returned from taking tea with friends, to find their house taken possession of by about thirty friends. A most enjoyable evening was passed.

   —The ladies of the St. Vitus Dancing club will hold a leap year party to-morrow night in the hall of the Cortland Athletic association. Music will be furnished by McDermott's orchestra. Dancing will begin at 9 o'clock. Spectators will be charged ten cents admission.

   —The semi-annual conference of the Catholic diocese of Cortland, Broome and Oswego counties is being held at St. Mary's parochial residence to-day, Right Reverend P. A. Ludden, bishop of Syracuse, presiding. The subject under consideration is "Dogmatic and Moral Theology and Sacred Scriptures."

   —The Excelsior Hook and Ladder company last night elected B. H. Bosworth, Harry L. Hartwell and J. W. Petrie to represent the company on the conference committee of firemen which meets tonight. Water Witch's representatives are Eugene Eastman, Dell Barber, and W. H. Gilbert.

   —There was a large attendance at the entertainment at Normal hall last night by Mr. Edward P. Elliott. That gentleman proved just as pleasing as ever. The major part of the entertainment consisted of the presentation of "Hazel Kirke." He then recited a little poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox and closed by repeating by request from last year a humorous sketch of a New York club man.

   —The local postoffice authorities have succeeded in having the New York papers sent to Cortland over the Lehigh Valley road. They now arrive at 3:18 P. M., and the carriers make an immediate delivery getting away from the postoffice at about 3:45. This is about an hour and a half earlier than when the papers came over the D., L. & W., and the arrangement is much more satisfactory to the subscribers of the papers and also to the carriers.