Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1890 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

IMPORTANT MEASURES CONSIDERED AND ACTED UPON. At the Nation's Capitol—What Is Being Done by the Senate and House Old Matters Disposed Of and Nev? Ones Considered. On the 3d Inst, the House spent the entire day in consideration of the Bmith-Jazkaon election case. Congressmen Outhwaite, O’Ferrell and Wilson of West Virgnia spoke, the latter closing the argument for the Democrats, occupying the rest of the time allowed for the debate. Mr. Dalzell then moved the previous question, upon which Mr. Crisp demanded the yeas and nays, and the motion was carried. Mr.Crispthen asked for a yote on the resolution of the minority declaring Jackson elected as a substitute for the majority resolution claiming the election of Smith. Tlie vote was taken, resulting—yeas, 137 ; nays, 164. The Speaker declared the motion lost, and the question recurred on the original resolution that Jackson was not duly elected and that Smith was. Upon this resolution Mr. Crisp again demanded the yeas and nays. The Democrats refusing to vote, the result was 166 to 0, the Speaker voting, an I thus making one more than a quorum. The Speaker announced the result amid the wildest enthusiasm on the Republican side. Congressman Grosvenor escorted Smith to th) Speaker’s desk and he was sworn in. On motion of Mr. Springer the House adjourned at B:4J. The Senate was not in session. The House spent the morning of the 4th in the usual demands from the Democratic side for a full reading of the journal and its approval, on a yea and nay vote, motions for adjournment, etc. The Senate bill to relieve the Treasurer of the United States from the amount now charged to him and depeuted in the several Stales came up, and several hours were wasted in a decision as to its reference, the Democrats pursuing the policy of offering dilatory motions. By couniing about sixty-five Democrats present but not voting, the Speaker finally declared that the question was on the motion to refer to the Ways and Means Corrmittee, which being put was carried bv a viva voce vote, not a single Democrat voting against it. The House then at 4 :15, on motion of Mr. McKinley, adjourned, the Democrats as well as Republicans joining in the vote. In the Senate several petitions praying for the passage of a per-diem pension bill were presented. Among th) Lilis introduced was one by Mr. Morrill to prevent the extermination ot furbearing animals in Alaska, and also one by Senator Wolcott allowing New Mexico to frame a constitution and be admitted to the Union. After the introduction of a large number of private relier bills the Senate proceeded to the consideration of executive business. The Senate in executive session debated at length the Samoan treaty and finally ratified it with only nine dissenting votes. In the Senate on the sth inst., aft?r a long discussion on the question of providing more rooms for the use of committees, the bill to aid in the establishment and temporary support of common schools was taken up and Mr. Blair proceeded to address the Senate in advocacy of it. The Committee on Foreign Relations reported the following joint resolution, whiph was placed on the calendar: “ Resulted, That the United States of America congra ulates the people of Brazil on their just and peaceful assumption of the powers, duties, and responsibilities of self-government based upon the free consent of the governed and on their recent adoption of a republican form of government.” This joint resolution is reported as a substitute for that of Mr. Morgan introduced Dec. 18 and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. It omits the words “expressed in their repudiation of monarchic rule." It also omits several paragraphs declaring the recognition of the United States of Brazil ns a biwfal and rightful government, and directing the President to require the people and officerscf the United States to recog e the flag” of the United States of Brazil ns the flag of a free, sovereign and inde; endent state. Mr. Blair then resumed his argument. He declared that the constitutionality of the bill was beyond question. and spoke at some length in support of his favorite measure. The House transacted no business. After a yea and nay vote on the journal, which was ajiproved—yaas 150. nays 0 (the constitutional quorum being counted by the Speaker), an adjournment was taken on motion of Mr. McKinley, of Ohio, In the Senate on the Gt.h inst. Senator Platt called up a bill to provide a temporary government for Oklahoma. The discussion of the amendments offered to the Oklahoma bill consumed the time of the Senate until 2 o’clock, when Senator Blair continued his speech on the educational bill. The Senate then went into executive session, and the Samoan treaty was again discussed. ‘Two motions made by Senator Edmunds were tabled, whereupon Mr. Edmunds asked to be excused from further service on the Committee on Foreign Relations. In the House the Democrats carried out their policy of protest against, the rulings of,the Speaker by declining to vote upon the question of approving the journal. This instrument was, however, approved by a vote of yeas 153, nays 0- the constitutional quorum being counted by the Speaker. Mr. Cannon, of Illinois, from the Committee on Rules, reported the new code of rules and it was ordered printed and recommitted. Congressman Dorsey introduced a bill providing for the issue of .‘•5300,000,0011 of 2 per cent, bonds payable at the pleasure of the Government. The bill provides tjpat the holders of 4 per cent, bonds may exchange their bonds for these 2 percents. issued by estimating the present worth, of their bonds at the rate of 2 per cent, per annum until due aud payable. The House passed u substitute for the Senate ■■disability” pension bill. The substitute makes the rate of pension for total disability—where the pensioner requires the regular personal aid and attendance of another^person—#72 a month. When the pensioner is disqualified for manual labor and is only partially dependent upon attendants, the rate is fixed at si.) a month. The House also passed the bill for the relief of survivors of the Samoan disaster; the bill io establish two additional land offices in Montana, and the bill extending for two years the time within which the Kansas City and Pacific Railroad Company may cons ruct its lino through the Indian Territory. In the House, on the 7th inst., a bill increasing the pension of Gen. Abram Duryea to SIOO per month was passed after some debate. A Senate bill was passed authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri River between Douglas, or Sarpy County, Nebraska, and Pottawattomie County, lowa. On motion of Mr. Gear, of lowa, the Senate bill was passed extending for two years the lime within which a bridge across tlie Mississippi Biver at Burlington, lowa, previously authornod, may beconstructed. A number of private bills occupied the remainder of the session. The Senate was not in session.