Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1896 — WORK OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS.

THE WEEK’S DOINGS IN SENATE AND HOUSE. A Comprehensive Digest of the Proceedings in the Legislative Chambers at Washington —Matters that Concern the People. Lawmakers at Labor. The session of the Senate Tuesday furnished a succession of breezy incidents with frequent sharp personal exchanges between Senators. Mr. Hill had a lively tilt with Mr. Tillman during the debate on Mr. Fetter's resolution for a Senate investigation of the recent bond. issne. Mr. Allen joined issue with Mr. Gear and Mr. Wolcott over the course of the Pacific Raftway Committee in conducting its inquiry. Two appropriation bills, the mifffary academy and the pension bill, were passed. Efforts were made to amend the military academy bill by increasing the number of cadets by two from each State —ninety in all —but after a debate of three hours the plan was defeated. The pension appropriation bill, carrying $142,000.000, was passed after ten minutes’ debate. The House [iassed the agricultural appropriation bill. It carries $3,158,192. The section of the revised statutes for the purchase and distribution of “rare and uncommon” seed which Secretary Morton declined to execute in the current appropriation law was repealed; the appropriation for seed was increased from $130,000 to $150,000, and its execution was made mandatory upon the Secretary. The House devoted itself strictly to business Wednesday. The army appropriation hill, carrying $23,275,902, was passed, the conference report on the urgent deficiency bill was accepted, and the bill to extend for five years the time in which the government can tiring suits to annul patents to pnbiic lauds under railroad and wagon road grants was passed. An amendment was adopted limiting the application of the act to “railroad and wagon road grants.” The substitute for the hill offered by Mr. Mcßae (Dem.) of Arkansas to repeal outright the limitation of the act of 1891 was defeated, 72 — 149. In the Senate Mr. .Carter of Montana offered a resolution to recommit the tariff bill to the finance committee for further consideration. The diplomatic and consular appropriation bill was passed during the day. About sixty private pension bills were passed during the day. The bill pensioning the widow of the late Secretary Gresham as brigadier general, at S2OO monthly, with an amendment making the amount SIOO monthly, went over without action in order to permit Mr. Yoorhoes to speak against this amendment. The Senate Thursday was engaged in the Pacific railroad hearing. In the House the conference report on the diplomatic and consular bill was agreed to, the Senate amendments to the pension bill were sent to conference and the Indian appropriation bill was taken up. The latter bill carries $8,630,995, or $132,792 less than the law for the current year. In connection with a proposition to increase the salaries of Indian inspectors from $2,500 to $3,000, the salaries fixed by law —the bills of the last two years have only appropriated $2,500 each for these salaries —both Mr. Cannon and Mr. Dinglcy, the Republican leaders. on the lloor appealed to the majority in view of the situation of the treasury to keep down expenses and refuse to take steps in the direction of increased salaries, but their appeals were in vain and the action of the Committee on Indian Affairs in restoring the salaries was sustained, 87 to 59. Nothing else of importance wns done. The House devoted all day Friday to consideration of the Indian bill, and made slow progress. In committee of the whole it refused to reduce salaries of Indian inspectors from $3,000 to $2,500. The Senate was still occupied with the Pacific Railroad hearing. The House Monday in committee of the whole, by a vote of 93 to 64. decided that none of the appropriations on the Indian appropriation bill for Indian schools should go to sectarian schools. The matter caused a warm debate. The Senate showed considerable interest in Cuban affairs, and circumstances attending recent bond issues, but nothing of importance was done.