Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1896 — NATIONAL SOLONS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL SOLONS.

REVIEW OF THEIR WORK AT WASHINGTON. Detailed Proceedings of Senate and House—Bills Passed or Introduced in Either Branch-Questions of Moment to the Country at Large. The Legislative Grind. The House spent Tuesday considering the sundry civil bill and fair progress was made. Effort was made by some of the Southern representatives to strike out the appropriation of $50,000 for the pay of internal revenue informers, but s t was unsuccessful. The expected debate on the resolution for a Senate inquiry into recent bond issues did not take place, as Mr. Peffer gave notice that he would defer his motion. The postoffice appropriation bill, carrying $93,000,000, was considered in prfrt, but not completed. A sharp debate on mail subsidies arose, Mr. Vilas opposing an extension of the subsidy system, while Senators Perkins and White of California upheld them. Senator George's speech in opposition to MY. Dupont’s claim to a seat occupied most >f the day and was not completed. Ocean mail subsidies brought on an animated discussion in the Senate Wednesday during the consideration of the postoffice appropriation bill. Mr. Vilas opposed subsidies, and pointed out many instances of what he declared were excessive payments for mail service. Mr. Perkins of California energetically defended the subsidies for their encouragement to American shipping. The subsidy item was reserved for a separate vote. The balance of the postoffice appropriation bill was completed. Senator Call of Florida introduced in the Senate a joint resolution directing the sending of an adequate naval force to Cuba to put an end to barbarities and the violation of treaty obligations. The House continued consideration of the sundry civil bill. The House Thursday passed the sundry civil bill, and wasted a lot of time in acrimonious debate of the question of appropriating public money for private or sectarian institutions. The postoffice appropriation bill served to bring out some sharp discussion in the Senate on the propriety of abolishing country postoffices and absorbing them as branches of city offices. The bill authorizing the lighthouse board to proceed with the building of the lighthouse at North Manitou island, Lake Michigan, was passed. The House bill granting the Atchison and Nebraska and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railways a right of way through the Sac and Fox and lowa Indian reservations in Kansas and Nebraska was passed. The Senate then went into executive session and soon after adjourned until Monday. Speaker Reed made an important ruling in the House Friday which will have considerable bearing on legislation in the future. He held that a majority of the ’members of the House who are living at the time any question of a quorum comes up shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The majority of the constitutional membership, he holds, is not necessary to constitute a quorum. This is a reversal of the ruling made by Mr. Reed in the Fifty-first Congress. A bill to authorize the construction of a third bridge across the Mississippi river at St. Louis was considered. The river and harbor appropriation bill was finished by the House committee, which has been working on it most of the session. The total amount carried by the bill is a fewthousands less than $10,000,000, or about $1,000,000 below the bill of last Congress. There are also provisions for contract works to the amount of $01,000,000. The Senate spent the entire day on the postoffice appropriation bill, but did not complete it. After a brief but very spirited debate the House passed the river and harbor appropriation bill. The action was taken under suspension of the rules, in spite of the vigorous protests of the minority against the continuing contract system. The opposition was unable to muster votes enough, however, to call for the yeas and nays on the suspension of the rules.