Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 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. In the Senate Wednesday the prayer of Rev. Dr. Milburn made eloquent reference to the late Charles F. Crisp of Georgia—“A man faithful and loyal in all his relations and faithful servant of the people; may his name be graven on the tablet of the nation’s memory.” Early in the day three sets of vigorous resolutions for Cuban independence furnished an interesting feature. The Senate bf a vote of 35 to 21 adopted a motion to take up the Dingley tariff-silver bill. The House passed a dozen billls of minor importance. 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 Santa Fe County.' The Senate Thursday took up the immigration bill, and also heard the first of the speeches on Cuba —those of Mr. Cullom and Mr. Call. The immigration bill was not finally passed upon, but the Senate agreed to the Lodge bill as a substitute to the House measure. The substitute requires that all immigrants over the age of 14 years shall be able to read and write their native language and shall be required to read and write in the presence of a United States official at least five lines of the United States Constitution. The Senate adjourned to Monday. Pending the preparation of the next appropriation bill the House again devoted its time to the consideration of bills on the calendar, but only two were passed during the four hours’ session. One of these was a copyright bill, urged by prominent playwrights and theatrical managers to secure to musical compositions the same measure of protection under the copyright law as is now afforded productions of a strictly dramatic character. A bill to prohibit the sale of liquor in the capitol building was also passed. A bill to modify the law forbidding the alien ownership of lands in the territories so as to give aliens the right to acquire under mortgage and to hold for ten years real property was defeated.

In the House Friday Rev. Mr. Cowden, the blind chaplain, referred in his invocation to the action of the House in prohibiting the sale of liquor in the Capitol. “We thank Thee, O Lord,” said he, “that the House is no longer responsible for the liquor traffic within the halls of the national Capitol. Grant, we pray Thee, that the bill passed here yesterday will go through the regular channels and speedily become a law, never again to be repealed in the history of our nation.” At the conclusion of the prayer, half a hundred members applauded vigorously, but Speaker Reed promptly suppressed the outburst. On motion of Mr. Dingley, the floor leader, it was agreed that when the House adjourn it be to meet Monday. The joint resolution extending until the close of this session the time in which the joint commission for the investigation of the subject of the rebate of the tax on alcohol used in manufactures or arts may report was adopted. Beyond agreeing to a resolution for a two weeks’ recess the proceedings in the House Monday were almost entirely devoid of public interest. Most of the day was spent in a struggle over the bill of Mr. Morse of Massachusetts to render the laws relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors in the District of Columbia more stringent. The reported assassination of Maceo, the Cuban patriot, and its effect on the attitude of this country toward the revolutionists was almost the sole topic of conversation on the floor before the House met. No resolutions, however, were offered in open session. Among the resolutions introduced in the Senate was one by Senator Morgan of Alabama calling upon the President to send to the Senate copies of the papers relating to Cuban affairs which was referred to in the recent report of Secretary Olney. The resolution asks for especial information in regard to the trial of persons captured on the Competitor. Representative M. V. Howard of Alabama introduced a resolution recognizing the republic of Cuba as a free and independent government. Senator Morgan of Alabama held the attention of the Senate and well-filled galleries for an hour Tuesday by his earnest advocacy of a strong and decisive policy in dealing with the Cuban question. He asked for the adoption of the resolution presented Monday, requesting the Secri'Tary of State for the papers in the Competitor case and in other cases involving the arrest of American citizens by Spanish authorities. The resolution was agreed to. The Senate took up the bill pensioning Nancy Allabach, which had been vetoed by the President, and passed it over the. veto. In the House a bill to reorganize the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company was passed without division, after certain amendments had been adopted. The House then entered upon the consideration of the Loud bill to amend the law relating to the transmission of second-class mail matter. The bill met with the most intense opposition from certain quarters. It denies the right of serial novels to admission to the mails at the newspaper cent per pound rates; denies to newspapers the sample copy privilege; prohibits the return of unsold publications at pound rates and makes some Other changes in the present law, designed to correct existing abuses. It is estimated that the abuses of the law have cost the government $240,000,000 in the last ten years. No final action was taken.