Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1897 — 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 es the Senate Friday developed three distinct sensations. Among these was the presentation by Mr. Sherman of a letter from Minister Rodreguez, the representative of the Greater Republic of Central America (including Nicaragua), in effect protesting against the execution of the Nicaraguan canal project by the United States under the concession granted in 1887 to the Nicaraguan Canal Company. As the bill for this purpose was about to be voted on by the Senate, the appearance of the letter created consternation among its friends. Mr. Morgan, its chief supporter, at once declared that the letter was inspired by Great Britain, who sought to drive the United States from the isthmus by using the Central Americas as a catspaw. He asserted that Minister Rodreguez had come here to execute such a plan, and that it was an open threat against American control of the canal. The debate was very earnest and the letter made a profound impression on the Senators. Senator Vilas declared that it struck a death blow to the canal project proposed by the pending bill. Earlier in the day the Senate unexpectedly found itself discussing the new Anglo-American treaty. The expressions were free and full from Messrs. Sherman, Gray, Cullom, Lodge, Hoar and others. The statements of these Senators were uniformly favorable to the high principle of the treaty. The Senate confined itself strictly to business Saturday, passing a large number of bills, including those for a statue of President Lincoln at Gettysburg, Pa.; appropriating $300,000 to pay one of the old claims of the late John Roach for the use of his shipyards and reclassifying the railway postal service. A resolution by Mr. Morgan was agreed to requesting the President for all correspondence on the Nicaraguan Canal since 1887; also a resolution by Mr. Allen asking the attorney general for information as to the reported Pacific Railroad settlement between the executive authorities and the Reorganization Committee of the road. The bill to reclassify the railway postal clerks and prescribe their salaries fixes the following classes and salaries: First class, not exceeding $800; second class, $900; third class, $1,000; fourth class, $1,100; fifth class, $1,200; sixth class, sl,300; seventh class, $1,400;. eight class, $1,500; ninth class, $1,600; tenth class, SI,BOO. A bill was passed authorizing a railroad bridge across the Illinois River at a point within five miles above Grafton, 111. The House bill to prohibit the sale of intoxicating drinks to Indians was passed. The bill extends the present law making it an offense to sell Indians any article which may have an intoxicating effect. In the Senate Monday Mr. Turpie, of Indiana, characterized Capt. Gen. AVeyler as the “Herod of Havana, the murderer of women and children,” and as an “indescribably diminutive reptile.” These bitter words were incident to Mr. Turpie’s,speech of two hours Qn the Cameron Cuban resolutions. Mr. Turpie frequently turned aside from his argument to pay a glowing tribute to the insurgent government and its leaders. After 3 o’clock the day was devoted to eulogies on the late ex-Speaker Charles F. Crisp. Early in the day memorials were presented from the presidential electors of Delaware asking for a congressional investigation of alleged fraud and political irregularities in that State. After consuming most of the day in disposing of District of Columbia business the House took up the Indian appropriation bill and made fair progress with it before the hour for adjournment was reached. The bill carries $7,525,791, *368,294 more than the current law and '"‘’46,205 more than the estimates. Twenof the seventy pages of the bill were disposed of. A bill was passed calling on the AVar Department for an estimate of the cost of a water route from Galveston to Houston, Tex. Mr. Johnston (Rep.) of Indiana took advantage of the latitude allowed in debate to read a speech in favor of an early reform of the banking nnd currency laws. Mr. Curtis (Rep.) of Kansas offered an amendment to the Indian bill to permit merchants to go into the Kickapoo reservation in Kansas to collect their accounts. It was explained that this year for the first time merchants had been excluded from this reservation. The amendment was adopted. In the Senate Tuesday Cuba, the proposed international monetary conference nnd the Nicaragua caual each came in for a share of attention. The AVolcott bill for an international monetary conference was considered for the first time. No final action on the bill was taken. The House amendments to the Senate bill for a survey of a water rouie from the mouth of the jetties at Galveston, Tex., to Houston, were agreed to and the bill finally passed. The House overrode another of President Cleveland's pension vetoes by a vote of 13 1 to .>2. The bill pensioned Jonathan Scott of the Sixth lowa cavalry, now living at Oswego, Kan., at the rate of $72 a month. Air. Cleveland vetoed it on the ground that the disability for which the beneficiary was to be pensioned was not contracted in the service. The rest of the day was devoted to a continuation of the debate on (he Indian appropriation bill. About twenty-five pages of the bill were covered. A bill to satisfy a peculiar claim was passed on motion of Mr. Turner (Dem.) of Georgia. It was the claim of John F. Mcßae, a deputy United States marshal, for keeping thirtysix African slaves, lauded by the ship Wanderer at Savannah, Ga., in 1859, until they could be shipped back to their homes, in accordance With the provisions of the laws for the suppression of the slavq traffic. The amount was $462.