Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1897 — 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 immigration bill is now in the hands of the President, the last legislative step having been taken in the Senate Wednesday by an agreement to the conference report on the bill. Strong opposition was made to the report, but on the final vote the friends of the measure rallied a small majority, the vote being: Yeas, 34; nays, 31. The bill as passed extends the immigration restrictions against “All persons physically capable and over 16 years of age who cannot read aDd write the English language or some other language; bnt a person not so able to read and write who is over 50 years of age and is the parent or grandparent of a qualified immigrant over 21 years of age and capable of supporting such-parent or grandparent may accompany such immigrant or such a parent or grandparent may be sent for and come to join the family of a child or grandchild over 21 years of age, similarly qualified and capable, and a wife or minor child not so able to read and write may accompany or be sent for and come to join the husband or parent similarly qualified and capable.”

The Senate adjourned at 6:30 Thursday night, after spending six hours in executive session devoted to the consideration of the nomination of C. F. Amidon to be district judge of North Dakota, and of the Anglo-American arbitration treaty. Mr. Vilas has secured the passage by the Senate of the Senate bill “to extend the use of the mail service.” It provides for using a patent postal card and envelope, with coupons attached. The Postmaster General is authorized to suspend the system if it proves unsatisfactory on a test. The House, by a vote of 197 to 91, reversed the finding of a majority of the elections committee and decided the contested election case of N. T. Hopkins vs. ,T. Kendall from the tenth Kentucky district favor of the Republican contestant. Eleven Republicans and three Populists voted with the Democrats against unseating Kendall.

The Senate adjourned at 8:15 o’clock Friday night, after having spent nlmost eight hours in continuous executive session on the arbitration treaty. No result was accomplished beyond voting down the motion made by Senator Nelson to postpone further consideration of the treaty. A very spirited debate on the general subject of the payment of claims found to be due against tbe United States was indulged in by the House during the consideration of the general deficiency appropriation bill. Mr. Richardson (Tenn.) had called attention to the apparent inconsistency of an item to pay the costs of defending suits, and the fact that the bill contained no item to pay the judgments. Mr. Mahon (Pa.), chairman of the War Claims Committee, made the statement that the House had been frightened by a bogie man,” and the just claims against the Government, instead of aggregating hundreds of millions, as was frequently stated, could be discharged with $10,000,000. The consideration of the bill was not completed. The bill carries $8 441 - 027.

Both houses worked hard Saturday, getting measures in shape for final action. Appropriation bills and conference reports were before the House for action. There is evident an intention to pare appropriations down to the last notch, and consternation reigns among members who have pet measures, affecting their particular districts, which they hoped to put through. Senator Sherman announced his purpose not to again bring up the arbitration treaty for debate so long as the appropriation bills are pressing for consideration, but if there should be a lull in this work he may renew his efforts to secure ratification. The Senate joint resolution for an international monetary conference looking to the adoption of international bimetallism was unanimously reported to the House. The Senate spent its first hours Monday in listening to Washington’s farewell address, read by Air. Daniel (Ya.), and then resumed consideration of the Indian appropriation bill for a time. The Loud 1-eeut postal bill came in for some sharp criticism from Mr. Butler, Air. Stewart, and others. The House passed the general deficiency appropriation bill and began the consideration of the last of the money bills, that providing for the naval establishment. A long debate occurred over the propriety of the appropriation of $1,310,000 for the Southern Pacific Railroad under the judgment of the Court of Claims, but the House by a vote of 102 to 138, refused to strike it out. The members who favored the appropriation for the repayment to members of the last Congress of salary withheld from them ou account of absence carried the fight into the House, but were beaten, 92 to 122. Sixteen of the forty-eight pages of the naval bill were completed. The House sent the naval bill, the last of the appropriation bills, to the Senate Tuesday. It was passed practically without amendment. The feature of the day was a political debate which occurred late in the afternoon on the subject of civil service reform. It developed during the consideration of a bill, which was finally passed, to permit the Governors of the territories to appoint certain officers of the territories in case of vacancies without the consent of the legislative councils, which is now required by law. The Senate ■made slow progress on the appropriation bills, disposing of only one item of the Indian bill, it being that directing the opening of the Uncompahgre Indian reservation in Utah. It involved a conflict with the executive branch, which has steadily resisted opening these lands, on the ground that they contained valuable mineral deposits. Air. Vilas endeavored to have a royalty reserved to the .Government, but was defeated in this and the clause was agreed to after an all-day debate. During the day a resolution by, Air. Alills, of Texas, was adopted, asking the President for information as to the death of Dr. Ruiz at Guanabacoa, Cuba.