Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1897 — SENATE AND HOUSE. [ARTICLE]

SENATE AND HOUSE.

WORK OP OUR NATIONAL LAW* MAKERS. A Week 1 * Proceeding* la the Hall* of Congre**—lmportant Me—re* Discussed *nd Acted Upon—An Impnr*. tial Resume of the Business. The National stolons. The Senate Wednesday by the vote of 43 to 26 refused to ratify the general arbitration treaty between the United States and Great Britain negotiated by Secretary Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote. At the conclusion of the proceedings, all of which were in executive session, the Senate refused to authorise the publication of the details. The open session of the Senate was devoted to the sundry civil appropriation bill, which was not completed up to the time of adjournment Mr. Deboe of Kentucky took the oath of office at the opening of the session and was cordially greeted by his Republican associates. The Senate in executive session confirmed the following nominations: Elmer J. Miller, surveyor of customs at Columbus, Ohio; Thomas R. Purnell, United States district judge for the eastern district of North Carolina; William Meyer, Indian agent for the Southern Ute agency, Colorado; John B. Wright and John W. Ross, commissioners of the District of Columbia; John McMullen of Maryland, to be an asp ; sti’nt surgeon in the mariue hospital service The Senate Thursday agreed to an amendment to the sundry civil biH revoking the order of President Cleveland, made Feb. 22 last, establishing forest reservations aggregating 17,000,000 acres. Another amendment agreed to provides for a continuance of the investigation of the condition of the fur seals in Bering Sea. The sundry civil an aggregate of $53,000,000. The House by a strict party vote, all the Republicans favoring and all the Democrats and Populists opposing, adopted a resolution providing that the House should meet only on Mondays and Thursdays of each week until otherwise ordered. It was announced to be the Republican policy to wait on the Senate’s action on the tariff bill. Mr. Bailey (Dem.) of Texas made a strong but unsuccessful fight to have the order modified so as to give early and full consideration to the bankruptcy bill. The Republicans replied that they would call up the bankruptcy bill and hold daily sessions on it after Gen. Henderson’9 return, but until then the rule should stand. The House then adjourned until Monday.

On Monday Senator Pettigrew of South Dakota, at the head of the Senate conferees on the Indian appropriation bill, announced his intention to present the report of the conferees about 3 o’clock; but Mr. Morgan’s Cuban debate held the floor until after 3 and then the Senate went into executive session and adjourn-) ed. The amendment to the Indian appropriation bill as proposed by Mr. Alien (Pop.) from Nebraska and adopted by thq Senate was as follows: “That the Secre-) tary of the Interior shall, within sixty days after the passage of this act, establish and thereafter maintain at the city of Omaha, in the State of Nebraska, a warehouse for Indian supplies, front which distribution shall be made to such Indian tribes of the West and Northwest as the Secretary of the Interior may direct.” The House nonconcurred in this proposition and appointed Sherman of New York, Curtis of Kansas, and Allen! of Mississippi conferees. They, after; conferring with Mr. Pettigrew and his Senate associates, agreed upon an amendment to the amendment which extended from sixty days to one year the timq within which the Secretary of the Inte-t rior was to transfer the Indian distributing warehouse from Chicago to Omaha; and adding a proviso that the city of Omaha should furnish a suitable building for; the purpose, free of cost, to the United States. 1 The Morgan resolution favoring recognition of Cuba was up in the Senate Tuesday. Senators Morrill and Caffery spoke in opposition. Senators Lodge and Foraker advocated deferring the question until further information could be secured from the State Department, and Senators Mills and Allen urged the immediate passage of the resolutions. The debate went over. During the day Senator Kyle, rising to a question of privilege, disclaimed having sought committee places from Republican Senators. A partial conference report on the Indian appropriation bill was agreed to. The consideration of the Senate amendments to the sundry civil appropriation bill was finished by the House and the bill sent to a conference. President Cleveland’s forest reservation order was the subject of much debate, and the House voted not to concur in the Senate amendment to annul the order with the understanding that the conferees should arrange an amendment which would have the same effect.