Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1898 — WORK OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS.

THE WEEK’S DOINGS IN SENATE AND HOUSE. A Comprehensive Digest of the Pro* cecdinge in the Legislative Cham* hern at Waahington-Mattera that Concern the People. On Thursday the Senate held a short session and adjourned until Monday, after making the Niciraguan Canal bill the unfinished business before that body. Mr. Morgan called up the measure, whereupon Mr. Pettigrew moved to adjourn. This motion failed—l 3 yeas to 42 nays—and the bill was brought forward. Adjournment was immediately taken. During the session Mr. Vest stated his opposition to the hurried manner of passing pension bills in the Senate, and gave notice that he would insist upon a quorum being present when pension bills were being acted upon. At the other end of the capltol the general deficiency appropriation bill was passed; and the House adjourned until Monday. When the Senate reassembled on Monday Senator Vest made a speech in opposition to teritorial expansion, and Senator Morgan began the debate on the Nicaragua Canal bill. The House spent the larger part of the day on District of Co* lumbia affairs. The bill to relieve the condition of American seamen was taken up, but nothing was accomplished. Representative Hepburn of lowa introduced a bill authorizing the President to acquire by purchase from the State of Costa Rica and Nicaragua full ownership, jurisdiction and sovereignty of such land as may be desirable and necessary to construct and defend a ship canal. The President is also directed to construct such a canal and the bill appropriates $140,600,000 to complete it. In the Senate on Tuesday the Nicaragua Canal bill was discussed, Mr. Turpie making the principal speech in opposition, Jeclaring it is in the interest of the Maritime Company, which he characterized as a fraud and bankrupt. He moved a postponement until after she holiday recess. Mr. Morgan defended the bill and the Maritime Company and opposed the motion to postpone, Messrs. Berry and Rawlins both offered amendments materially affecting the bill. Mr. Morrill supported the bill authorizing the purchase of a site for a Supreme Court building, and this and several other bills were passed. In the House the District of Columbia appropriation bill was passed without a single amendment. The bill carries $6,359,950. The House also passed the Senate bill to amend the laws relating to seamen. All the amendments were rejected.

On Wednesday Mr. Danford (Ohio), chairman of the Immigration Committee, tried to secure consideration of the Lodge immigration bill, but the House declined, 100 to 103, to take it up. Mr. De Armend (Mo.) make a speech on the decadence of the privilege of debate in the House, and held Speaker Reed responsible. The Speaker replied with a sarcastic speech, in which lie referred to the complaints of John Randolph in the early days of the century to show that the same remonstrances were made then that were being heard to-day. In the Senate the Nicaragban Canal bill held its place as the principal subject. Speeches were made by Messrs. Harris, Money, Stew art and Morgan. An agreement was reached to take a vote on the Turpie postponement motion on Thursday. Other questions before the Senate were: The government’s pension policy and the bill regarding registry of foreign built vessels wrecked on the American coast.