Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1898 — SENATE AND HOUSE. [ARTICLE]

SENATE AND HOUSE.

WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAW* MAKERS. A Week’s Proceedings in the Hallo of Congress Important Mcaanrea Din cussed and Acted Upon—An Impartial Resume of the Business. On Thursday the Hou|e surpassed all records in the expedition with which it passed the pension appropriation bill. Usually one of the most fruitful themes of acrimonious partisan debate, it was passed in twenty minutes without criticism. although carrying $145,233,530, $4.000,000 more than the act for the current year. The House then began consideration of the bill to incorporate the International American Bank. This project was recommended by the Pan-American Congress in 1889. An agreement was effected for a vote at 3 o’clock Friday. It was supported in debate by Messrs. Brosius (Rep., Pa.), Adams (Rep., Pa.), Lacey (Rep., Iowa), and Walker (Rep., Mass.), and opposed by Mr. Cox (Deni.. Tenn.). Jenkins (Rep., Wis.), Driggs (Dcm.. N. Y.), nnd Bartlett (Dem., Ga.). In the Senate the urgent deficiency appropriation bill making provision for the army and navy for the next six months displaced the Nicaragua caual bill, preventing even the taking of a vote on the question of the postponement of the latter measure until after the holidays, as had been intended. The deficiency bill was passed after a spirited discussion, turning principally on the point of keeping the volunteer soldiers in the service. The bill to incorporate the International Atnerlcan Bank was buried under an overwhelming adverse majority of the House on Friday. The debate upon the measure, which opened Thursday, was concluded at 3 o’clock.. Mr. Dingley, the floor leader of the majority, made an argument in its support. The other speakers on Friday were Hill of Connecticut in its support and Messrs. Bell (Pop.. Colo.), Sulzer (Deni., N. Y.), Maxwell (Pop., Neb.), Maddox (Dem.. T3a.) and Swanson (Dem., Va.) in opposition. The vote by which the bill was defeated stood 103 yeas to 148 nays. The bill to extend the customs and revenue laws of the United States over the Hawaiian Islands was passed without opposition. The bill. Mr. Dingley explained, carried with it the civil service laws relating to appointments in the customs and revenue service in Hawaii.

Saturday in the House was devoted to the Indian appropriation bill, which was passed substantially as reported. This is the third of the appropriation bills to pass and it clears the calendar of the big supply bills. The Senate was not in session. Monday was suspension day In the House, and several bills were passed, the most important of which was the bill appropriating $330,000 for the Philadelphia exposition of 1599. The vote wns exceedingly close. It had but two votes more than the necessary two-thirds. Bills were also passed under suspension of the rules to authorize the distribution of the assets of the Freedmen’s Bank, to enlarge the scope of the Fish Commission to include game birds, for the relief of the Fourth Mounted Arkansas Infantry and for the relief of John W. Lewis, of Oregon. The Senate had a busy day, and there were several Important speeches. Mr. Platt, of Connecticut, spoke against the Vest resolution, which declares that the United States has no power to acquire territory. Mr. Proctor, of Vermont, and Mr. Hale, of Maine, exchanged divergent views upon the subject of a commission of Senators to visit Cuba. The conference report on the urgent deficiency bill was agreed to. The Senate then took up the Nicaragua canal bill, and Air. Berry (Ark.) spoke upon his amendments to the measure.

The House resolution providing for adjournment of Congress from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4 was adopted by the Senate without division on Tuesday. Mr. Gallinger favorably reported Mr. Proctor’s resolution providing for a committee of Senators to visit Cuba and Porto Rico with a view to ascertaining the conditions on the islands and reporting on them, with recommendations. Senator Teller then addressed the Senate upon Mr. Vest’s resolution declaring that under the constitution no power is given to acquire territory to be held and governed permanently as colonies. Several private pension bills were disposed of, after which Mr. Elkins called up the bill relating to the registry of foreign built vessels in this country. At 2 o’clock the Nicaraguan canal bill displaced the registry measure, and Mr. Caffery spoke in opposition to it. The debate on the agricultural bill was signalized by the first speech in the House on the question of annexation of the Philippines. Mr. Williams of Mississippi submitted a general argument against their annexation. After Mr. Williams’ remarks the agricnitural bill jvas passed. It carried $3,696,322, or $187,120 more than the current law. Before adjournment for the day the conference report on the army and navy deficiency bill was adopted. The last session of the House before the holiday recess was held on Wednesday and lasted but an hour. The Bailey resolution Jdirecting an investigation of the right of the members who volunteered in the Spanish-American war to seats in the House was adopted, and several bills of minor importance were passed. One of these provided for holding terms of the District and Circuit courts at Hammond, Ind. The absence of a quorum of the Senate saved Senator Proctor’s resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of Senators to investigate the conditions in Cuba and Porto Rico during the approaching long recess of Congress from decisive defeat. An effort was made by Mr. Daniel of Virginia to obtain ation for the resolution, but his motion mustered only eight of the thirty-eight votes cast. No business of importance was disposed of at Wednesday’s session. Only some routine business, including the passage of a few private pension bills, was transacted. Adjournment was taken to Jan. 4, 1899,