Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1899 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

The Senate listened further on Thursday to a discussion of the policy of expansion. Mr. Turner (Wash., PopJ delivered a carefully prepared speech on the Vest resolution. The speech was for the most part a constitutional argument in which Mr. Turner took issue with Senator Platt and Senator Foraker upon their recent utterances. At the conclusion of Mr. Turner's argument Mr. Foraker took some sharp exceptions to statements made in the speech, especially those referring to him personally. The Nicaragua canal bill was tinder consideration nearly three hours. After much debate a substitute presented by Mr. Morgan (Ala.) for the bond amendment offered by Mr. Allison was adopted. It provides that bond payments shall not exceed $20,009,000 in any fiscal year. The amendment as amended was then adopted, 41 to 19. The last hour of the session was occupied in discission of several amendments offered by Mr. Cattery of Louisiana, all of which were defeated. The House practically decided the Brown-Swanson contested election case from the Fifth Virginia district in favor of the sitting member. Mr. Swanson, a Democrat, by declining to consider the case. The postoffice appropriation bill wsa then taken up. The greatest surprise of the day was the adoption of two amendments striking out of the bill the appropriation of $171,000 for the fast Southern mail and $25,000 for special mail facilities from Kansas City to Newton, Kan.

. The proceedings in the House were enlivened on Friday by a wordy duel between Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio and Mr. Lewis, Democrat, the member from Washington. It occurred during the debate on a private bill to refer to the court of claims the claim of Cramp & Sons, the Philadelphia ship builders, for damages from the Government for delays incident to the building of the warships New York, Massachusetts, Indiana and Columbia. due to the failure of the Government to deliver armor plate and other materials for these ships on time. The postoffice appropriation bill was passed. At p. m. the House recessed until 8 o'clock. The evening session was devoted to private pension legislation and adjournment was taken-so Monday. The Senate was in session for five hours and a half, but the session was practically barren of results.

Senator Morgan's Nicaragua canal bill passed the Senate Saturday afternoon by a vote of 48 to (L As a matter of fact, it was passed twice, once by a viva voce vote and the second on a roll call. The opposition had been dwindling away for several days. Friends and foes of the anti-scalping bills were also lined up in the Senate the same afternoon. The supporters of those measures won their first victory. Ry a vote of 33 to 21 they succeeded in having the Senate bill taken up for consideration.

Discussion of the policy of expansion occupied nearly all the time of the Senate in open session on Monday. Mr. White of California addressed the Senate in support of the anti-expansion resolution introduced by Mr. Vest (Deni.. Mo.) and an other resolution offered by Mr. Bacon (Dem., Go.) declaring that the Philippines ought to be free and independent. The Senate at 2:10 p. m., on motion of Mr. Davis, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, went into executive session. After the executive session Mr Chandler called up the lull to restore to their original status officers of the naw and marine corps who lost their status by reason of the promotion of other officers by reason of conspicuous conduct in battle. The bill went over on objection

The debate on the army reorganization bill opened in the House on Tuesday under an agreement by which the general debate is to run fifteen hours, exclusive of three night sessions. Mr. Hull and Mr. McClellan in support of the measure and Mr. Hay of Virginia in opposition divided the honors. The other speakers were Messrs. Parker (Rep.) of New Jersey and Brown (Rep.) of Ohio in favor and Messrs. Cox (Dem.) of Tennessee. Bell (Pop.) of Colorado and Latham (Dem.) of Texas against it. At the conclusion of routine business in the Senate Mr. Lodge (Rep., Mass.) delivered his announced speech upon the policy of expansion. At the conclusion of Mr. Lodge's speech Mr Teller (Col.) addressed the Senate upon a question with resjiect to the constitutional powers of the Government in the territories. Mr. Clay (Ga.), one of the Democratic Senators who expects to vote for the ratification of the treaty of peace, then addressed the Senate on the general question of territorial expansion.

Not since the stirring days before the declaration of war last spring has the House witnessed such an exhibition of excitement and such scenes of unbounded enthusiasm as occurred on Wednesday when the two Republicans. Mr. Johnson, the Indiana member, and Mr. Dolliver of lowa, locked horns on the question of expansion. The army bill was under debate. At the night session Mr. Crumpacker (Rep., Ind. I supported the bill and advocated annexation. Mr. Rixey (Dem.. Va.l opposed the lull. Mr. Linney (Rep.. N. C.) supported the lull. Only a brief time was occupied by the Senate in open session. Air. Hale, chairman.of the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported the naval personnel bill and gave notice that at the earliest time possible he would call it up for consideration. Mr. Cullom <lll.l reported the legislative appropriation bill. Mr. Chandler (N. H.l introduced a bill temporarily creating the office of admiral of the navy. It was referretLto the Naval Affairs Committee. A senate bill providing for the erection of a building in Washington for the department of justice at a cost of $1,000,000 was passed.