Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1899 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

In the House on Thursday two public building bills attached by the Senate to hills for public buildings in other citiea were agreed to, one appropriating $230,000 for a building at Los Angeles, Cal* and the other $75,000 for a building at New Brighton, Pa. A number of conference reports on minor bills were adopted. -Mr. Payne (Rep., N. Y.). the floor leader of the majority, moved the passage, under suspension of the rules, of the bill appropriating $500,000 for the Pan-American exposition to be held at Buffalo. N. in 1901. The bill was passed, HI to 16. Mr. Southard followed this motion with a motion to suspend the rules aud pass a bill to appropriate $500,(M)0 for the Ohio centeunial expositiou to he held at Toledo. The bill was passed, 120 to 19. Mr. Mercer (Rep., / Neb.) moved to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill appropriating $1,000,000 for a new buiiding for the department of justice In Washington. At Mr. Cannon’s request an amendment was adopted limiting the cost of the building to $1,000,000, and as amended the hill was passed. Duritig almost the entire session the Senate was engaged in routine business. Three score or more of minor bills were passed, the calendar being cleared entirely of private pension bills and of measures correcting military and naval records. Two measures of national importance were passed—the fortifications appropriation bill and the bill providing a code of criminal laws for the district of Alaska. Friday was the last day of the congressional session. Sessions in both houses were prolonged through Friday night. During the day the army bill brought Senator Forakor to the front with his amendment to prohibit the granting of franchises in Cuba and led to debate participated in by half the Senators on the floor. The overwhelming vote by which the amendment was passed after the provision for the withdrawal of the troops hadbeen stricken out indicated a decided opinion that will have weight in the labors of the colonial board. The bill was passed as amended. The river and harbor bill from conference led to filibustering, headed by Senator Carter, to secure an appropriation for irrigating the arid west and threatened the passage of thc'hill. There was considerable debate on the sundry civil bill, which was finally passed. A bill providing for a Government exhibit at and to encourage the Ohio centeunial and northwest territory exposition to he held nt Toledo, Ohio, and appropriating $500,000, was passed. The following bills were passed: To incorporate the National White Cross of America, amending the internal revenue laws relating to distilled spirits, authorizing the construction of a bridge over the Tennessee river at Sheffield, Ala.; authorizing the Washington and Gettysburg Railroad Company of Maryland to extend its line of road into the District of Columbia. A bill providing a site for the Washington public library building. In the House the army bill was passed with all the Senate amendments.