Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1900 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

The Senate on Thursday llztened to a speech by Mr. Wellington against permanent retention of the Philippines; also to a continuation by Mr. Teller of his attack on the tinanc’al bill,. Received a resolution from Mr. Ross declaring in favor of creating a separate government department to take charge of all outlying dependencies. The House passed Senate bill extendiug power of director of the census after rejecting amendment opposed by labor unions authorizing director to contract for extra printing with private contractors. On Friday the Senate listened to an impassioned speech by Mr. Hale, in which he said he lielieved nine-tenths of the American people were in sympathy with the Boers in their war with Great Britain. Passed Sir. Allen’s resolution inquiring of the President whether any representative of the Transvaal Government had applied for recognition, and whether it had been granted or denied. Listened to a speech by Mr. Morgan in opposition to the financial bill. The pension appropriation bill, carrying $145,245,250, was passed by the House. It was made the vehicle of an attack upon the commissioner of pensions by Mr. Curtis (Rep.. Kan.), who was seconded by Mr. Lentz and Mr. Norton of Ohio nnd Mr. Robinson of Indiana and other Northern Democrats. The commissioner was defended by a score of members from both aides of the house. A rider was put upon, the bill by unanimous consent empowering the commissioner in his discretion to withhold the fees of attorneys of record in pension cases where he was satisfied that the attorneys bad not prepared the cases under their personal supervision. A bill was passed to extend the time for the completion of a bridge across the Missouri river at St. Charles, Mo. The Senate held no session on Saturday. The House spent an hour in disposing of bills favorably reported, among those passed being the measures to build the league Island! and Mare Island dry docks of stone instead of timber. Reports on the Roberts case were also received. An hour was given to pronouncing eulogies on the late Representative Danford of Ohio. A resolution was adopted calling for information in the possession of the War Department relative to the power canal around St. Mary’s Rapids, Lake Superior. In the Senate on Monday little business beyond routine was transacted. Mr. Pritchard (N. C.) delivered a long anti carefully prepared address upon the race question in the South, his remarks being addressed particularly against the proposed amendment to the constitution of North Carolina, which, if enacted, he said, would disfranchise a large class of voters, both white and black. He was folowed by Mr. Turner (Wash.) in a speech on the Philippine question, in which he arraigned the administration’s ■ policy as set out in the President's message and in the speech of Mr. Beveridge (Ind.). Received a resolution by Mr. Pratt of New York authorizing the President to invite Great Britain to join in an international commission to examine into the diversion of boundary waters between the I’nited States and Canada. Adopted amended Rawlins resolution for an investigation into polygamy in the United States or any of its possessions. Received a resolution from Mr. Allen calling upon Secretary Gage for a statement regarding his verbal or written communication with officials of the National City Bank of New York abont the sale of the New Y’ork custom house. The House was in session only forty minutes, and nothing of public importance was done except to refer to the Speaker for settlement a dispute between the appropriations and military affairs committees over jurisdiction of the estimates for the appropriations for the manufacture of small arms at the Rock Island and Springfield arsenals. On Tuesday the Senate adopted Mr. Kyle’s resolution directing commissioner of labor to investigate the effect upon labor, production and wages of international copyright act. Mr. Pettigrew offered resolution call’ng upon President to send to Senate report of Geu. J. C. Bate relating to treaty with Sultan of Sulu. Objection was made and resolution went over. Mr. Cnffery presented three resolutions calling upon President for correspondence with Great BritaiiKConeerning the Clayton-Bulwer treaty; correspondence with Colombian Government as to Panama canal, and correspondence with New Panama Canal Company of France. Adopted. Resolution offered by Mr. Allen calliug upon Secretary of Treasury for correspondence and substance of all verbal communications which he has had with officials of National City Bank of New York concerning transfer of old custom house to the National City Bank was adopted. Mr. Turner concluded his speech on Philippine question, and then Mr. Rose addressed Senate on same On Wednesday‘the Senate passed Pettigrew resolution calling for information from the President regarding the treaty with the Sultan of Sulu, after Mr. Pettigrew had attacked the administration for entering into an agreement rf’hich, he said, authorized slavery. Received from the appropriations committee the urgent deficiency bill. 'Received from Mr. Pettigrew a resolution declaring United States could not recognize right of any nation to seize food products as contraband of war and that such seizure would be regarded by this nation as unfriendly. Sent hack to conference the census administrative bill. The House listened to speeches on the Roberta case by Messrs. Landis. Cnimpacker and Miers of Indiana, Lacey of lowa. Wilson of Idaho. Powers of Vermont ami Snodgrass of Tennessee.