Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1900 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

On Thursday the Senate passed a resolution by Mr. Butler asking the Secret tary of the Treasury for information as to the bank charters granted since the passage of the currency bill, and for other information concerning the operations of the new law. Devoted the rest of the day to debate on the Porto Rico problem. The House by a vote of 148 to 96 recommitted to the committee on post office the Loud bill relating to secondclass mail matter. It is not thought the; bill will reappear in the present session. The Senate on Friday agreed to send the diplomatic and consular bill to conference. Passed the I’orto Rico $2,000,000 appropriation bill as amended in conference by a vote of 35 to 15. The House passed the bill, introduced at the request of northwestern lumbermen, authorizing the Secretary of War to make regulations permitting the running of loose logs, rafts and lumber on streams in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Passed 142 private pension bills. Agreed to vote on the conference report of the Porto Rican appropriation bill at 1 o’clock Saturday afternoon, March 24. On Saturday the Senate recommitted the bill providing for a civil government for Porto Rico. Accepted a statue of Oliver P. Morton from the State of Indiana to be placed in Statuary Hall. Passed bills to equalize the duties of district federal judges in Alabama; to pay James Drake, marshal of Washington, $1,529 expended by him, and appropriating $75,000 to pay the expenses of a commission to study commercial conditions in the Orient. The House agreed to the conference report on the Porto Rico relief bill by a vote of 135 to 87. Passed the bill appropriating SIO,OOO for -plans for a Grant memorial to be erected in Washington. Mr. Foraker, in charge of the I’orto Rican bill in the Senate, on Monday announced that, beginning with that session, he would press the measure to a vote as soon as possible. The Alaska civil code bill was under consideration during the greater part of the session. An amendment was agreed to fixing a license upon almost every kind of trade and commerce in the district of Alaska, the licenses ranging from $lO to SSOO per annum. The measure had not been disposed of at the conclusion of the session. The House entered upon the consideration of the army appropriation bill. Mr. Jett (Ill.) criticised the policy of rushing officers through the high grades of the army just prior to retirement. Mr. Cox (Tenn.) and Mr. Ridgely (Kan.) opposed generally a permanent increase of the army as prejudicial to the best interests of the country, and Mr. Meyer (La.) discussed the Philippine policy, opposing the retention of the islands.

On Tuesday the Senate agreed to the conference report on the pension appropriation bill. Devoted the rest of the day to debate on the Alaskan civil code bill and the Porto Rico problem. In the House there was lively debate during the consideration of the army appropriation bill. The charge that the Porto Rican tariff bill was the result of a deal for raising a Republican campaign fund was again referred to by Mr. Pierce (Tenn.), but Mr. Hull declared the anonymous author of the charge would never dare to avow himself and be branded as a falsifier.- Mr. Sulzer (N. Y.) made an appeal for the extension of official sympathy to the Boers in their struggle for independence, and Mr. Lentz of Ohio delivered a scathing denunciation of militarism and the war in the Philippines. This attack aroused the indignation of Mr. Marsh (Ill.), who declared Mr. Lentz’s speech was a disgrace to Congress. The Senate on Wednesday agreed to vote on the Porto Rico bill Tuesday afternoon, April 3. Listened to a speech by Mr. Davis in support of free trade. Amended the Alaskan civil code bill by declaring void all permits heretofore given to mine for gold in tide waters under the jurisdiction of the United States and allowing all citizens of the United States to do such mining under regulations imposed by organized mining districts. Defeated the Morgan free coinage amendment to the Porto Rican bill by a vote of 15 yeas to 33 nays. In executive session the Democrats broke a quorum and prevented confirmation of the appointment of William D. Bynum as a member of the board of general appraisers at New York. The House devoted the day to consideration of the army appropriation bill. Several minor amendments were adopted, and about half the bill was considered. Mr. Driggs (N. Y.) created a diversion by charging reckless extravagance in the fitting up of the transport Sumner aiid precipitated a lively tilt upon the subject. He gave notice that later he should ask the House to investigate the subject. The conference reports on the urgent deficiency and the pension appropriation bills were agreed to.