Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1900 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

Mr. Gallinger presented an argument in the Senate on against the seating of M, S. Quay as a Senator from Pennsylvania. He devoted himself almost entirely to the constitutional phases of the question. Most of the day was spent in executive session op the llnyPauncefote treaty, in the House when 4 o’clock, the hour fixed for taking a vote on the bill to provide territorial government for Hawaii, arrived, loss than half the bill had been covered and so many amendments remained that it wns agreed to continue the consideration of the bill under the five-minute rule until it was finished. Several important amendments were agreed to, among them the following: To nullify al! labor contracts in the islands, to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquor in saloons, to limit the land holdings of corporations to I.UOO acres, to substitute for the House provision relating to the appointment of judges and other officers of the island the Senate provision. The Ilonse provision lodged the appointing power in the Governor, the Senate placed it in the President. Mr. Deboe gave notice in the Senate on Friday that he would move to refer the credentials of former Senator J. C. S. Blackburn as a Senator from Kentucky to the committee on privileges and elections. During the greater part of the season the Senate had under consideration the Indian appropriation bill. Mr. Sullivan delivered a speech in favor of the seating of M. S. Quay. The House passed the substitute for the Senate bill providing for a territorial form of government for Hawaii.During almost the entire session of the Senate on Saturday an amendment to the Indian appropriation bill offered by Mr. Jones (Art-.) providing for the continuance of the Government’s employment of the contract Indian schools, in certain circumstances, was under consideration. The debate took a wide range, the whole question of sectarian schools being gone over at length. The notable feature of the discussion was an eloquent speech delivered in support of the amendment by Mr. Vest. The amendment was pending when the Senate adjourned, the vote upon it disclosing the fact that no quorum was present. The House paid tribute to the memory of the late Richard Parks Bland of Missouri, popularly known as “Silver Dick” Bland, who was a member of the House for twenty-six years. Splendid eulogies of the life and career of the great champion of silver were offered by members on both sides of the political aisle. At the conclusion of the ceremonies the House, as further mark of respect, adjourned. A resolution was adopted calling npon the Secretary of War for information as to whether Charles E. Magoon, the legal adviser of the insular bureau, had ever rendered an opinion that, by the treaty with Spain, the Constitution was extended over Porto Rico and the Philippines. After some further discussion the Senate on Monday rejected the sectarian school amendment to the Indian appropriation bill offered by Mr. Jones (Dem., Ark.) by a vote of 30 to 16. As has been the practice for two or three years, the free homes measure was offered as an amendment to the bill, but it was ruled out on the point of order that it was general legislation and therefore not germane to an appropriation bill. Without division, the bill was passed. The measure carries about >8,414,000. An unsuccessful effort was made to agree upon a date for a vote on the resolution relative to the seating of Mr. Quay as a Senator from Pennsylvania. During the last two hours of the session the Alaskan civil code bill was under consideration. An amendment offered by Mr. Hansbrough concerning the title to mining claims in the Cape Nome district provoked a warm debate. In the House the agricultural appropriation bill was under consideration and was made the vehicle of considerable desultory debate on irrelevant political topics. Good progress was made with the bill after the close of general debate, twenty-five of the thirty-seven pages l»eing covered before adjournment. In the Senate on Tuesday unanimous consent was given for a vote on April 24, 4 p. m., on a resolution relative to seating M. 8. Quay as a Senator from Pennsylvania. Eulogies were pronounced upon Richard Parks Biand, late member of the House of Representatives. On m<>flon of Mr. Cullom the Senate non-con-curred in the House amendments to the Hawaiian civil government bill, nnd Senators Cullom, Lodge and Morgan were named as conferees. In the House agricultural bill passe<l substantially as reported. Objections to free distribution of seeds and vaccine were voted dowu. Mr. Hepbirn said Nicaragua bill would be brought up for passage if he could effect it. A bill passed to create a commission to make a settlement with the Rioux City and Pacific Railroad of its indebtedness to the United States. On Wednesday the Senate with little debate of importance passed the Pacific cable hill, a measure appropriating >.'!.- OOO.OOtrsfiir the construction of n cable line between San Francisco and HouaInln. The bill was unanimously reported by the committee on naval affairs, and that it was passed without serious objection is regarded as a compliment to the committee. During the greater part of the session the District of (,’oluinbin appropriation bill was under consideration. As passed it carries nearly >B,000,000. The House passed the Porto Rico tariff bill ns amended by the Senate by a rote Of 161 to 153.