Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1900 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

In aocordance with the recommendation of the President in his message the Senate on Thursday passed a joint resolution providing for the administration of civil affairs in Porto Itico, peudlng the appointment of officers under the Porto Rican Government taw recently enacted; The Alaskan civil code bill was again under consideration, the debate continuing on the Hansborough alien miners’ amendment. Mr. Carter presented formally bis substitute for the Hansbrough amendment and delivered a speech in support of it. Mr. Spooner antagonized both the original and substitute amendments, holding that the courts ought to settle the conflicting claims without interference by Congress. The House spent the day considering the naval bill in committee of the whole. The most important action was the striking out of au appropriation of SIOO,OOO for the use of the navy in making surveys aud charts of the waters of our new island possessions. The regular appropriation of SIO,OOO was put in the bill, the work to be done by the coast and geodetic survey. On Friday the Senate had under consideration the conference report on the Hawaiian civil government measure. Final action upon it was postponed until Saturday. The Alaskan civil code bill was considered for a brief time. Mr. Foraker pronounced a eulogy on Lorenzo Danford, a former Representative from Ohio, and the Senate adopted resolutions expressive of its sorrow. Iu the House after protracted discussion of the naval appropriation bill the provision enabling the Secretary of the Treasury to contract for Krupp armor for the battleships Maine, Ohio and Missouri, at $545 a ton, was ruled ont of the bill. Also the provision to repeal the S3OO limitation placed upon the price of armor by the current law. Two amendments to modify the provisions for the increase of the navy, which authorizes two battleships and six cruisers, were defeated. One proposed to add provision for six gunboats and the other to strike out the provision for the battleships. The Senate on Saturday agreed to the resolution of Mr. Bacon asking the Secretary. of War for information relating to the extra allowance, for army officers stationed in Cuba and Porto Rico. The Quay resolution was taken up and Mr. Perkins (Cal.) 6poke in favor of seating Mr. Quay as a Senator from Pennsylvania on the appointment of the Governor. At the conclusion of Mr. Perkins’ speech the Quay case was laid aside until Monday. The House passed a naval appropriation bill without a record vote. As adopted the measure provides for two battleships, three armored cruisers and three protected cruisers. The $545 figure on armor was stricken out. After 1 p. in. the House devoted itself to eulogies of the late Representative Settle of Kentueby> On Monday the Senate began a two days’ debate on the right of M. S. Quay to a seat as a Senator from Pennsylvania. Speeches in favor of seating Quay were made by Chandler, Kenney and Penroae. Those speaking in opposition were Platt of Connecticut and Quarles. The House entered into general debate upon the postoffice appropriation bill. The minority •dissented from the provisions relating to extension of the pneumatic tube service, special fast mail facilities and the cost of railroad transportation. The Senate on Tuesday by a vote of 33 to 32 refused to seat Mr. Quay. Passed the bill in tly? interests of northwestern lumbermen, authorizing the Secretary of War to make regulations governing the running of loose logs, steamboats and rafts on certain rivers. The House passed the Senate Foraker resolution to provide for the continuation, iu office of the present military administration in Porto Rico, with amendments providing that franchises shall be approved by the President and placing certain restrictions upon charters, corporations, etc. Amended postofflee appropriation bill so as to authorize the employment of temporary clerks in first-class offices at 25 cents an hoar; also adopted an amendment providing for extra compensation for letter carriers when they work in excess of fortyeight hours a week, work on legal holidays to lie counted as eight hours. On Wednesday the Senate agreed to the conference report on the Hawaiian civil government bill, the provisions relating to the right of franchise and imprisonment for debt having been amended to conform to the ideas of the Senate. The agricultural appropriation bill was passed, carrying a little over $3,000,900. The Alaskan civil government Dill was under consideration for an hour, but no progress was made. Mr. Platt (Sf. Y.) moved into Mr. Quay’s old. seat. The House considered the i wist office appropriation bill, and after loug debate struck out the entire approprlation-for pneumatic tube service.