Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1900 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

In the Senate on Thursday almost the entire session was devoted to consideration of the right of Nathan B. Scott of West Virginia to retain his seat in the Senate. Mr. Pettns (Ain.), who alone of the member of the committee on privileges and elections is opposed..to the claim of Mr. Scott to a seat, made an elaborate argument to sustain his views. Mr. Morgan (Ala.) spoke in favor of his colleague’s contention. Mr. McComns (Md.), Mr. Turley (Tenn.), Mr. Chandler (N.-H.), Mr. Teller (Colo.), and Mr. Allen (Neb.) supported the resolution declaring Mr. Scott entitled to his scat. The case went over without action. The House after four days’ discussion, passed the postoffiee appropriation bill. The attempt to strike out the $190,000 for special mail facilities from New York to New Orleans and from Kansas City to. Newton, Kan., was defeated. The amendment providing for pneumatic tube service was defeated. The one allowing extra compensation for letter carriers for work iu excess of forty-eight hours a week was adopted by a big majority. The bill to increase Jhe salary of the director of census to $7,500 and the salaries of supervisors of census by 2 per cent, of the amount received by their enumerators was passed. On Saturday lu the Senate Mr. Pettigrew asked immediate consideration of a resolution extending sympathy nr.d hopes for success to the Boers in their war with Great Britain. A motion to refer the resolution to the committee ou foreign relatioiisowas carried l»y 31 to 11. Efforts to secure a quorum fnileffi and the resolution remains subject to call at any time. A resolution was adopted providing that tbe exercises appropriate to the reception ar.d acceptance from the Grand Army of the Reputitic of the statue of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, to be erected in the capitol. be made the special order for Saturday, May If), nt 4p. m. The following bills were passed: For the establishment, control, operation and maintenance of the uorthera branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, at Hot Springs, in South Dakota, and appropriating $150,000 for the purpose*. The House passed a number of bills of importance, and the mnjor portion of the sessiou was devoted to the Senate bill to create a commission to adjudicate the ctoiims of citizens of the United States against Spain, assumed by this country by the treaty of Paris. The bill was finally recommitted to the committee ou war claims, with instructions to report back a bill to refer the claims to tbe court of claims. The Senate bills to recognize the services of Lieut. Newcomb and the officers aud men of the revenue cutter Hudson, which rescued the torpedo boat Winslow at Carnedas, Cuba, by conferring gold and silver medals upon them and to retire Cnptnin Hodgsdon of the revenue cutter Hugh McCulloch, for meritorious services, were passed. On Monday the Senate, by a Tote of 29 to 20, ref list'd to consider tbe pro-Boer resolution introduced by Mr. Pettigrew. Agreed to the conference report on the amendatory Porto Rico resolution. Passed bill appropriating $40,000 to enlarge and improve tbe public building nt Burlington, lowa. Agreed to the conference report on the bill in behalf of northwestern inmliermeu, authorizing the Secretary of War to make certain regulations on the management of loose logs ou several Specified rivers. The House sent to the committee ou judiciary the joint resolution for u constitutional amendment to disqualify polygamists for election as Senators or Representatives. By a vote of 144 to 20 passed the Lacey bill to prohibit the transportation by inter-state commerce of game killed In violation of local law*. Agreed to tbe conference report on the Torto Rico amendatory resolution. In committee of the whole considered the Senate bill for the creation of a commission to study and report upon the industrial conditions in China and Japan. Struck ont the enacting clause by a vote of 58 to 54 after amending it by reducing the number of commissioners from five to three, providing that not more than two of these shall be ol the same political party, and that none shall be members of either braueb of Congress. Motion to strike out enacting clansc was pending in open session when adjournment was voted. Alaskan civil code bill passed the Senate on Tuesday, amendments being withdrawn. Harris’ resolution passed concerning conservation of the water or the Arkansas river for the benefit of Colo-" rado and Kansas. Tillman’s resolution concerning tests of Krupp armor at Indian Head was agreed to. Consideration or army appropriation bill, carrying $114.951,590, was resumed. Lodge’s amend meut forbidding establishment of telegraph or cable lines in Alaska not owned and operated wholly by citizens of tho United States was adopted. Berry's amendment giving preference so non-trust bidders ou army contracts >jas defeated. 18 to 21). Stewart's amendment, “intended to prevent a Cuban cable monopoly,” was rejected, lu the House the entire day was devoted to consideration of the Nicaragua canal hill. The Senate on Wednesday passed Mil for the creation of linked memo rial parks on the battlefields of Fredericksburg Chnneellomille. the Wilderness aud Spottsylviiuia, in Virginia. Received notice from Mr. Hoar that on Thursday lie would call up the Clark contest case for consideration. Heard Mr. Mason lu support of his proposition to enact legislation to prevent the adulteration of food. Devoted the rest of the day to dcbntq on the army Appropriation bill, with the treatment of American soldiers iu the Philippines as the chief subject. The House by a vote of 225 to 33 pa«sed bill providing for the const ruction of n protected but not n fortified Nicaragua canal.