Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1901 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

During Thursday’ssession the army reorganization bill was discussed in the Senate at length by Mr. Money (Dem.) of Mississippi, Mr. McComas (Rep.) of Maryland and Mr. Bate (Dem.) of Tennessee. The Mississippi Senator devoted some attention to the practice of hazing at West Point, which he bitterly denounced. A bill fixing the compensation of district superintendents of the life, saving service at $2,500 per annum, except in the case of the superintendent of the eighth district, whose salary is fixed at $1,500, was passed. A- bill to extend the privileges of an act in relation to the immediate transportation of dutiable goods to the city of Milwaukee was passed. It was an exceedingly dull day in the House. The entire day was spent upon the bill to revise and codify the postal laws, which is to be the continuing order, not, however, to interfere with appropriation bills reports until disposed of. It is a bill of 221 pages and is simirtj- a revision of existing laws. Some disposition was manifested to inject into the measure some amendments to the present law in the interest of certain classes of mail employes, but such attempts were successfully resisted. The Senate on Friday passed army reorganization bill by vote of 43 to 23, after adopting amendment providing for payment of S2OO to each soldier in Philippines whose term expires before July 1, 1901, and who will re-enlist for three years. By vote of 43 to 23 rejected amendment by Mr. Gallinger ordering revocation of all liquor licenses iu Philippines, forbidding issuing of licenses in future and prohibiting importation into islands of beer, wine and distilled spirits. Bill then went to conference, with Messrs. Hawley, Proctor and Cockrell as Senate conferees. The House spent entire day on bill to refer to court of claims the claims of William Cramp & Sons for alleged damages due to delay of government in furnishing armor plate and material for battleships Massachusetts and Indiana and cruisers New York and Columbia. Claims aggregate $1,367.244. Bill has been conspicuous at every session of Congress for several years. Filibuster was begun, but advocates of bill succeeded in having previous question ordered. This gives bill tactical advantage in parliamentary way, which practically insures vote upon it whenever it is called up again, — Saturday in the Senate was given'up to eulogies on the late Senator Gear. In the House the session was devoted chiefly to postal codification bill; —whren yvas about half completed. Proposition to compel star route contracts to be let to persons living contiguous to route was defeated. Bill was passed granting fifteen days’ annual leave to employes of navy yards, arsenals, etc. On Monday the Senate confirmed appointment of James S. Harlan of Chicago as attorney general of Porto Rico by vote of 43 to 21. Devoted rest of day to legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill, adopting amendment appropriating SIO,OOO to keep library of Congress open from 2 o'clock to 10 o'clock Sundays. The House appointed Messrs. Hull (Iowa), Brownlow (Tennessee) and Hay (Virginia) ns House conferees, on army reorganization bill. By vote of 135 to 57 passed bill appropriating $230,000 for construction in District of Columbia of home for aged and infirm colored people. By vote of 37 yeas to 82 nays killed bill allowing subjects of foreign countries claiming indemnity for injuries received in this country to bring suit in the court of claims. Passed Senate bill to establish branch soldiers’ home at Johnson City, Tenn. Passed bill increasing salary of commissioner of education in Porto Rico from $3,000 to $4,000. In the Senate on Tuesday appropriate resolutions on death of Queen Victoria were ordered engrossed and forwarded to the prime minister of Great Britain. Legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill was completed. Treaty with Spain for purchase of two Philippine Islands. unintentionally omitted from Paris treaty, was ratified by vote of 38 to 19' Adjourned as an additional mark of respect to the memory of Queen Victoria The House passed bill to send to the court of claims the claims of Cramp & Sons of $1,300,000 for alleged damages on account of failure of government to furnish armor plate for battleships on time. Passed Senate bill to extend placer mining laws to saline lands. Adopted a resolution of profound regret over death of Queen Victoria, and adjourned as an additional mark of respect. On Wednesday the Senate resumed consideration of shipping bill. It was made the unfinished business of the Senate. thus restoring it to its privileged position. Mr. Vest attacked it iu a speech lasting nearly three hours. Mr. Rawlins precipitated lively colloquy by charging deal had been entered into between Republican memlHTB of Utah Legislature and certain railroad interests and officials of the Mormon Church to secure election of Thomas L. Kearns to the Senate from that Stale. He aroused Mr. Hale and Mr. Chandler, who contended statements of Mr. Rawlins ought not to be made in Senate at this stage of proceedings in Utah, as Senate could not consider the question in any phase in advance of action. The House passed District of Columbia appropriation bill and entered upon consideration of naval appropriation bill. There was some discussion of extent to which navy was to be increased ultimately, in course of which Mr. Wheeler (Dem., Ky.) declared himself in favor of navy large enough to meet ‘‘all comers," and some criticism by Mr. Richardson. minority leader, of rapid growth of naval expenditures.