Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1901 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

On Thursday the Senate, by a vote of 33 to 25, agreed to the conference report on the army reorganization bill. The shipping bill was discussed during the latter part of the day, aud some progress was made on-amendments. A speech by Mr. Rawlins of Utah against the bill was in progress at the close of the day. The House passed the fortifications appropriation bill and made fair progress with the postofflee appropriation bill. During the general debate upon the former bill Mr. Lnnhani of Texas delivered a notable speech upon the future of the Democratic party, making a strong plea for the necessity of united Democracy and counseled the burial of the hatchet and the welcoming back of those who in the last two presidential campaigns have declined to suport the nominees of the party. Many amendments were offered to the postoffice appropriation bill in the interest of various claims of postofflee employes, but they all went.down before points of order raised by Mr. Loud, the chairman of the postofflee committee, who was in charge of the bill. The Senate spent Friday considering the shipping bill. The House passed an omnibus bill carrying 191 claims for stores and supplies taken by the Union army during the rebellion. The claims were passed on by the court of claims and aggregated $344,480. Practically all the beneficiaries reside in the South. Considerable opposition to the bill was displayed under the leadership of Mr. Cannon, the chairman of the appropriations committee, but it flattened out later and the bill finally was passed without division. The bill to amend the Chinese exclusion act, with a view to preventing the fraudulent entry of Chinese into the United States, was passed. The Senate met at 11 o’clock Saturday and with the exception of an hour and a half at the beginning of the session devoted the entire day to the discussion of the ship subsidy bilk Mr. Turner and Mr. Mallory were the speakers in behalf of the opposition. Mr. Turner's speech was based largely upon exceptions which he had taken to Mr. Frye's criticisms of his former speech. Mr. Mallory opposed the bill on constitutional grounds. Passed bill authorizing the construction of a public building at Hammond, Ind., to cost $125,000. The House spent the day until 3 o’clock in the consideration of the postofflee appropriation bill. The struggle over, the question of restoring the appropriation for pneumatic tube service and of the reduction of railway mail pay were precipitated by amendments offered, but no action was taken. At 3 o’clock public business was suspended to permit the members to pay tribute to the late Senator Davis of Minnesota. The ship subsidy bill was laid aside informally by the Senate on Monday to permit consideration of the appropriation bills. The shipping bill holds its place, and as unfinished business can be taken up when the appropriation bills are ! not occupying attention. The greater ; part of Monday was given to a speech by I Mr. Bacon of Georgia on the right of the : Senate to demand information on file in | the executive departments. He took the J position that the departments are the ' creatures of Congress, and that departmental denial of any demand for papers on file was preposterous, contending that for a hundred years there had been practically no refusal to recognize this right. Secretary Long's letter regarding Santiago naval rewards caused a discussion in which Senators upheld their course in this matter. The House passed the Senate bill to create a commission to adjudicate the claims of United States citizens against Spain which the government of the United States assumed by the treaty of Paris, after having amended the bill ,so ns to refer the claims to the court of claims instead of to a commission. A strong effort Was made to vote down the amendment and pass the Senate bill, but the advocates of this course were defeated by a majority of 35. A bill was passed without debate to extend the charters of national banks for another period of twenty years after 1902, when the present extension expires. Bills to ratify the agreement with the Crow Indians of Montana and to provide for the redemption of Hawaiian coin at par were defeated. About an hour was spent on the postofflee appropriation bill in the discussion of the amendment to reduce the railway mail pay, but no action was taken. The Senate on Tuesday passed District of Columbia appropriation bill and partly considered bill making appropriations for support of AVest Point military academy. During dny ship subsidy bill by vote of Senate was formally laid aside and superseded as unfinished business. The House continued discussion of controverted questions in connection with postofflee appropriation bill. Mr. Griggs (Go.) spoke against organisations of postal employes formed with view to forcing legislation in their interest. Mr. Moody (Mass.) discussed question of railway mail pny from standpoint of member of joint postal commission. Mr. Bfomwell (Ohio) and Mr. Gaines (Tenn.) assailed appropriations for special mail facilities from New York to New Orleans, and Mr. .Catchings (Miss.) and Mr. Meyer (La.) defended these appropriations ns necessary for expedition of Southern mail. The Senate on AA’ednesdny passed the military academy appropriation bill and the war revenue reduction measure. Considered the shipping bill at a night session. In the House debate on the postoffleo appropriation bill consumed the dny. It was agreed before adjournment that the debate should close Thursday at 12:30 p. m., when the votes should be taken upon the several pending amendments.