Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1902 — Congress. [ARTICLE]

Congress.

The Senate on Friday received special message from the President on reciprocity with Cuba. A resolution was offered by Mr. Mitchell directing the committee on Pacific Islands and Porto Rico to inquire into the general condition of Hawaii, the administration of affairs there; the quality, condition and value of the public lands in Hawaii; the crown lands; and the ttile of the former queen therein; with power to sit during the recess and a subcommittee to visit the islands if necessary and report at the beginning of the next session. Mr. Hoar proposed an amendment providing that the committee should inquire whether the former queen has any claim against the United States, legal or equitable, by reason of having parted hitherto with her title. Mr. Mitchell accepted the amendment and the resolution was referred to the committee on Pacific Islands and Porto Itico. The House received the President’s special message on Cuba and passed the irrigation bill.

Consideration of the District of Columbia appropriation bill was begun by the Senate on Saturday and the measure, carrying $9,848.(573, passed. The irrigation bill, which passed the House Friday. was then taken up, the House intendments agreed to. and the bill passed. A House bill, pn.ving certain claims heretofore reported by the Secretary of War. growing out of the war ivith Spain, was passed. Private pension bills were then taken up and a number passed. The House passed 199 pension hills, and at 3:45 p. in. adjourned until Monday. After a discussion extending over parts of seevral days what is popularly known as the London dock charges bill xvas passed by the Senate on Monday. The opposition to the measure practically collapsed and it was passed without division. Just before the executive session which preceded adjournment a spirited discussion was precipitated over a motion by Mr. Proctor of Vermont to agree to a conference with the House on the army appropriation bill. Several weeks ago the Senate was affronted by a message from the House refusing to submit to conference certain Senate amendments to the bill. The opposition to Mr. Proctor’s motion was so vigorous that finally lie was forced to withdraw it for the present. The House transacted miscellaneous business under suspension of the rules. It included the adoption of resolutions appropriating $25,000 fqr tile preparation of plans for a memorial in Washington to Abraham Lincoln. $400,000 toward the erection of a monument to the prison ship martyrs, who died off Brooklyn as a result of the cruelties to which they were subjected by the British during the Revolutionary War. and SIO,OOO for the erection of a monument at Fredericksburg, Va.. to the memory of Gen. Hugh Mercer, who was killed during the Revolutionary War. Two bills were passed to amend the general pension laws, one to provide for the restoration to the pension rolls of the widows of soldiers who subsequently married ami were again widowed, and one to increase the pension of those who have lost a limb or were totally disabled while in the military or naval service. The latter bill also carries a provision to increase the pension of a soldier under the dependent act of 1890 from sl2 to S3O per month when ruch pensioner requires frequent or periodical attendance. The resolution calling on the Secretary of War for his reasons for the dismissal of Rebecca J. Taylor, a clerk in the War Department, was laid on the table, 109 to S 4.

In the Senate ou Tuesday lolls were passed to regulate the commutation of (United States prisoners for good conduct, !o amend the act providing for a pernanent census office, so as to include 'unskilled laborers” in the list of those employed uot included in the civil service; to provide for refunding taxes paid ou legacies and bequests for uses of religious. charitable or educational character; for the encouragement of art, etc. The rest of the day was devoted to debate upon the ennnl bill. The House passed bills to amend the bankruptcy law; providing for the punishment of United States prisoners for crimes committed XVlille confined in State institutions; to increase the fees of jurors in I uiteil States courts from $2 to $3 per day; to allow appeals from final rulings of the general land office to the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia; to incorporate the Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba, and to ratify the agreements negotiated tiy the Dawes commission with the Creek, Kansas or K.iw Indians of Oklahoma. A House bill to provide for the opening to settlement of •180,000 acres of land in the Ki iwn, Comanche and Apache Indian reservations in Oklahoma was defeated.

In the Senate practically the entire day Wednesday was taken tip with debate upon the canal bill. A resolution offered several dnvs ago by Mr. Carmack, directing the civil service committee to inquire into the discharge from t-lie War Department of Miss Rebecca J. Taylor for the publication of articles in newspapers criticising the President was called up. and Mr. Carmack spoke in support of it. In the House the general deficiency appropriation hill, tile last of tile supply- hills, wus passed, in tile course of some remarks early in tile session Mr. Cannon dncl it red that if he could have ills way Congress would adjourn sine die before July 4. A night session was held, nt which the House considered hills reported from tlie committee on Indian nduirs.