People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1897 — WORK OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS.

LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS AT WASHINGTON. Closing Honrs of the House and Sonata Marked by the Usual Rush of Work — Many Bills Meet with “Pocket Veto” —Some of the Measures That Passed. Wednesday, March 3. The house ordered the Indian bill sent back to conference. The immigration bill was passed over the President’s veto by a vote of 193 to 37. The senate amendment to reduce the price of armor plate to S3OO was accepted by a vote of 131 to 52. The conference report on the sundry civil bill was reported to the house. The principal change made in conference was a reduction of 12% per cent on appropriations for rivers and harbors. A provision under which the action of the president setting aside lands in western states as forest reserves may be reversed was also one of the important changes. The conference report was agreed to, and the house took a recess for one hour. In the senate a further conference on the sundry civil bill was ordered. A message from the house reported the passage of the immigration bill over the president’s vetot. The veto message was read, and without comment, was referred to the committee on immigration. Thursday, March 4. The closing hours in the house were uneventful. The statesmen worked all night to get the sundry civil, Indian and agricultural bills to the President, only to have them pocket vetoed, while the general deficiency failed of passage because the house refused to subscribe to the half million of Bowman claims which the senate insisted upon. The only feature of the closing throb of life was the enthusiastic reception accorded Speaker Reed, and the unanimous standing vote of thanks tendered him. After this the house adjourned without day. The senate of the LVth congress met in extra session, with Vice-President Hobart presiding, in pursuance to a call of the retiring President. Proceedings were confined largely to the : valedictory of the retiring, Vice-Presi-dent, Mr. Stevenson, the opening address of the new Vice-President, Mr. Hobart, and the swearing into office of the new senators.