Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1898 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

Discussion in the Senate of the Hawaiian annexation question was interrupted on Thursday by Mr. Rawlins of Utah with a speech in which he criticised vigorously the provision embodied in the conference report on the Indian appropriation bill which acknowledges the right of Indians to lease mineral lands on their reservations. At 1 o’clock the Hawaiian resolution was called up nnd Mr. Pettigrew of South Dakota resumed his speech in opposition, addressing the Senate for about two hours. Mr. Pettigrew, on account of fatigue, yielded the floor to Mr. McEnery (Dem., La.), who presented a constitutional argument against annexation. At the session of the House further agreements upon the sundry civil bill were reported from the committee on conference and adopted, and further conference upon/tjhe remaining points in difference was res quested. A large number of bills of minor importance were passed and sixty-three pension and relief measures were disposed of, pursuant to the recommendations reached several days before in committee of the whole. The House adjourned until Monday. The conference report on the bankruptcy bill was reported to Oongress Friday afternoon and was immediately agreed to in the Senate. The bill as agreed to is a compromise between the provisions of the bills passed by the Senate and House respectively. The Senate bill was known as the Nelson bill and that of the House as the Henderson bill. The latter was far more liberal to the debtor than the former. The compromise leans to the House side of the question. The Hawaiian annexation resolutions were under discussion in the Senate. The speakers were Mr. McEnery (Dem.. La.), who concluded his address begun on Thursday, and Mr. Turley (Dem., Tenn.), who presented a constitutional argument against the resolutions.

Filibustering tactics were begun in the Senate Saturday afternoon on the Hawaiian resolution. Senator Morgan took to task the men who were defying public sentiment, and, as he said, misrepresenting their constituents and embarrassing the President. As a result Senator White made an insinuation that may result in a settlement outside of the Senate chamber. Mr. White said that Morgan’s statements proceeded from “corruption or imbecility,” and the latter intimated that he would require a personal explanation. The conference report on the sundry civil bill was presented. A long discussion followed on the proposition of the conference committee that the Senate recede from its amendment suspending President Cleveland’s forest reservation order and restoring to the public domain for homestead entry the lands embraced therein. Finally the conference report (partial) was agreed to and a further conference ordered. The House was not in session.

Consideration of the Hawaiian annexation resolutions was resumed on Monday, and during the session Mr. Clay (Dem.) of Georgia, Mr. Roach (Dem.) of North Dakota, and Mr. Caffery (Deiu.) of Louisiana, addressed the Senate in opposition to them. Mr. Caffery had not concluded his speech when the Senate adjourned. The House devoted the day's session to consideration of legislation affecting the District of Columbia. The messages of the President relative to Naval Constructor Hobson, the Hudson officers and crew at Cardenas and Capt. Hodgson, of the Hugh McCullough, at Manila, were not read until late. Few members were present, and the reading was not marked by any demonstration.

In the House on Tuesday the conference report upon the bankruptcy bill was adopted by a vote of 134 to 53. When the bankruptcy bill was disposed of Mr. Mahon (Rep., Pa.) asked unanimous consent for disagreement to the Senate amendments to the war claims or “omnibus” bill, and for granting the request of the Senate for a conference. Consent was given and the cbair appointed as conferees Messrs. Mahon, Otjen and Richardson. Several bills affecting the army were passed, notably being those providing for the pay of volunteers from the date of enrollment for service, and providing for increases in the ordnance, engineer and quartermaster’s departments. Almost the entire session of the Senate was occupied by Mr. Caffery (Dem., La.) in a continuation of his speech against the annexation of Hawaii. At 4 o’clock he had not concluded, but yielded the floor in order that the general deficiency bill might be considered. The bill was read and the committee amendments, so far as they have been offered, were agreed to.