Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1896 — WORK OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS.

THE WEEK’S DOINGS IN SENATE AND HOUSE. A Comprehensive Digest of the ProreeHiny in the Legislative Chain- , bers at Washington—Matters that Concern the People. Lawmakers at Labor. The House Tuesday by a vote of 1-65 to 69 passed the bill for the repeal of section 61 of the present tariff law providing for a rebate on used in the arts or medicinal compounds. Anamendment was attached providing for a joint commission to consist of three members from each bouse to examine and report on all questions relating to free alcohol at the next session. The Senate amendment to the general deficiency bill, excepting the French spoliation claims and claims under the Bowman act,' were disagreed to and the bill sent'to conference. . Another partial report on the Indian appropriation bill which-left only- the-question of sectarian schools and the old scttlersUelaims still ip dispute, was adopted. Tariff and' finance each came in for a share ofc consideration in the Senate. Early in the day Mr. Sherman succeeded in having the filled cheese bill taken up,..whereupon Mr. Dubois offered an amendment adding 75 cents a barrel to the tax on beer. On the question of adopting the amendment the debate became general, Senators Mills and Gray supporting and Nelson, Aldrich and Vilas opposing it. The bill was displaced by the bond bill, which was advocated by Mr. Pritchard and opposed by Mr. Lindsay. A bill wap passed to pension, at. 575 a month, the widow of Gen. George E. Spencer, at one time United States Senator from Alabamnw 1 The Senate Wednesday defeated the proposition to increase the beer tax 75 cents per barrel by the The House spent almost the entire day discussing the Senate amendment to the general deficiency bill appropriating sl,027,000 for the-payment of about 700 French spoliation claims, $548,000 for 325 war claims, T found to be due under the Bowman act; $174,000 for the payment of what is known as the Chautauqua claim for the construction of an ironclad steam battery in 1864, and about SIO,OOO for ■lndian supplies furnished in 1873 and 1874. The vote was close, but the friends of the claiins carried the day—lJl to 97. All intereat in the House proceedings was overshadowed by the St. Louis horror. A resolution ..was passed directing the Secretary of War to'place at the disposal of the Mayors of the stricken cities n sufficient nuinber of tents to provide sor — the temporary necessities of the homeless and to render such aid as might bo in his power. Mr. Barthfild, of St. Louis, who ’saw~Secretirry’ Lamont, said there were eight or ten boats used in the Mississippi I'iyeiLi&lPja'vement which might be able to render assistance, and these will be ordered to the scene of the disaster if neces'sary. When the House resolution was received in the Senate authorizing the Secretary of War to loan tents and render aid to the Mayors of St. Louis and East St. Ivouis Mr. Palmer, of Illinois, asked iniimsliate consideration. Mr. Vest, of. Missouri, interposed the suggestion that while it might seem ungracious for him to interpose objection, yet, in view of inte reports showing the usual exag geration attending the first hours of -calamity he did not consider this action necessary. The people of St. Louis, he said, could take care of themselves, and, although the resolution could po no harm, yet he deprecated the tendency to rush impulsively to Federal sources for relief. Mr. Harris, of Tennessee, said he fully sympathized with this view, although the resolution, being here, it should be acted on, and made joint instead of concurrent. Mr. Cullom, of Hfinois, said he felt from the hytest repprtsjliat there was no occasion for the passage oTthe relief resolution, and that the respective States would lie able to take cane of their people on both sides of the river. Y’et, a,s the House had acted, Mr. Cullom urged that the Senate should give-itsiissent. He added' that he was still in doubt and worried over the situation on the Illinois side. The resolution was amended* to be joint instead of T*oncurreiif, tlitis requiring presentation to the President, and was thetr adopted. The House later agreed to the Senate amendment, which makes the resolution joint instead of concurrent. The Joy resolution fpr the relief of the St. Louis sufferers reached the President at 5 o'clock and was signed by him ten minutes later. In the Senate Friday the bills repealing the law relating to rebates on alcohol used in the arts, and amending the law concerning the distilling of brandy from fruits were passed. > The latter authorizes the exemption of distillers of brandy made from fruits from the provisions relating to the manufacture of spirits, except as to the tax thereon. The House spent almost the entire day debating the Jofln.st on-St okes con tested elect ion ease_ from the Seventh South Carolina district. Tile Republicans were badly divided. Those who favored seating the contestant. Johnston, who ran on a. Populi«t-Re-publican ticket, finding themselves slightly in the minority when the voting began, inaugurated a filibuster which lasted until the conference report on the naval appropriation bill came to the rescue, atyl th< House recessed before final action was taken. Johnston's partisans wpre outvot-’ ed—los to 95, and 103 to 99—the fir»t vote being on the minority resolution declaring Johnston entitled to a seat, the second on the majority resolution declaring him not entitled to it. An effort will be made to reconsider.