Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1897 — NATIONAL SOLONS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL SOLONS.

REVIEW OF THEIR WORK AT' WASHINGTON. Detailed Proceeding* of Senate and House—Bill* Passed or Introduced in Either Branch—Questions of Mo* meat to the Country at Large. The Lecdslative Grind. Mr. Lodge (Mass.) made an effort in the Senate Monday to secure an immediate vote upon his immigration bill, which is substantially the same measure that was passed by the Fifty-fourth Congress and vetoed by President Cleveland. Mr. Allen (Neb.) objected to an immediate vote and suggested that the final vote on the amendments and the bill be taken on Monday, Jan. 17, at 3p. m. This suggestion was accepted by Mr. Lodge and the order for vote at that time was made. Mr. Gorman, chairman of the Democratic steering committee, presented an order which was adopted, rearranging some of the committee assignments of some of the Democratic members, made necessary by the incoming of new members. Mr. Pettigrew (S. D.) called up the bill granting to settlers the right to make second homestead entries. He made a brief explanation of the measure. It gave all persons ■who were not at the time owners of land under the homestead law the right to make secolid homestead entries. Each person would be entitled to acquire 160 acres of land. The bill was passed. A bill providing for the erection of an addition to the public building at Los Angeles. Cal., to cost $250,000, was passed. Mr. Wilson (Wash.) presented a resolution directing the civil service commission to transmit to the Senate a statement by fiscal years since 1890 showing the total number of persons examined, the total number passed a.nd the total number appointed in the several branches of the Government service at the beginning of each of those fiscal years. The resolution was agreed to. The Senate then adjourned. Excepting the reporting of the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill, the House did no public business Monday.

Wednesday’s proceedings in the Senate were enlivened by an interesting debate upon the bill presented by the Foreign Relations Committee providing for the prohibition of pelagic sealing by Americans. The provisions of the measure were explained by Mr. Davis. Mr. Pettigrew (S. D.) sharply antagonized the measure, saying that this country had already suffered more than enough humiliation on account of the seal business, and that he favored the settlement of the question by killing all of the seals as they appeared at the rookeries of the Prybilof Islands, if by the first of June next Great Britain also had not agreed to the prohibition of pelagic sealing. He offered an amendment to that effect, but it was defeated. The bill was passed by a vote of 37 to 14. Mr. Mcßride of Oregon endeavored to secure the adoption of his resolution directing the Secretary of War to supply relief to the suffering miners in the Klondike region and appropriating $250,000 for that purpose. The resolution was amended so that the supplies might be transported by means of reindeer. Mr. Mcßride consented finally that the resolution should be recommitted to the Military Affairs Committee, with the understanding that it would be promptly reported. The session closed with a spirited civil service debate upon the bill presented by the Census Committee providing for the appointment of a director of the census and thirty-two employes who should form the skeleton of an office force for the twelfth census. In the House the legislative, executive, and judicial appropriation bill was discussed, but only one amendment of importance was adopted. It reduced the clerical, force at the pension office ninety-five.

In the House on Thursday a bill passed appropriating $175,000 for relief of people who are in Yukon river country, and also bill passed by the Senate the day before to prohibit pelagic sealing by American citizens. Former bill encountered practically no opposition. Bill to prohibit pelagic sealing warmly antagonized by Mr. Johnson of North Dakota, Mr. Loud of California, Mr. Hepburn and others. In the Senate resolution directing the Secretary of War to send supplies , to American and other sufferers in Klondike region passed. Mr. Pritchard of North Carolina, chairman of civil service investigating committee, delivered brief, speech upon execution of civil service’ law as developed by his committee. Senate passed bill directing Secretary of Treasury to purchase or construct suitable vessel for revenue cutter service on Y'ukon river, Alaska, to cost not to exceed $40,000. Mr. Allison of appropriationscommittee reported favorably House joint resolution providing for recess of Congress from Dec. 18, 1897, to Jan. 5, 1898. Adopted. Mr. Hawley of Military Affairs Committee reported resolution of Mr. Mcßride of Oregon for relief of American miners and other sufferers in Yukon valley, Alaska. Committee struck out all but enacting clause and amended by appropriating $250,000, which is to be used by Secretary of. War for purchase of subsistence and supplies and for their transportation and distribution. Adopted.

In the Senate on Friday a joint resolution accepting the invitation of Norway to participate in an international commission next year was passed. One hundred and thirty-eight private pension bills were passed. Resolutions on the death of William Steele Holman, late representative from Indiana, were taken up. Tributes to his memory were paid in eloquent eulogies by several members. The resolutions were passed, and as a further mark of respect the Senate at 4:25 p. m. adjourned until Saturday.; lu the House amendments to the legislative, executiveand judicial appropriation bill were adopted. The House refused to accept the Senate amendment to the bill for the relief of the miners in the Upper Yukon, and it was sent to conference.