Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1898 — WORK OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS.

THE WEEK’S DOINGS IN SENATE AND HOUSE. A Comprehensive Digest of the Proceedings in the Legislative Chambers at Washington —Matters that Concern the People. In the House on Tuesday Mr. Cannon,, chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. reported the urgent deficiency bill! for the army and navy. The President sent to the House the report of the Hawaiian commission, and Mr. Hitt, chairman of the committee, introduced a bill in connection with the consideration of it,, the whole matter being referred to the Committee on Territories. At 12:30 the House adjourned out of respect to the late T. J. Northway of Ohio and W. F. Loveof Mississippi. In the Senate Mr. Haleoffered a bill for the erection of a monument to the officers and sailors who lost their lives, by the explosion of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor. Resolutions from .the Legislature of Vermont were read requesting that Rear Admiral Dewey be made admiral .-’.ml that Captain Clark, commander of the Oregon, be given such rank as his merits demand. Mr. Vest offered a resolution objecting to the proposed colonial system and reciting that the Government should acquire only coaling stations in the orient, unless it shall be the purpose of the United States toorganize the far-off possessions into territories, and ultimately to be admitted asStates. The President sent a large number of nominations to the Senate, but they were all recess appointments with the exception of Powell Clayton of Arkansas. whose rank has been raised toambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Mexico, Senor Romero having announced that his Government had conferred that distinction upon him. Mr. Cullom introduced a bill to provide for theterritory of Hawaii. A brief discussion, of the navigation laws was precipitated: by the consideration of a bill amending: those laws by the addition of a provision* that foreign built vessels wrecked in the United States purchased by citizens of this country and repaired to the extent: of three-fourths of their value shall besubject to forfeiture if they engage subsequently in the coastwise trade of theUnited States. It was made a special, order for Monday. In the House on Wednesday the antiscalping bill passed by a vote of 11Q. to--101. In the Senate no business was transacted jn open session. A few minutes after the Senate convened it went into executive session. At 2:15 business in open session was resumed, the death of Representatives Northway of Ohio and Loveof Mississippi was announced and theSenate adjourned as a mark of respect totheir memory. On Thursday the Senate held a short, session and adjourned until Monday, after making the Niciraguan Canal bill theunfinished business before that body. Mr. Morgan called up the measure, whereupon Mr. Pettigrew moved to adjourn. This, motion failed—l 3 yeas to 42 nays—ands the bill was brought forward. Adjournment was immediately taken. During thesession Mr. Vest stated his opposition to the hurried manner of passing pension, bills in the Senate, and gave notice that he would insist upon a quorum being present when pension bills were being acted; upon. At the other end of the capitol thegeneral deficiency appropriation bill was passed, and the House adjourned until Monday. When the Senate reassembled on Monday Senator Vest made a speech in opposition to teritorial expansion, and Senator Morgan began the debate on the Nicaragua Canal bill. The House spent thelarger part of the day on District of Columbia affairs. The bill to relieve thecondition of American seamen was taken up, but nothing was accomplished. Representative Hepburn of lowa introduced a bill authorizing-the President to acquireby purchase from die State of Costa Rica and Nicaragua full ownership, jurisdiction and sovereignty of such land as may be desirable and neressary to construct and defend a ship canal. The President is also directed to construct such a canal and the bill appropriates sl4o,(x)o,tJ<)o to complete it.