Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1900 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

The Senate spent Monday in debate on the right uf.Congress to extend oj, with= hold the Constitution to territory acquired by the United States. The House began expansion debate, the Porto Rice tariff bill coming up. Passed a bill to amend sections 3339 and 3341 of the Revised Statutes relating to internal revenue tax on fermented liquors, the purpose being to abolish the smaller packages of beer, one-sixth and one-eighth barrels. The bill is to go into effect July 1, 1900. Nothing was accomplished at. a night sesion, which was to have been devoted to pension legislation. Mr. Talbert," of South Carolina, made the point of no quorum and blocked proceedings. The Senate on Tuesday heard Mr. Kenney in opposition to retention of the Philippines and then resumed consideration of. Hawaiian bill. The House heard Mr. Hopkins of Illinois in support of the Porto Rican tariff bill and Messrs. Newla’nds of Nevada and Swanson of Virginia against it. On Wednesday the Senate passed a number of bills of local interest and spent the rest of the day in debate on the Hawaiian government bill, little progress being made. In the House debate onPorto Rican tariff hill was resumed. Adopted Senate resolution authorizing the President to appoint one woman commissioner to represent the United States and the national society of the D. A. It. at the unveiling -of the statue of Lafav ■ ette at the Paris exposition. In the Senate on Thursday Washington’s farewell address was read with fiti<elocutionary effect by Mr. Foraker. Owing to the absence of some " Democrat’m Senators Mr. Penrose announced that he would not call up the Quay case until Friday. In the House debate on Porto Rico tariff bill coiitinv.ed, a notable ~ speech being made by Mr. Grosvenor. On Friday the Senate by a Vote of 34 to 28 decided to take up the Quay case, and Mr. Daniel made a speech in favor of seating Mr. Quay. Mr. Vest and Mr. Foraker delivered notable speeches'anem the Hawaiian government bill. Both were constitutional arguments, Mr. For -aker's being in reply to that of Mr. Vest. The House continued debate on the Porto Rico tariff bill, Mr. Littlefield (Me.) making a noteworthy speech in opposition thereto. Mr. Lacey of lowa, Mr. Russell of Connecticut, Mr. Gardner of Michigan, and Messrs. Jones of Virginia and Maddox of Georgia also spoke. On Saturday the Senate debated the Hawaiian government bill. The discus sion took a wide range, but the basis of it was an amendments offered by Mr. Plntt (Conn.) as tojhe appointmeht anil tenure of office of the judges of the Ila waiiian courts. Mr. Tillman embraced the opportunity to make a. characteristic speech, in the course of which he made an attack upon Mr. Morgan, and vigorously Opposed many provisions of the bill, particularly those which related to suffrage. The House continued debate on Porto Rican tariff bill, the principal speech being by Mr. Tawney of Minnesota. who replied to Mr. Littlefield s speech of Friday.