Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-04-09
FlFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
House.


army appropriation bill. An amend
ment appropriating $4,000 for rifle
range at Fort Sheridan was adopted.
The committee arose, and the bill was
reported to the House, which, by vote
yeas 81, nays 1876, reconsidered and de-
teated the amendment passed on Satur-
DAY, providing that no intoxicating llq-
uors be sold in canteens. A bill deprlv-
ing United States judges Of the author
ity to give an opinion in question OF
fact was passed. Mr.. Springer intro
dnced q Joint resolution authorizing
the president to retire N. P. Banks with
the rank OF major-general.
TUESDAY April LIN the House a res
olution was adopted providing for an
inquiry into the charges that in many
United States district courts the prac-
tice of suspending sentence after con-
viction in criminal cases prevails with
out warrant of law, and that in some
parts of the country United States dis
trict attorneys, marshals and deputies,
and United States commissioners, have
been guilty Of NAL administration
and corruption in office. The following
bills were passed: Senate bill creating
the offices of survey or-general in North
and South Dakota; admitting free of
duty articles intended for the st. Louis
exposition in 1890, which may be inn
ported from the Republic OF Mexico;
exempting from the provisions of the
law requiring steamers to carry life
lines, steamers plying in the inland
waters of the United States. The forti-
tication appropriation bill was passed
by the House to-day. The amount
al geological park bill, providing for
park in the District Of Columbia, was
passed, and the naval appropriation
bill was reported and placed upon the
calendar. The Idaho admission bill
was made special order for tomorrow
and Thursday, the previous question to
be considered, rs ordered, at 3 o'clock
Thursday.
WEDNESDAY, April 2.-The Idaho ad-
mission bill was considered by the
House to-day, but pending further de-
bate the matter went over till to-mor-
row. On motion of Mr.. Carey (Wvo.)'
bill was passed to establish three new
landdistricts In Idaho.
THURSDAY, April 3.-The House to-
day passed the Idaho admission bill,
the Democrats reirainiDg from voting,
and the Speaker counting quorum.
The Democrats say they intend to make
this a test case, and have the courts
rules allowing the Speaker to do 30.
1t had been intended to make one of
the contested election cases test case;
but az this could be done only by
suit for salary brought in the court
Of claiE.s, this course was abandoned
and the present action decided upon.
Mr.. Joseph IN. NJ presented the
claims of the territory Tor admission.
Among the bills passed were: Author
ling the secretary of war to deliver to
the state of Colorado flags carried by
Colorado regiments; amending the ar
ticles Of war SO as to provide that when
the punishment on the conviction of
military otlense is left with the court
martial, the punishment in time OF
peace shall not be in excess of
limit prescribed by the President. Mr..
Lawler introduced a bill to test the
science of short spelling and to estab-
lish 100 schools for the purpose. The
Senate concurrent resolution was agreed
to requesting the President to invite
from time to time, as fit occasions may
arise, negotiations with any govern
ment with which the United States
may have diplomatic relations to the
end that any difference or disputes
arising between the governments, which
cannot be adjusted by diplomatic
agency, may be referred to arbitration.
FRIDAY, pril 4.-Private pension bills
were considered in the House to-day.
Represents j. d. Taylor, from the
to-day reported to the House the bill
agreed upon by that committee provid-
ing for the appointment Of an alcoholic
liquor traffic commission. The re-
port of the committee says that
a large portion of the people
have Tor long time desired an honest,
intelligent, impartial and thorough in
vestigation Of the liquor traffic in all its
phases. Reference is made to inquiries
by similar commissions in England
which have had remarkable results and
warrant further investigation. Reports
from domestic sources indicate hat
the liquor traffic causes Iour-ffths
of all the crimes committed, wastes
one-half of taxation, causes the ex-
penditure of $80O.0O0,000 year in
drink, incapacltates mentally and
physically half million people for
Of the pauperism OF the country, and is
responsible for the fearful increase in
insanity. On the other hand these
statements are denied and pronounced
to be the hallucinations of diseased
brain. The ore, says the report, let us
have an investigation, and let the
world know the truth or fall
sity of these assertions. Repre-
sentative Quinn. of New York,
presented a minority report in op-
position. He says that under the terms
of the bill while the commissioners
shall not belong to the same political
party they may all be Prohibitionists.
The majority concede that Congress
has no power to regulate the liquor
traffic in the states. and it is therefore
a novel proposition that 1t shall investi-
gate a subject without possessing
the power to carry out by legislation
the recommenpation made by the COM
mittee. Mr.. Quinn maintains that
there is no information on the subject
that has not already been published;
no argument relating thereto has not
been already made. The bill, he saws,
is intended to infringe upon the rights
of the people, and is un-American in
it's character.
SATURDAY. April Bills were passed
granting the right Of way through the
Fort Pembina Military Reservation to
the Duluth & Manitoba Railroad Com
pany; increasing to eleven the mem
bership Of the boad of managers of the
National Homes for Disabled Soldiers,
f1ll