The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-03-29
SENATE AND HOUSE.
WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAW
MAKERS.
Proceedings of the Senate and House of
Representatives - Important Measures
Discussed and Acted Upon-Gist of the
Business.
The National SolOns.

bill, taking up the amendment relating to
the transfer OF the coast and geodetic sur
vey to the Navy Department. The amend
ment vas defeated-s1 to lO4. After some
debate on minor amendments, Messrs.
Hartman, Republican, of Montana. Nc
Cleary. Republican, OF Minnesota, and Will
son, Republican, OF Washington criticised
the amendment to the timber culture law of
1891, and gave notice that they would ask q
separate vote upon it when the bill was re-
ported to the House. Mr.. Broderick. Re-
publican, of Kansas offered an amendment
setting aside S75. 900 Of the Missouri River
appropriation to strengthen and improve
the river banks at Atclison and Leaven-
worth. Mr.. Mercer. Republican,, of Ne
braska offered II substitute to SEES aside
$3.50 600, providing 1t should be used for
the construction, repair and maintenance
OF revetments between the mouth OF the
Platte River and Sioux City. He insist d
also that the river between Omaha and
Council Bluffs should be looked after. An
amendment was agreed to limiting to Sl22.-
900 the expenditures OF the coast and
geodetic survey. Pending a speech by Mr..
Catchings. Democrat, of Mississippi in de-
Tense OF the Missouri River appropriations,
the House took q recess until S O'Clock.
About fifty members were present at the
night session. After action on several pri-
waite pension bills the lIouse adjourned.
AS there was no quorum in the House on
viz I3Un uO cHOtb was Hdue 10 axe uD the
New Mexico statehood bill. In the Com
mittee OF the Whole on the sundry civil
Dill the paragraph apprOprIating $3.50, 000
TO be expended under the direction of the
Missouri River Commission was agreed to
together with amendments. Before the
vote was taken Mr.. Catchings continued
his argumen against parceling out by re-
striction portions of the river and harbor
appropriations made under the continuing
contract system. Mr.. IiermOn, Republican
Of Oregon, eulogized the contract system
for the waterways of the country, the in
auguration OF which was one of the grand
est achievements OF the Fifty-6rst Con-
g,ess. Nh. Loud Of California criticised
the injustice of the system to those who
were mot in on the proposition Mr..
Hasner Of Nebraska criticised severely the
work OF the Missouri River Commission.
OF the 81, 600. 600 so far appropriated, ST.
100000 was aased on Il reach of fourteen
railes at Jefferson City. At the present
rate it would require $50, 900, 900 and 12O
years to reach Sioux City. Not q dollar
was TO he used at Omaha, Atchison, Leav-
enworth and other cities up the river
where tire Missouri was making great en-
croachnen Mr.. Pickler of South Dako-
TIA advocated an amendment TO divert
500, 00c of the appropriation for the Mis-
SOur River to the stretch OF l 800 miles
above Sioux City. After some further de-
bate Mr.. Bartholdt of Missouri had read "a
letter from II. W.. Goldman and A. j. Gum
Minis of st. Louis, charging that
preparation contained in the bill for the
'ssouri to up river points was being
fO.tered by t..e railroad interests. MIR.
Mercer Of Nebraska advocated an amend
ment to set aside $50, 900 of the Missouri
appropriation for the remOval of snags
and distractions above Sioux City, and
Sl5O,000 for the construction, repair and
maintenance of revetmoats. bikes and
GaterwOrks between the south line Of Ne
braska and Sioux City. After IL few clos
ing words by Catchings action was had on
the pending, amendments The first was
BrOde ick's to set aside S1i 600 to strength
en- the banks at AtchisOn and LeavenwOrth,
Kan. LOst-55 TO so. The Picker and
Mercer amendments were also lost. The
next and last paragraph ia the bill related
to the Soldiers Homes. against two clauses
of which (~piacing the diSDursing officers of
the homes Under bond and requiring an
nual reports ,0n the condition OF the homes
to the Secretary of War; Mr.. Black
raised "a point OF order. After consider
able debate an agreement was reached that
further debate Oh the pending paragraphs
be terminated in thirty minutes. after
which the committee rose. Mr.. Cultivate
presented this army appropriation bill and
the House adjourned.
In the SENATE on the 10th the entire time
was consumed in the consideration of bills
on the calendar. most of which Were meas
ures of no part cnlar Importance. After
an executive session the Senate adjourned.
The Senate OH the 2Ist promptly settled
down to routine business, and a number OF
bills were taken from the calendar and
passed. Among the bills passed was one
granting the right OF way to the James
town and Northern Railroad through the
Devils Lake indian Reservation in Orth
Dakota. At O'cl ,ck the Sena'e took up
the unfinished business. whicn was Il bill
to simplify the form Of deeds of convey
ance and trust releases OF lands in the
District Of Columbia, and after further de-
batting it for an horr without result. went
into an executive session, and at 1890
o'clock ad journed.