The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-02-21
DOINGS OF CONGRESS-.
LAST SESSION OF FIFTY.
THIRD CONGRESS.
A Condensed Record OF the Proceed.
fngs in the senate ana House,
Matters Of Importance Dealt
With.

Washington. Feb IL. - BY the de-
cisive vote of SO to % the senate voted
to inaugurate the project of laying a
cable from the Pacific coast to Hawaii.
An amendment to the diplomatic n
consular appropriation bill was made
giving 100000 for beginning work On
the cable and authorizing the preSi-
lent to contract for the entire work.
estimated to cost 3 300, 900. This was
the first practical result coming from
the intermittent Hawaiian debate,
lasting more than a year. and renewed
with intensity the past week in con
nection with the proposed cable. The
debate of the last few days has shown
that the lines Of division were practi-
cally the same as those heretofore ex-
listing on all issues over Hawaii. the
Republican senator's urging closer re-
lationship by cable and ultimately by
annexation. the Democratic senators
as a rule contending against the cable
or other c~ntanSling alliances with Ha-
wall. But this party division had
notable exceptions during the debate
and was emphasized in the final vote.
Six Democratic ScnatOrS-Morgan,
German, Hill, Butler. Call and White
voted with the tWenty-eight Repub-
leans and three Populists. constituting
the majority, for the cable. One Re
publican senator PettiGrew - and
twenty-four Democrats voted against
the cable. All absent Republicans and
two PopulistS were paired for the
proposition.
The house in committee OF the whole,
by a vote of 124 to 50, voted TO place
individual clerks Of members on the
annual salary roll at the rate OF 500
per month. These clerks now get 500
ptr month during the session Of the
house. The annual attempt TO strike
out h appropriation for the civil
service commission was made. but did
not assume a Serious phase, and was
d~efeated-32 to 20.
Washington. Feb. BIN the senate
most Of the day was spent on the
p~ostottice bill, a spirited contest being
made against the senate amendment
giving the postmaster general diScre-
ton in expanding $3,20O.OOO for raj
way postal routes. There is sTich free
dom Of debate in the senate that Mr..
Allen branched off into an elaborate
presentation Of the alleged frauds in
the late Alabama election. Mr.. Allen
presented tables supported by attida-
Wits showing that $1,000 fraudulent
votes were counted in the "black belt"
OF Alabama. Mr.. PettiSrpw Of South
Dakota presented a resolution direct
ing the president to secure private
counsel to prosecute the rights of the
government against the Union Pacific
and Central Pacific railroads. The SEN
ator said he would have some inter
esting statements to present as to ir-
regularities in the management of
those and some other roads.
The legislative appropriation bill to
which the house devoted the day was
completed save for the paragraph re-
lating to tie pension offices.
Washington, Feb. II. The senate
committee on privileges and elections
reported back the bill introduced by
Senator Mitchell (Or.) for a conStitu-
tiOnal amendment providing for the
election Of senators by direct vote of
the people. The majority and mi
nority reports were afterwaTd sub
mitted to the senate MeSsrs. Turpie.
Palmer and Mitchell say in their re-
port:
THE object is TO place one depart
ment of the government wholly within
control Of the people. The legislative,
or lawmaking department of the gov
eminent ought, in our opinion, to be
so placed. The laws Of the United
States are made by congress for and
on behalf OF th4 people, and 1t Is
therefore a matter Of the highest MO
ment that the lawmakers in both
branches of the national legislature
should be chosen by the people,"
The contest was resumed In the
house against the provision for annual
clerks to congress. Mr.. Dockery cut
off a lively debate by moving the pre-
vious question, which was ordered.
An Y and nay vote was then taken
on the amendment for the annual
clerks and it was defeated-9S to 142.
Most OF the Republicans voted for the
clerks and the Democrats against.
The Democrats who voted aye are:
Bartlett. Boatner, Cadmus, Cobb
(Mo), Cockrell, Cooper CFla.), Grain,
Davy, Everett, Griffin, Haines, Hayes,
Cribs. Layton, Livingston, McAleer,
Meredith, Meyer. Pigot, Robertson,
Rusk and Turpin.
The following Republicans voted in
the negative: Brosius, Daniels, Hit,
Lucas. Scranton and Wadsworth. The
legislative appropriation bill was then
passed without division.
Washington, Feb. -. The senate
began its session with a spirited dis
cussion of the financial question, burt
soon turned its attention to the post
office appropriation bill and spent the
rest OF he day on the proposition to
nave tho government own the railway
postal cars. Mr.. Villas Dem. Wis.,
brought on the financial discussion by
i n fEnr.inn N ILL 10 rAinp 4. A. .,.nn