The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-02-21
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.

at 81 200 per annum brought forward as an
amendment to the legislative appropria-
ton bill, retarded material progress on the
measure in the House on the 9Th. The
Speaker laid before the House a message
from the President on the Hawaiian ques-
ton and the accompanying papers were
read. a dozen or more private pension
bills coming over from the two previous
Friday nights were passed and the House
at Ais adjourned.
BY the decisive vote of 36 to % the Sem
ate Oh the 9th, voted to inaugurate the
project of laying a cable from the Pacific
coast to Hawaii. An amendment TO the
automatic and consular bill was made
giving $500, 900 for beginning work on the
cable and authorizing the President to cOn-
tract for the entire work. estimated to cost
5000 600. This is the first practical result
coming from the intermittent Hawaiian
debate, lasting more than a year and re-
newed with intensity during the past
week in connection with the proposed ca
BILE. The Committee on Commerce re-
ported favorably a plan for an Interna-
tiOnal Commission to inquire into the feaS-
Utility of a waterway connecting the great
lakes with the Atlantic. Agreed TO-. 1t
provides for a joint commission from the
United States and Great Britain. The bill
was passed directing the parting and rein
ing of bullion to be carried on at the Uni
ted States Assay Office at Helena, Mont.
Senator PETER introduced a resolution call
ing Oh the Judiciary Committee to report
on the resolution he had previously sub
mitted for an inquiry as to the legal right
of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue
bonds. 1t was referred to the Judiciary
Committee. The Senate was then con-
frOnted again by Senator Calls resolution
for the Senate investigation of the HOndu-
ras and Louisiana Lottery. The resolu-
ton was finally cut off by the Senators
agreeing to take up the diplomatic and con-
atilar appropriation bill.
The House on the 9th, in Committee of
the Whole, by a vote of 15i to 50, voted to
place individual clerks Of members on the
annual salary roll at the rate Of 800 per
month. These clerks now get 500 per
month during the session of the House.
The annual attempt to strike out the ap-
preparation for the Civil Service Commits
sion was made, but did not assume a seri-
Gus phase and was d~efeated-32 to 20. A
joint resolution was passed TO extend the
time for making income tax returns to
April Is. The remainder of the day after
3O'clOck was devoted to e~ulOgieS on the
late Representative Wright of Pennsyl-
yania.
The financial question again came for
ward in the Senate Oh the nth when Sen
atOr Hill presented a resolution defining
The policy of the Government to pay its
bonds in gold in case the parity between
gold and silver could not successfully be
maintained. Most of the day was spent on
the postoflice appropriation bill, a spirited
contest being made against the Senate
amendment giving the Postmaster General
discretion in expanding So, 2OO, 900 for rail-
way postal routes. There is such freedom
of debate in the Senate that Senator Allen
branched off into an elaborate presentation
of the alleged frauds in the.last Alabama
election. Senator Pettigrew, in presenting
a resolution directing the President to Sc
cure private counsel to prosecute the rights
of the Government against the Union
Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads, said
he would have some interesting statements
to present as to irregularities in the man.
agement Of these and some other roads.
TIL Senate had not completed the post
office appropriation bill up to the time of adj
iOurnment. The Senate agreed to the con-
ference report ON the bill for the removal
and settlement OF the southern Ute In
IianS.
IN WIS " Sl"ioN III 'iC
early proceedings of the Senate on the 18th.
Senator Cullom presented a memorial
from various trade and transportation as
SOclations in Chicago, asking legislation to
protect express companies from train rob-
berries and railroad trains from train
WreckerS. Senator Gray reDCrted adversely
from the Committee on Privileges and
Elections the resolution providing for the
election of Senators by direct vote of the
people. Senator Jones, Democrat, of Ar
kansas, reported the bill adopted by the
Finance Committee for the unlimited COIN
age of silver. Senator PETER called up his
resolution requiring the Judiciary Com
mittee to report his resolution inquirlng
into the legality Of the recent bono issues.
The resolution went to the calendar.
Members crowded before the Speakers
desk in the House on the 18th TO secure
consideration of the many local measures
which are being endangered by the near
approach of the close of the session.
Among the bills and resolutions passed
were those returning war flags to certain
Michigan regiments; donating condemned
cannon to Des Moines, Iowa. and incorpo-
rating the National Association of Flor
lists. The House then resumed consider
alton of the legislative, judicial and eXecu-
tive appropriation bill. The legislative
appropriation bill was passed without di-
vision md the House at 4:25 p. m. ad-
journed.
The Senate began its session on the 18th
with a spirited discussion on the financial
question, but soon turned its attention to
the postoificesappropriation bill and spent
the rest OF the day on the proposition to
have the Government own railway postal
cars. Senator Villas brought on the fnan-
cial discussion by Offering a bill granting
to the President the authority he had re-
quested in his recent message for issuing 3
per cent. bonds, payable in gold. Senator
Villas gave notice Of eulOgies February Is
to the memory of the late Representative