Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-17

Wasb,ngton correspondence:

eolons Reasonable.
Washington correspondence:
The reassembling of Congress for the
closing session Of the Fifty-fourth Con-
gress was an occasion of unusual bril-
liancy and interest. The opening day Is
always gala affair, marking as IL does
the official Inauguration of the social as
well as the political season in Washington.
but Monday it was all the more interest
Ing because of the long and hard fought
political battle that had been waged dur
ing the recess.
Proceedings Of the Senate.
The Senate began the second session OF
the Fifty-fourth Congress with crowded
galleries and with that accompaniment
of activity and of greeting that usually
attends the rcassembling of Congress.
But the upper branch of Congress never
puts aside its dignity, and the meeting
developed no demonstrations of dramatic
incidents.
The reading of the Presidents message
was the feature of the proceedings, and
beyond this no attempt was made to enter
upon the business of the session.
Proceedings of the House.
While the scenes attending the opening
of the House were both brilliant and in
teresting in the crowds that thronged the
galleries and the conspicuous personages
present, the proceedings themselves We're
dull and spiritless, being distinctively
routine The House met, the chaplain
invoked the divine blessing on the work
of the session. the roll was called, a com
mittee consisting of Mr.. Cannon of Hi
nois, Mr.. Payne of New York and Mr..
Turner of Georgia was appointed to wait
on the President and the latter's annual
communication was read.
Before the Tuesday session closed the
House had passed three bills and the first
of the regular supply bills-that for pen
sions. One of the bills provided for the
use of private mailing cards of the same
general size and character as the present
postal cards, when l cent stamps are
affixed. Another provided for limited in
demnity of SO for the loss of registered
mail matter and the third provided that
on the application of twenty persons re-
ceiving their mail at the same office the
postmaster shall appoint such persons as
are willing to undertake the collection
and delivery of mails at the charge not
to exceed 1 cent for each letter, and that
the charge shall be paid by the bene-
ficiaries. The pension bill carries SAL
2G3, $50, about $4,000 less than the law
for the current year. The notice of the
opening of q Cuban discussion was about
the only feature of interest developed at
the brief session of the Senate.
In the Senate Wednesday the prayer of
Rev. DR.. Milburn made eloquent refer
ence to the late Charles +. Crisp of Geor-
gia-"A man faithful and loyal in all his
relations and faithful servant of the peo-
pie; may his name be craven on the tablet
of the nations memory" Early in tse
day three sets of vigorous resolutions for
Cuban independence furnished an inter
esting feature. The Senate by vote of
80 to 81 adopted a motion to take up the
Dingley tariff-silver bill The House
passed dozen bills of minor Importance.
The House also agreed to the Senate
amendment approving certain acts of the
Legislature of New Mexico for the issue
of bonds. so as to validate $172,5 of
bonds of Santa Fe County.
The Senate Thursday took up the i'm
migration bill, and also heard the first
of the speeches on Cuba-those of Mr..
Cullom and Mr.. Call. The immigration
bill was not finally passed upon, but the
Senate agreed to the Lodge bill as a sub
stitute to the House measure. The sub
stitute requires that all immigrants over
the age of ii years shall be able to read
and write their native language and shall
be required to read and write in the pres
ence of United States official at least
five lines of the United States Constitu-
ton. The Senate adjourned to Monday.
Pending the preparation of the next ap-
preparation bill the House again de-
voted its time to the consideration of bills
on the calendar, but only two were passed
during the four hours session. One of
these was copyright bill. urged by prom
inent playwrights and theatrical mana
gers to secure to musical compositions
the same measure of protection under the
copyright law as is now afforded produc-
lions of a strictly dramatic character.
A bill to prohibit the sale of liquor in the
capitol building was also passed. A bill
to modify the law forbidding the alien
ownership of lands in the territories SO
as to give aliens the right to acquire un-
der mortgage and to hold for ten years
real property was defeated.
In the House Friday Rev. Mr.. Cowden,
the blind chaplain referred in his invoca-
ton to the action of the House in pro-
hibiting the sale of liquor in the CAPITOL.
1--WE thank Thee, o Lord" said he, shat
the House is no longer responsible for the
liquor traffic within the halls of the ma
tional Capitol. Grant, we pray Thee.
that the bill passed here yesterday will
go through the regular channels and
speedily become a law, never again to be
repealed in the history of our nation" At
the conclusion of the prayer, half a hun
dred members applauded vigorously, but
Speaker Reed promptly suppressed the
outburst. On motion of Mr.. Dingley, the
floor leader, it was agreed that when the
House adjourn it be to meet Monday.
The joint resolution extending until the
close of this session the time in which the
joint commission for the investigation of
the subject of the rebate of the tax on
alcohol used in manufactures or arts may
report was adopted.
Nnua IF Msun~ No<.