The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-12-31
CONGRESS IN SESSION.
Senate.

passed, the bill amends the immigra-
ton laws so as to exclude from admis.
sion to the United States all persons
over l6 years old who cannot read and
write the language of their native
country or some other language, but an
admissible immigrant over the age of
16 may bring in with him, or send for
his wife Or parent or grandparent or
minor children or grandchildren, not.
wlthstanding their inability to read or
write. The Cuban section added to
the bill provides that the act shall not
apply to persons arriving in the United
States from any port Or place in the
island of Cuba during the continuance
OF the present disorders there; provided
such persons have heretofore been in
habitants of that island. The house
amendments to the bill concerning
lands OF the Atlantic & Pacific Rail-
road Company were nonconcurred in.
Ninth day-The main event of the
day was the presentation by Mr.. Came
ron of the report Of the committee on
foreign relations favorable to his reso-
luton, recognizing the independence
of Cuba. The proceeding was brief
and perfunctory. the report not being
read, and an agreement was speedily
reached by which the resolution and
report go over-until after the holidays.
Aside from the Cameron report Morgan
of Alabama presented further report
on the same lines, embodying the
IF bs,,o and Mills T,l,o oHor
ing of the reports severd as prelude to
several brisk exchanges between sena-
tors. Mr.. Gear made an unsuccessful
attempt to take up the Pacific railroad
funding bill, and then gave potice it
would be urged after the holidays
Tenth day-The senate was unex-
pectedly diverted today from Cuba to
the Pacific railroads. An unusually
large crowd was in the galleries, an
ticipating that Vest would continue
his speech begun yesterday on the at
titude of Mr.. Olney toward the Cam
opened Mr.. Pettigrew called up his
resolution relative to the trust notes
of the Pacific railroads. The senator
made savage onslaught on the Pacific
railroads in general, charging that a
com bination Of private interests was
seeking to absorb the roads and close
out the government. This opened the
entire question, and Mr.. Morgan FOL
lowed with bitter arraignment of the
Pacific roads, charging them with
fraud and crime on gigantic scale.
The speech lasted until shortly before
2 o'clock, when the morning hour ex.
pred, thus sending over the Cuban
question until after the holidays. Mr.
Call secured the adoption of resolu-
ton asking the secretary of state for
information relative to the killing of
Charles Gavin, an American citizen,
by the Spanish forces in Cuba. Fur
Their than this the session was unevent
full, and the senate adjourned for the
holiday recess, lasting until January 5.
House.
Eighth day-The house today passed
the third of the regular appropriation
bills (that for the support of the army,
and entered upon consideration Of the
legislative, executive and judicial bill.
The latter bill carries $21 ,669, 1863. or
$50, 500 more than the law for the cur
rent year. Fair progress was made to-
day. 1t is expected this bill and the
military academy appropriation bill
will be passed before the holiday re-
cess. The army bill, as passed, makes
cso for h..
hospital at Hot Springs, Ark.
Ninth day-Almost the whole day
was devoted to a debate on the pro-
vision Of the bill relating to the con.
troll of the new congressional library.
Both the appropriations and library
committees offered plans for the future
care of the building. After some-
what acrimonious contest, the appro.
priations committee gained the VIC
tory, defeating the substitute OF the
library committee by vote OF ~ to 90.
An amendment designed to place the
employees of the library under civil ser
vice law was also defeated, ~ to 10
Librarian Spofford's salary was raised
from $4,000 to $4,000. The senate
amendments to the immigration bill
were nonconcurred in. Bartholdt.
chairman of the immigration commit.
tee, sought TO have the bill and amend
ments recommitted to his committee.
Tenth day-The house today passed
the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill, and then adjourned
for the holiday recess. This is the
first time in the history OF congress that
the legislative bill has been passed be-
fore the holidays. The day was de-
voted to the annual debate on the civil
service law, and, as usual, the attempt
to strike out the provision for the COM
mission was overwhelmingly defeated.
There was a good deal of threshlng
over of old straw and sparring for Pc.
litical points. Brossius. chairman OF
the civil service commission, defended
the law. The bill as passed carries
s2e. es9, 369. O2-$36. 379 more than the
current bill. During the morning
hour bill was passed authorizing the
railroads in the Indian territory TO
change their alignments
New. York, Dec. 23--The compete
tion between the American sugar re-"
finery and the firm of Arbuckle Bros,
coffee merchants, Is on IN earnest.
r-.l:,,, - oua.haff n cent