The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-04-15
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Gathered from An Quarters.
CONGRESSIONAL

SENATE, April 1.-THE post office appropria-
tion bill occupied the time of the session, which
was long one, The question Of the consolda-
ton of fourth-cass post offices In the vicinity
Of large towns and cities and the substitution
for them Of stations, sub. stations and branch
offices, was freely discussed and an amendment
adopted which restricts the consolidation sys-
tenn TO the limits of corporate town and cities.
Another amendment requiring the expenditure
Of $4,000 for experiments in rural free deliv-
cry was agreed to and the bill was then passed.
HoUsE.-After long debate the bill provid-
ing for the establishment Of free public
library in Washington was sent to conference.
The house refused to order TO n third reading
the bill to adopt the metric system in govern
ment business January l. 1898 and to make 1t
the legal standard of the country January !,
1901.
SENATE, April S-Mr. Turpie, Of Indiana,
made sarcastic speech In support OF the joint
resolution introduced by Mr.. Call, Of Florida,
proposing intervention in the war now being
prosecuted in Cuba. The objects Of Mr.. Tur-
pies invectives were not so much Gen. Weyler
and the Spanish government as the chairman
0f the committee On foreign relations, Mr..
Sherman, and the junior senator from Massa-
chusetts-Mr Lodge, The joint resolution went
over without action and the Indian appropria-
ton bill took up the rest of the session.
HoUsE.--The bill to make the metric system
Of weights and measures the legal system In
the United States after January /, 1901. was
recOmmitted to the committee on coinage,
weights and measures. The bill to repeal the
compulsory pilotage system still in force in
nine southern states so far as 1t affects sailing
vessels in the cOaStwiSe trade, was then taken
up and considered for the remainder of the
session without final action being taken.
4 H.,
cleared In less than one hour the 75 pension
bills on it were passed Two prepared speeches
were deivered-one by Mr.. Mantle of ofMontana,
and the other by Mr.. Butler, Of North Carolina,
the first being defense of silver senators for
defeating the tarin bill and the second plea
for postal telegraph system.
HouSE.-The bill to repeal the compulsory
pilotage system so far as it Affects sailing ves-
sells engaged in the coaStwiSc trade, was de-
feated. The amended District Of Columbia
appropriation bill for the year ending June So
1897, was passed. A conference was ordered on
the senate amendments to the post office ap-
preparation bill. Debate on the filled cheese"
bill-imposing a tax upon It's manufacture and
sale-was commenced.
SENATE, April l0.-The Indian appropriation
bill occupied u considerable portion of to-dny's
session the house proposition abolishing the
system Of contract schools for Indian children
giving rise to a long discussion. The matter
went over without action. A bill giving the aid
of the government to the Mississippi and
International exposition ut Omaha in 1896 was
passed, and the senate adjourned until the 18th.
HoUsE.-Much debate was indulged In on the
filled cheese" bill The appropriation bill for
fortifcations and coast defenses for the year
ending June 30, 1897, was reported and placed
on the calendar. Nine pension bills were acted
upon in committee of the whole during the
evening session and three of them were passed.
HOUSE, April 1.-THE filled cheese" bill
taxing the manufacturers Of the product one
cent pound and requiring manufacturers and
dealers to pay license was passed by vote Of
100 to So. The committee on ways and means
suggested a reduction on the retail dealers
license from $40 to sl2 year, which was agreed
to-The senate was not in session.