The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-12-24
SENATE AND HOUSE.
WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAW
MAKERS.
A Weeks Proceedings in the Halls OF
Congress-Important Measures Dis
cussed and Acted Upon-An Impair
tiaI Resume of the Business.
The National solons.

The National SOlOns.
Senator Morgan of Alabama held tine
attention of the Senate and well-hiled
galleries for an hour Tuesday by his earn
est advocacy of strong and decisive
policy in dealing with the Cuban ques-
ton. He asked for the adoption of the
resolution presented Monday, requesting
the Secretary of State for the papers in
the Competitor case and in other cases
involving the arrest of American citizens
by Spanish authorities. The resolution
was agreed to- The Senate took up the
bill pensioning Nancy Allabach, which
had been vetoed by the President. and
passed it over the veto. In the House a
bill to reorganize the Atlantic and Pa
cific Railroad Company was passed with
ont division, after certain amendments
had been adopted. The House then en-
tered upon the consideration of the Loud
bill to amend the law relating to the.
transmission of second-class mail mat
ter The bill met with the most intense
opposition from certain quarters. 1t de-
nes the right of serial novels to admis-
sion TO the mails at the newspaper cent
per pound rates; denies to newspapers
the sample copy privilege: prohibits the
return of unsold publications at pound
rates and makes some other changes in
the present law, designed to correct ex-
listing abuses. 1t is estimated that the
abuses of the law have cost the govern
ment $240,0OO,OO0 in the last ten years.
No final action was taken.
The session of the Senate Wednesday
developed the most eventful and exciting
debate that either branch of Congress.
has heard in long time 1t brought
forward the recognized leaders of the.
various parties and elements, including
such conspicuous figures as Sherman,
Frye, Teller, German. Vest, Aldrich.
Platt, Mitchell (Ore.), Chandler, Hale and
Allen in notable statements ON the lead
ing questions which have engaged the at
tention of Congress and the country of
late. Not only were the lines laid down
on tariff and finance, but the debate par-
took of all the pent-up feeling resulting from
the recent national contest Mr.. Sherman
closed the debate by saying that he felt
the Dlngley bill could never be passed.
Mr.. Bailey Oem., Texas) created a rim
pie OF excitement at the opening session
Of the House by asking for the immedi
ate consideration of a resolution to in
vestlgate the construction of the battle
ship Texas. The resolution was referred.
The House on motion of Mr.. Hull. Chair
man of the Committee on Military Af
fairs. went into committee of the whole.
for the consideration of the army appro-
priation bill. The House adjourned.
leaving the bill unfinished.
The Senate Thursday passed the immi-.
grafton bill known as the Lodge bill. with
new section providing that the exclusion
shall not apply to persons arriving from
Cuba during the continuance of the pres
ent disorders there. As passed, the bilT
amends the immigration laws so as to ex-
clude from admission to the United
States all persons over IS years of age
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 grand
parent or minor child or granchild. not
withstanding the inability to read and
write. The House passed the third of
the regular appropriation bills, that for
the support of the army. and entered Nd
on the consideration of the legislative.
executive and judicial bill. The army
bill as passed makes no provision for the
army and navy hospital at Hot Springs.
Ark. The House also passed several bills
relating to the District of Columbia and
three resolutions for the use of flags of
the war department, government reser-
vations. etc. on the occasion of Mr.. Nc
klnley's Inauguration.
Friday was private bill day in the
House, but most of the session was de-
voted to the passage of the thirty-seyen
pension and relief bills favorably acted
upon by the committee of the whole Fri
lay. The bill to pay Flora A. Darling.
the wife of a Confederate general. So
~ for Tennessee and Louisiana bank
notes taken from her in 1864 while under
1 flag of truce. which was attacked by
Mr.. Dalzell Friday, was laid on the table
Only FIVE bills We're favorably acted upon.
One of them, bill to refer a claim of
Thomas B. Reed, a PENNSYLVANIA sol
1ler during the war, to an unpaid bal
lnce of salary to the Court of Claims
created some merriment owing to the
tact that his name was identical with
that Of the Speaker of the House. The
)ther bills were to pay the officers and
.reWS of the United States gunboat
hIneo and Chocura S12.474 prize money:
20 pay William B. Isaacs & Co. SIG.
he hnding of the Court of Claims: to paw
george NcAlpin. the sutler of the Elev-
nth PENNSYLVANIA Cavalry. S6.9O6 iIleg-
lilly collected from him; and to repay
Matthias Peterson Of Spring Valley, Wis,
800 paid by him for substitute during
he war, Peterson not at that time being
| citizen Of the United States The Sen
tie did nothing of imDDrfarce