Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-05-21
The Legislative Grind.


The Legislative Grind.
The work Of the House Tuesday was
confined to preparations to Dust MT.
Downing. the only Democrat In the HI
nois delegation. Mr.. Moody. Republican
OF Massachusetts. presented the minority
committed report. stating that Downing
was fairly elected. The animated con-.
test in the Senate over n deep water har-
Dor on the southern coast OF California
was brought TO h close by compromise
between the points of Santa Monica, the
terminus of the Southern Pacific. and San
Pedro, the locality urged by the CaIifor-
MIA Senators. Senator Frye. chairman OF
the Commerce Committee, finally harmon
lied the differences by referring the de-
termination. as between Santa Monica
and San Pedro. to commission to consist
OF three civil engineers. II naval officer,
and an officer of tie coast survey. The
compromise was accepted by the Califor-
MIA Senators. and was unanimously pass.
ed. An amendment urged by Mr.. Cor
man. limiting the expenditure niller the
contract authorizations to x1O.00O.OOO
annually. led to lengthy debate. mo-
ton by Mr.. Vest TO table. the amendment
failed-yoas, 20: nays. 81.
Because OF opposition by Sir. Moody of
Massachusetts and Mr.. Dalzeli Of Penn
sylvania, both Republicans. the House
Wednesday recon sdered its action in
unseating Mr.. Downing. Democrat. Of
Illinois, and decided that before Mr.. Rim
aker's claims could be considered there
must be recount Of the vote. The river
and harbor appropriation biz was passed
by the Senate after an unusually stormy
experience. lasting many days. AS finally
passed the bill makes direct appropria-
tions of S12,200.000 and authorizes
continuing contracts of S64.C0O.00O, an
aggregate of about $16.0OO,UO0. The bill
was passed with amendments authorizing
the construction of a Lr.Igc over the Mis-
sissppi river to the city Of st. Louis from
some suitable point between the north line
of st. Clair County, Illinois. and the
southwest line OF said county. Bills were
also passed TO authorize. life-soying sta
tion at Port Huron. Mich, and to cs-
tablish railroad bridge across the I'LL
nois river near. Grafton. III. ...,.
The Senate was bccnp.cd Thursday
with discussion OF the Drpo,rt contest
case and immigration matters. The
House devoted tho whole day 10 private
pension bills. They were disposed of at
the rate of about one every five minutes.
fifty-eight in all being fnvorably acted
upon before adjournment Among them
were bills granting pensions to the widow
of Gen. o. NJ. Poe, $50; the widow of
Gen. jameson, $50; the widow Of Gen.
John Newton. So; the widow of United
States Senator George T.. Spencer of
Alabama, $50. and ex-Congressman
Smalls of South Carolina. $50.
BY a vote OF 81 to so the Senate Fri
day determined that Henry A. Dupont
was not entitled TO u seat in the Senate
from the State OF Delaware. This closed
a long and animated controversy which
had become one of the most notable con-
tests of it's kind in the history of the
Senate. The unseating Of Mr.. Dupont
makes no difference in the complexion OF
the Senate. The contest over Mr.. Du-
points seat grew ont of the question
whether Lieut. Gov. Watson had right
to vote as Senator when he was acting
MS Lieutenant Governor. There was n tie
vote in Delaware and Watson broke it by
voting for Dupont. the Senate having
decided that the vote was void. it Will be
ruled that no election WAS held. There
is consequently senatorial vacancy in
Delaware. The balance of the day was
passed in tariff discussion. The House
occupied itself in passing the private pen
sion bills which were favorably acted up
on during the two special days given to
their consideration. Thirtyfour were
held up because they were not engrossed,
but 100 were passed. leaving about sixty
yet undsposed OF. Mr.. Howard Pop.) of
Alabama caused Il mild sensation by aris-
ing to question of personal privilege to
denouncc some published reports made
about few months ago that he had been
drunk on the floor of the House. He de-
MED the story as base falsehood from
beginning to end. He explained that at
the time Of the alleged occurrence he was
desperately i'll and had been i'll ever since,
and only Wednesday had been able to
return to the House to denounce his ira
ducers. The HogeOtey election case
from the Sixth Virginia district was
unanimously decided in favor of Mr..
Otcy Dem.). the sitting member. The
House adjourned until Monday.