The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-03-19
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.
Condensed Record of the Doings Of the
Nations Lawmakers-Senate.

Washington, March 11.-When tn
Cuban question was laid aside in thu
senate today, Turpie was recognized
for an argument against the claim O
Dupont to a seat in the senate from
Delaware. The senator had not con
cluded when, at 4:S5. the senate held (
brief executive session, and soon there
after adjourned. Frye introduced {
bill for the establishment of a depart
ment of the government to be known al
the department of commerce and man
ufactures, the head of which is to bt
a member Of the presidents cabinet
The senate committee on public lands
decided not to recommend the passage
of the Arizona land bill over the veto
of the president, but to recommend 8
new bill
Washington, March lathe crowds
which filed the senate galleries today
in anticipation of an exciting Cuban
debate were not disappointed. Today
two new phases of the subject made
their appearance, and each afforded 8
debate which aroused senators and
spectators to high state of interest
and excitement. Lodge rose to a ques.
ton of personal privilege. and in vigor.
GUS words rebuked the Spanish minis.
ter, Senior de LONE, for his recent criti.
cisms of senators. Teller added his
opinion that repetition of the minis
ter's action should be followed by his
dismissal. Gray held that senatorial
and prerogatives should not
be strained to close the mouth of the
Spanish minister. Lodge did not press
for any definite action. The subcom-
mittee of the senate committee appoint
cd to consider the bill for the admis-
sion of New Mexico decided unani-
mously today to report to the full com
mittee in favor Of the passage of the
bill.
Washington, March 13.-The Cuban
debate in the senate has advanced to
the stage of one of the great debates of
the American congress, and the speech
today of Hoar was another eventful
feature of the discussion. In this de-
bate the senators and crowded galleries
were kept at high tension by such stir
ring themes as war and patriotism and
liberty. Hoar's speech was notable in
setting forth the conservative views of
the subject, and urging postponement
of action until April 6. This developed
sharp controversies from Sherman and
other senators. In the main the speech
was plea for calm, dignified and ju-
dicial action, instead of the excitement
and disorder of the mob and the impas-
stoned speech of orators. Sherman an
that from this time forward
he would press the privileged question,
the conference report accepting the
house resolutions.
House.
Washington, March 11.-District of
Columbia business consumed the major
portion of the day in the house. Among
the bills passed was one to decrease the
cost of gas from $3.50 to 81 a thou
sand. This was the outcome of long
fight against the gas company. The
consideration of the postoffice appro-
priation bill was continued, but no i'm
portant amendments were adopted.
The speaker announced the appoint
ment of Hendricks to the banking and
currency committee A bill was passed
to authorize the secretary of the treas
ury to pay S. W. Peele, of Arkansas,
$50, 90 for services to the old settlers
against Cherokee Indians A bill was
also passed to change the times for
holding court in the northern district
of California.
Washington, March 12.-The house
today witnessed the perennial attempt
to cut off the appropriation for special
mail facilities between Boston, via
New York and Washington, to Atlanta
and New Orleans. This appropriation
has been in the postoffice bill since
1883. This year, it amounted to $196,
900, and, coupled with it, were appro-
priations for special facilities between
Kansas City and Newton, Kan. and
Chicago and Council Bluffs, la. The
latter items, however, went down be.
fore points of order. An attempt was
made to rule out the Southern subsidy
also on point of order, but Payne
overruled the point. The motion to
strike out was defeated, SO to 116.
The postoffioe bill was not disposed of.
During the morning a bill was passed
making a years continuous resi-.
dence" in territory prerequisite to
obtaining divorce in such territory.
Washington, March 13.-The house
today passed the postoffice appropria-
ton bill, which has been under con-
sideration since last Friday. The fea.
ture of the debate today was the attack
on the "spy system" in connection with
letter carriers. The salaries of special
inspectors have been paid under the
current law, out of fund at the dis.
posal of the first assistant postmaster.
general. This fund was cut off by the
present bill, but provisions were made
for the employment of thirty additional
regular inspectors under the fourth as
sistant postmaster-general, increasing
the appropriation from $176, 900 tt
$4,000. Quigg led the fight against
this increase and, after a protracted
debate, his amendment to reduce the
appropriation to $176, 900 prevailed
20 to 81.
South Australia, which feared thu
construction of the British Pacific cable
because it might injure its land line
will be conciliated by the offer of com
pensation to maintain revenue from
the transcontinental line at the averag,
level of the past five years.
Recent advices fully confirm the re