Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-05-13
CONGRESS.
Senate.

When the intended action to consider the
antagonized d. by bi az motion otto by Mr. Turpie
Dem, Ind to consider the Dupont election
case. Mr.. Mitchell, with considerable dis
play Of feeling, sought to prevent this
course but by nay and yea vote, result
ing 81 to 81, the Senate decided to take up
the Dupont case. Later an agreement was
effected to postpone the matter until the
river and harbOr bill was passed, the final
vote In the election case to be taken two
days after consideration was begun At
O'Clock the unfinished business came up in
the form of the bond investigation resolu-
ton. Mr.. PETER refused to farther delay
the matter and his motion to proceed with
the resolution was upheld by 80 to %, thus
displacing the river and harbor bill Mr..
Hill thereupon took the floor and spoke I'M
til adjournment.
The Senate considered the river and har-
Dor bill on the 9Th up to O'Clock. when the
PETER bond Investigating resolution came
up. The supporters of the resolution for
the investigation Of bond sales now hope to
secure vote before adjournment on the
9th. Senator Hill stated, before Mr.. Petit
grew made speech that he would not de-
sire to go on for more than an hour the
following day, but he may find Mr. Petit
Crews remarks text for further comments.
1t is not known to the managers of the
resolution whether other senator's will de-
sire to speak in opposition to the measure,
though it is considered possible that Sena-
tor Villas may. The opponents Of the reso-
luton believe that it will be so modified be-
fore the final vote is reached as to provide
that the committee on finance shall make
whatever investigation is to be made and
they are not so strongly opposed to 1t in
that form. When the Senate met on the
9TH Mr.. Call Dem, Fla) introduced reso-
luton requesting the President to protest
against the execution Of American citizens
taken on board the schooner Competitor by
a Spanish gunboat and to demand of Spain
that the prisoners shall not be subject to
cruel treatment. Mr. Call asked the mme-
diste adoption of the resolution. and On q
viva voce vote it was adopted with a faint
response. few senator's being Trr?sent, but it
afterWard went on the calendar
In the Senate on the 9th Mr. Cullom re-
ported progress in the conference of the
two houses on the legislative. executive and
Judicial appropriation bill, although many
items were yet open. The main feature of
agreement is on the salaries of United
states district attorneys and marshals
to $4,000 year agreed on being submitted
A adherence of opinion developed between
the two Florida senator's. Mr. Call and Mr.
Pasco, as to the resolution of Mr. Call re-
questing the President to protest against the
execution of the American citizens taken
on on board the schooner Competitor by a
Spanish gunboat. Mr. Call wanted imme-
date action. Mr. Sherman moved 30 refer
the resolution to the committee on foreign
affairs Mr.. Call protested. saying that
With death hanging over American citizens
the Senate should act. The Senate commit
tee on foreign relations has agreed to
compromise bill for cable to Hawaii and
Japan. The bill authorizes the postmaster
general to enter into a contract on behalf of
the United States with any company which
e. Y
ceeding 100000 per year
By the decisive vote of 81 to G. the Sem
are on the lth began an investigation, to be
conducted by the Senate committee on
finance. into the facts and circumstances
connected with the sale of United States
ponds by the secretary of the treasury dur
votes were cast by Senators Cafferv U.a0,
Eaulkner CW. Va, Gray Del) Hill On.
X, Mitchell Wis). and Palmer Gll). all
Democrats Mr.. Vest turned his attention
to the recent Michigan Democratic state
convention reading from article written
by +o one ... OF the delegates who had partici-
paIed IN that shameful scene" The ar
tlcle detailed the action of backsliders''
and traitors" who had been instructed
Tor silver and voted against it, The senator
said he had many letters from men of high
standing, detailing the circumstances of
the Michigan convention "a shame and
disgrace. to American public life.' The
Senate Immediately turned to other bust
ness The conference agreements reported
on the legislative, executive and judicial ap-
ares Tor United States district attorneys
and marshals was agreed to. 1t was ESQ
O'Clock when the Senate adjourned.
Inc river and harbOr bill was completed
IN the Senate on the Sth, with the excep-
t tion 6 OF the item for deepsea harbor on
6ne raflnc t coast This has aroused keen
posing the proposed contract appropriation
or $3.O9S.0OO for harbor al Santa Monica
@ On nv the th that is project fos
against public sentiment and the recommen-
cations of two boards of army engineers
MT White (Cal) commented on the ex-
traordinary condition by which the com
merce committee of the Senate was forcing
an appropriation on state against the
people. 1t indicated that some "extraordi-
nary influence had been brought to bear
Inc senator commented on the ''persistency
OF the Southern Pacific railway" and de-
clared that this accounted for the extraordi-
nary action. The bill for the erection of a
bridge across the Detroit river at Detroit
request Of Mr.. Sherman and the assent of
the Michigan senator's.
The first skirmish over the Senate amend
ment to the naval appropriation bill reduc-
ing the number of battleships from four to
two occurred in the House on the 4th when
Mr.. Boutelle, the chairman of the naval
committee moved to request a conference
OF the Senate. Mr. Boutelle undertook to
chastlse some of the senators for their in
consistency. He characterized the Senate's
action as "a remarkable change of 'front.'
He referred to the fact that when four
the public mind had been greatly infiamed
and excited by wars and rumors of wars
The Senate, he argued had contributed
largely to this state of the public mind He
rehearSed briefly the warlike message of the
President with reference to Venezuela and
the precipitate action of the House and
Senate.
The opponents of four battleships sus-
tanned an overwhelming defeat in the House
Senate amendment to the naval appropria-
ton bill reducing the number to two. Mr..
Savers Dem, Tex, ex-chairman of the
appropriations committee, made the motion,
and in its support argued that the question
presented was purely a business one, and he
appealed to the house not to allow political
matters to influence it's judgment. He pro-
ceeded to contrast the appropriat lions of the
present session with the available revenues.
Mr.. Boutelle chairman of the naval COM
mittee, who replied to Mr.. Savers, thought
1t unfortunate that "these business facts
had not been brought into the House when
we were undertaking to regulate boundary
lines in South America and in other ways
asserting the primacy of the republic
Not suggestion was made then that less
than four should be authorized. At that
time also, he said, he had the pest Of rea-
sons for believing that the Senate would
agree to four ships indeed. the fear was
that the upper branch of Congress would
go further and authorize six. A special or
der was adopted to set aside the 9th and the
18th for the consideration Of private pen
sion bills, ten minutes debate to he given to
each bill. There are 405 private pension
bills on the calendar. At 4:15 the House adj
journed.
The House on the 9th served notice OH
the Senate and the country that it had
transacted its business and was ready for
the final adjournment by passing. without