The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-01-31
THE 54TH CONGRESS.
ROUTINE or HOUSE AND SENATE
BRIEFLY CHRONICLED.
Summary OF Bills aud Resolutions
Presented and Acted Upon.
THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE.
After q debate continued almost un.
interrupte lily over five days the general
pension appropriation bill for thoye
ending June 30, 1897, was passed by
the house Friday afternoon, which then
adjourned until Monday. The days
debate was conducted under the Eve
minute rule, the bin being read by
paragraphs for amendment None that
was material was adopted, Mr.. Bartlett,
democrat, OF New York, enforcing his
announced policy Of opposition 10
further extension Of pension legisla.
ton by raising points Of order against
them. BY the same device he sue
ceeding in having stricken out Of the
bill the provision reported by the
committee that "during the fiscal year
IL shall be necessary for widow, in
establishing her claim TO a pension
under the provisions Of the act Of
1890, to prove that she is without other
means of support than her daily labor;
provided, that before she shall be en-
titled to a pension under the provis-
ions of said law she shall prove that
her net income does not exceed $500
per annum."
Mr.. w. A. Stone, republican, OF
Pennsylvania, in charge of the bill,
announced that its passage ante-datod
by fifty days the passage Of similar
bill in either of the last two previous
congresses.
Among the miscellaneous business
transacted was the passage Of a Joint
resolution providing for the distribu-
tion of undelivered sets Of the naval
records of the rebellion.
A message was received from the
president asking prompt Legislation to
enable the attorney general to prose-
cute litigation in reference to the
granting of patents to lands lying
within forfeited railroad grants.
The cause of Cuban independence
was the subject of Chaplain Couden's
prayer at the beginning of the session
and his invocation that this govern
ment would do what it could to aid in
securing liberty to the Cubans was
followed by a wave of applause, prob
ably the first time that such a demon
stration ever followed a prayer in the
house.
When the house met Monday, Mr..
Grain, of Texas, secured the passage
Of bill extending the time in which
to complete the work of improving
Arkansas Pass, Texas. On motion of
MIR. Richardson, of Tennessee, a bill
was passed to incorporate the supreme
council of 33 degree Scottish Rite Ma
sons for the southern jurisdiction of
the United States. The presidents
message in reply to the resolution of
the house calling upon him for imfor-
nation as to what steps, if any, had
been taken in relation to the Bayard
speeches at Boston, England and Ed
inburgh, Scotland, was laid before the
house. The message and correspond
ence were referred to the committee
on foreign relations. The house then
went into committee of the whole, DR..
Payne, republican, New York, in the
chair, for the consideration of the mil
itary academy appropriation bill.
Chaplain Coudin in the house Tues
day invoked the divine guidance for
Clara Barton, of the Red Cross socie-
ty, in the efforts of that organization
for the relief of the suffering Armen-
ians. A bill was passed approving va
rious acts of the territorial legislature
of New Mexico authorizing several is
sues of bonds aggregating $155, 000.
By the terms of the Harrison act the
territory cannot create indebtedness
exceeding one per cent. of its taxable
value without the sanction of congress.
Mr.. Crisp inquired as to what had
become of the report from the commit
tee on rules, which was under consid-
Grafton a week ago, and which had not
yet been disposed of. He called atten-
ton to the fact that certain amend
ments agreed to were in operation be-
fore the report as whole had been
reported. At the proper time he gave
notice of his intention to offer a sub
stitute for the entire report. Mr.. Dali
zell explained that the matter would
be brought up later, after a further
meeting Of the committee on rules.
The house then, at 30 O'Clock, went
into committee of the whole and took
up the consideration of the general de.
ficiency bill.
THE SENATE.
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