The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-12-15
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Condensed Proceedings of the Ma
tiOnaI Law Mill.

Condensed Proceedings OF the Ma
tionaI Law Mill.
washington. Dec 8. The United
States senate began the Second session
of the Fifty-fourth congress with
crowded galleries and with that ac-
compartment of activity and OF greet
ing that usually attends the reaSseln-
bling of congr But the upper
branch of the house never puts ASIDE
it's dignity and the meeting ueVelopeu
no demonstrations OF dramatic Incl
dents. The reading of the president
message was the feature OF the pro
ceedings, and beyond this, no attempt
was made to enter upon the business
of the session. To many of the foreign
representatives occupying the dlplo-
matte gallery, the message had spe-
cial interest and significance owing 10
the part they had taken III the con
sniclouS foreign events to which the
president referred. Sir Julian Paunce-
fote. the British ambassador, ana the
new Turkish minister, MOuStapna bey,
were present.
b Senior DuPuy de LONE. the Spanish
minister. was not ia attendance our
ing the day, but two of the secretaries
of the Spanish legation carefully nOteu
the references to the Cuban conflict.
Minister Hatch of Hawaii, and MI.
Cooper, the Hawaiian minister or Ior-
eign affairs, were listeners, although
the message contained no message TO
the Hawaiian islands.
The diplomatic gallery was vacant as
soon as the foreign questions referred
to in the message had been read. On
the floor of the senate printed copies
of the message were distributed, ana
Ak AI1xsc nT0T10 ORTIZ
read the salient features, but they
nevertheless listened to the message
attentiyely. The reading of the mes
sage covered one hour and fifty MIN
utes, and at its conclusion the senate
adjourned
i'm the House.
While the scene attending the open
ing of the house were both brilliant
and interesting in the crowds that
thronged the galleries and the con-
Spicuous persOnages present the pro-
ceedings themselves were dull ana
spiritless, being distinctively routine:
The house, met, the chaplain invoked
the divine blessing on the work of the
session, the roll was called, commit
tee. consisting of Mr.. Cannon Qll),
Mr.. Payne On. " and Mr.. Turner
(Ga.) was appointed to wait on the
president and the latter's annual COM
munication was read The reading
consumed about two hours. 1t was
Mr.. Cleveland'S farewell message ana
there was much curiosity as to his
views. on Cuba, especially. but there
was no demonstration either of APP
prevail or dissent throughout it's read
ing. The halliday nature of the day
was saddened by the announcement OF
the death of eX-Speaker Crisp, which
Mr.. Turner (Ga.) formally made to
his associates. Out of respect to the
memory of the distinguished Georgian
the house, after adopting appropriate
resolutions, Immediately adjourned.
Washington, Dec 1O-The attendance
of members of the house was very
large to-day when it was decided to
proceed with the regular Order-call of
committees.
Mr.. Loud Rep.. CALI, from the COM
mittee on poStoffices and post roads,
called up a bill to authorize the use of
private mailing cards of the same
weight and form as the postal cards
now in use when a 1-cent stamp is af-
fixed. The bill passed.
He also called up a bill to provide a
limited indemnity for the loss of reg
istered mail matter. 1t provided an in
demnity of not to exceed $40 for any
one registered letter, but if of less
value not to exceed the actual value.
This bill also passed.
Mr.. Loud then called Up the bill of
Mr.. Sperry of Pennsylvania, to au-
thOriZe the collection and delivery of
mail in cities, towns and villages
where no letter carrier service exists
by the employment, under mutual ar
rangement between citizens, of any
person in such place to elform this
service at a cost of not exceeding
cent for the delivery of each letter or
| package The bill was passed-1O1 to
13. The house then took UP the pen
| sion appropriation bill 1t WIS passed
without amendment.
In the senate petitions were pre-
| scented from manufacturing bodies
urging the passage of tie Dingley bill.
| The house resolutions relative to the
| death of ex-Speaker Crisp were then
| laid before the senate Mr.. Bacon
| Dem, Ga.) stated that at later day
| he would ask that day be set for
| euiogies on the distinguished Georgian.
| AS mark of respect to the deceased
the senate adjourned.
Washington, Dec IL - The senate
to-day by tie decisive vote of 81 to
q, adopted motion to take up the
Dingley tariff-silyer bill Unexpected
and surprising as this action was, it
did not have the significance which
| the vote itself appears to convey I'M
mediately following it, Mr.. Aldrich Of
| Rhode Island one of the Rennhlican