The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-04-17
WORK OF CONGRESS
PeoceealnSes IN the sennte ana House
u Representatives..


Washington, April Z. - Among the
speakers In the house ON the Cuban
resolutions was Col. Kiefer of st. Paul.
He said:
Nearly six weeks have elapsed since
these resolutions were reported to the
house. We had been impatient and the
country had been anxiously waiting
for action for long time when the
report was submitted by the commit
tee on foreign Affairs. had filed
many petitions from the people of my
sOnal knowledge that the heart Of
every lover of liberty in the Fourth
congressional district of Minnesota is
IN sympathy with those struggling
patriots in Cuba, and l doubt not. Mr..
Speaker. that the sentiment of my dis
trlct is but Il fair indication Of the
feeling of the people of the United
States. So great was the pressure of
public opinion that the senate. which
generally moves with great dclibera-
ton. discounted the action of the
house. and ere We could adopt the res
olutions reported by our own commit
tee there came from the other end of
the capitol resolutions breathing of
patriotism and proclaiming the gospel
of liberty. The house saw fit to mOdi-
fy these resolutions. but not in II man.
ner that changed the central idea.
which was and is the recognition or Il
state of war in Cuba. Do not let rs
delay Il moment. The resolutions do
not 60 as far as l would like. but let
us adopt them rs they came from the
senate, thus giving that body NO fur
ther opportunity for delay"
Washington. April S. - The senate
spent the day on the appropriation
postoftice bill. but did not completes it.
The bill served to bring out some
sharp criticisms, by Senator German
OH the administration of the postcttice
department and by Senator Allen OH
alleged irregularities resulting from
the civil service system. Mr.. Allen re-
peated sensational charges as to large
money contributions said to have been
made IN the interest of Mr. Cleveland
and Mr.. Harrison. The charge that
Mr.. Wananaker contributed 100000
toward Mr.. Harrisons election led to
an emphatic denial from Mr.. Hawlcy.
Mr.. Allen alluded to the president as
"his majesty" and as the chief mug
wump of the country.
The house. in addition to passing the
Cuban resolutions. passed the river
and harbor approp1 iation bill
Washington. pril 9.--Thc postoifice
appropriation bill which has engrossed
the senate for almost Il week was
passed by that body just previous to
adjournment. The day. with the on
ceptiOn of q few minutes Mt the be-
ginning of the session. was devoted to
debate and voting upon the amend
ments proposed to the bill. the VOL
colt amendment for the consolidation
of smaller offices with larger ones re-
ceiving the greater share of attention.
The discussion on this proposition
again took the form of a debate upon
the merits of civil service reform. and
was participated in by Messrs Villas,
Wolcott. Allen. Hill, Power, German.
Stewart and others. There were some
rather spirited dialogues between
Mcssrs. Villas and Allen and between
Messrs. Wc,cott and Hill. Mr. VOL
colt criticised Secretary Smith for his
participation. in the Georgia campaign
and was reIjied to by Mr.. Hill. The
amendment was defeated by decisive
vote, receiving only votes i'm it's sup
port.
The house spent the day debating a
bill to fix the standard of weights and
measures by the adoption of the
metric system on and after July l..
1888. and a proposition that the gov
eminent share with the District of
Columbia the expense of creating and
maintaining a public library in the
city Of Washington. The latter was
defeated-113 to 127-and the fate Of
the metric system bill still hangs in
the balance. On Il rising vote it was
defeated-G5 to SO-but Mr.. C. W.:
Stone of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the committee OH coinage. weights and
measures, which has given the subject
much attention. and who warmly sup.
ported it. secured the ayes and noes.
and. pending the roll call, the house
adjourned.
Washington. April Ex-senator Tur-
pics speech on Cuba was the event of
the day in the senate, and in many
respects it was the most picturesque
and vehement utterance heard on that
subject. The senator has an inexhaus-
tible vocabulary and bitterly satir-
zeal style. While arguing for radical
action ON Cuba. even to the extent of
sending q fleet to Cuban waters, much
of Mr.. Turpie's speech was given to
sarcasm and ridiculc of the course of
Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Lodge in manag-
ing the Cuban resolutions The sena-
tor created much amusement by his
portrayal of Senator Lodge as a war
rior about to fight duel with Minister
Dupuy de LONE of Spain. Most of the
day was given to the Indian appropria-
ton bill which was not completed.
Unanimous consent was secured for
taking up the resolution for a senate
inquiry into recent bond issues next
week.
The bill to adopt the metric system
OF weights and measures was sent
back to the committee on coinage,
weights and measures for further con-
sideration. On the first vote it had a
majority of two but the opposition was