Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-04-01
CONGRESS.


bate was reached in the Senate on the sd
when, on motion of Mr.. Sherman, chairman
of the committee on foreign relations, the
Cuban resolutions were recommitted to the
conference committee me vote TO recon- recon-
nit was unanimous and without the for1nai-
ity of q rOll-call, representing consensus
of opinion that the committee should so
change the resolutions as to overcome the
opposition that has developed. MessrS
Sherman. Morgan and Lodge were appoint
ed to represent the Senate in further
conference. Simultaneous with this action
Mr. Mills presented Cuban resolutions
which propose to so further than has been
suggested at any previous time. they di-
rect the President to request Spain to grant
local Self-goVernment to Cuba, and IN case
Spain refuses, the President is authorized
to use the military and naval forces in
taking possession of Cuba and holding 1t
until self-government is established by the
Cuban people.
Although the main Cuban resolutions
have been recOmmitted to conference. the
subject came up incidentally OH the oath.
on MI Mills resolution for the forclb.e
government. Mr.. Mills spoke for two
hours in support of the resolution. He was
unsparing in his arraignment OF Gen
Weyler an "atrocious scoundrel and vii
lain and in his recital of SPANS bloody
record in the old and new worlds. Senators
Frye. Wolcott and Brice have been APP
pointed a subcommittee on behalf OF the
Senate committee on Pacific railroads to act
with the House subcommittee in drafting
The first reference to the adjournment Of
Congress came in the Senate the 25th in
a formal resolution offered by Mr.. Pratt
proposing an adjournment on May 2. Mr..
Gallinger (Rep. \. b proposed an amend
ment to the constitution to be known as
Article WI. providing that neither Con-
gross nor any state shall pass any law re-
speeding an establishment of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof. or
use the credit OF the United States, or any
state, or any money raised by taxation
for the purpose of founding maintaining
or aiding any church, religious denomina-
roll Srin inf
society or undertaking which is wholly or III
part under sectarian or ecclesiastical con-
troll The question of reforming tie fec
system of United States district attorneys
and marshals occasioned much debate when
the legislative bill was taken up. Mr..
Hoar opposed th, change from fees to sal
aries by means of an appropriation bill as
1t was large subject needing separate
treatment.
The Senate spent most of the Goth on the
legislative appropriation bill but did not
complete it owing to Mr.. Sherman's motion
to strike out the proposition for the change
from fees TO salaries for United States dis
trict attorneys and marshals. The subject
was debated at length. AS Il result of the
sudden death yesterday of Gen Casey, en-
gneer iii charge of the construction Of the
Congressional library, Mr.. Morrill, of Yer
mont presented to the Senate joint resO-
luton appointing Bernard r. Green. a civil
engineer, 10 succeed IN charge Of the library
construction at $4,000 annually. Mr.. Morrill,
explained that Mr.. Green was the imme-
date assistant of Gen. Casey III building
the Washington monument. the war. state
and navy buildings and the library Mr.
Hale took occasion TO speak on the nigh
qualities of the late Gen. Casey. designating
him rs one Cf the best of all officers In the
public service. The Green resolution was
then adopted.
The Senate INDUCED in an acrimonious pc.
litical debate on the 2Tth, which developed
much personal ana party feeling, and
brought ON two sharp personal exchanges
between Mr.. Hill and Mr. Ekins. and be-
tween Mr. Brice and MI Elkins. The con-
troYerSy arose over Mr.. Hills motion To
the proposed change OF the date of assem-
bling the New Mexico Legislature from De-
cenlber to May Mr.. Hill bitterly denounced
the change as political trick" which had
| been .'sneaked into" this appropriation bill
in order he claimed TO postpone the
meeting of the Democratic Legislature in
| the hope that Republican President would
| be elected and the political control of the
territory changed. Mr.. Elkins protested
against aga the use Of the words ''sneaked into
The exchange between the senators was
very animated. but Mr.. Hill persisted in t.
use Of his adjtectiYsS Later, Mr. tfice
latter brought up the offensive personal dis
patch which had been sent to Mr. Brice
f from New }s HMI GiFico M. Mr. Clom sought to
this effect @ Rit mS Mr c1 to
lom yielded to the Hill motion and the New
Mexico provision was struck out. At the
close of the day the Senate passed the legis-
900. '- 'l - '''e T--''N''
1t was District of Columbia day in the
House on the Odd Some business was
| transacted by unanimous consent before
| Chairman Babcock of the district commit
tee claimed the day. Delegate Murphy of
| Arizona secured consent for consideration
of the Senate bill to authorize the leasing
of lands for educational purposes in Arr
IONA. This was a modification of the biz
vetoed by. the President and passed over
| the veto by the House. The House then
proceeded, to the. consideration of District
| of Columbia business. After the district
| hJ1cr MILO ad
Rsp Ia ~ ca f1P Of the Hddry coG
mittee called up the Curtis bill, abolish
| ing the death penalty in certain cases and
permitting juries in cases of criminal as
! saut and murder to bring in verdicts quail
fed without the death penalty Mr..
Gillett offered an amendment to the Curtis
| treason punishable by death. When the
bill was placed upon its passage, Mr.. Bar
| rett made the point of no quorum. Speak
er Reed was unable to count more than 12S
| members.
! Senator Hills bill to remove the restric-
| lions against the appointment as officers of
the army or navy Of persons who hold com
| missions in the regular army or navy be-
| fore the rebellion, and who subsequently
| Confederacy, which passed the Senate dur
ing the height of the excitement over the
Venezuela boundary question, passed the
House on the oath, after two hours debate,
With but one dissenting vote, that of Mr.
! Boutelle of Maine. Mr. Hit, chairman
of the foreign affairs committee, called
the Senate's disagreement to the conference
| report on the Cuban resolutions. On his
motion the House insisted It's substitute
! for the Senate resolutions and agreed to
! the further conference asked for by the
! Senate. Mr.. Boutele, chairman of the
naval committee, reported the naval ap-
| preparation bill
The House on the 10Th took up the naval
| appropriation bill and. despite several di-
verting incidents, made such rapid progress
with it that when the adjournment was
reached, all the paragraphs had been passed
save those relating to the increase of the
navy. The bill carries $31, 81, 034. 50, 49,
43S more than the current law, and author
ICES four new battle ships and fifteen tor
| pedo boats, the cost of which complete will
be almost $50. 900. Not single amend
ment was adopted, though there was an eff
! fort to provide for a new dry dock at the
League Island yard. During the day Mr..
Boutelle and Nj Wheeler continued their
alteration over the record Of the Demo.
Gratis on the bill to, retire Gen Grant. The
other INCIDENT Of the day arose in connec-
| ton with an attack made by Mr. Cannon.
! chairman Of the appropriations committee,
! on the naval officers detailed at the naval
| observatory.
The naval appropriation bill was passed
nv he will O11t