Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-24
SENATE AND HOUSE,
WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAW
MAKERS.
A Weeks Proceedings In the Halls Of
congress--Important Measures Die
cussed and Acted Upon-An Impair
tial Resume Of the Business.


attention of the Senate and well-hlled
galleries for an hour Tuesday by his earn
est advocacy of a strong and decisive
policy in dealing with the Cuban ques-
ton. He asked for the adoption OF the
resolution presented Monday, requesting
the Secretary of State for the papers In
the Competitor case and In other cases
involving the arrest of American citizens
by Spanish authorities. The resolution
was agreed to. The Senate took up the
bill pensioning Nancy Allabach, which
had been vetoed by the President, and
passed 1t over the veto. In the House
Dill to reorganize the Atlantic and Pa
cific Railroad Company was passed with
out division, after certain amendments
had been adopted. The House then en-
tered upon the consideration of the Loud
bill to amend the law relating to the
transmission of second-class mail mat
ter. The bill met with the most intense
opposition from certain quarters. 1t de-
MES the right of serial novels to admis-
sion to the mails at the newspaper cent
per pound rates; denies to newspapers
the sample copy privilege; prohibits the
return of unsold publications Mt pound
rates and makes some other changes in.
the present law, designed to correct ex-
listing abuses 1t is estimated that the
abuses of the law have cost the govern
ment $240. 100000 in the last ten years
No final action was taken.
The session of the Senate Wednesday
developed the most eyentful and exciting
debate that either branch of Congress
has heard in a long time. 1t brought
forward the recognized leaders of the
various parties and elements, including
such conspicuous figures as Sherman,
Frye, Teller, German, Vest, Aldrich,
Plat, Mitchell (Ore.), Chandler, Hale and
Allen in notable statements on the lead
ing questions which have engaged the at
tention of Congress and the country of
late. Not only were the lines laid down
on tariff and finance, but the debate par
took of all the pent-up feeling resulting from
the recent national contest. Mr.. Sherman
closed the debate by saying that he felt
the Dingley bill could never be passed.
Mr.. Bailey Dem., Texas) created rip
pie of excitement at the opening session
of the House by asking for the immedi-
ate consideration of a resolution to in
vestigate the construction of the battle
ship Texas. The resolution was referred.
The House on motion of Mr.. Hull, Chair
man of the Committee on Military At
fairs, went into committee of the whole
for the consideration Of the army appro-
priation bill. The House adjourned,
leaving the bill unfinished.
The Senate Thursday passed the immi-
grafton bill known as the Lodge bill, with
new section providing that the exclusion
shall not apply to persons arriving from
Cuba during the continuance of the pres
ent disorders there. AS passed, the bill
amends the immigration laws so as to ex-
clude from admission to the United
States all persons over 16 years of age
who cannot read and write the language
of their native country or some other
language, but an admissible immigrant.
over the age of 16, may bring in with him,
or send for, his wife or parent or grand
parent or minor child or granchild, not
withstanding the inability to read and
write. The House passed the third of
the regular appropriation bills, that for
the support of the army, and entered up
on the consideration of the legislative.
executive and judicial bill. The army
bill as passed makes no provision for the
army and navy hospital at Hot Springs.
Ark. The House also passed several bills
relating to the District of Columbia and
three resolutions for the use of flags of
the war department, government reser-
vatiOns, etc., on the occasion of Mr.. Nc
kinley's Inauguration.
Friday was private bill day in the
House, but most of the session was de-
voted TO the passage of the thirty seven
pension and relief bills favorabIy acted
upon by the committee of the whole Fri
day. The bill to pay Flora A. Darling,
the wife of Confederate general, So
6S3 for Tennessee and Louisiana bank
notes taken from her In 1864 while under
a flag of truce, which was attacked by
Mr.. Dalzell Friday, was laid on the table.
Only five bills were favorably acted upon.
One of them, bill to refer a claim of
Thomas B. Reed, Pennsylvania SOL
der during the war, to an unpaid bal
ance of salary to the Court of Claims
created some merriment owing to the
fact that his name was identical with
that of the Speaker of the House. The
other bills were to pay the officers and
crews of the United States gunboat
Kineo and Chocura $12,474 prize money;
to pay William b. Isaacs & Co. $16,9S7,
the finding of the Court of Claims; to pay
George McAlpin, the sutler of the Elev-
enth Pennsylvania Cavalry, $6,9O6 illeg-
ally collected from him; and to repay
Matthias Peterson of Spring Valley, Wis,
$500 paid by him for substitute during
the war, Peterson not at that time being
citizen of the United States. The Sen
ate did nothing of Importance.