Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-23
A WEEK OF CONGRESS.
Senate and House Making Good Progress
with thu Annroprintion bills.

In the Senate Thursday Mr.. Gray con-
cluded his argument against the right OF
Mr. Dupont to the vacant seat from the
State of Delaware, and the case went
over until some further day The resolu-
tion offered by Mr.. Peffer for an investiGa-
ton of the recent bend issue was taken up
The fight in the House against the re-
election of General w. p. Franklin as
member of the Board of Managers Oh the
National Soldiers Home resulted In the
defeat of those opposed to him. 1t was
decided by a vote of l49 to 50 to continue
him on the board as recommended by the
Committee on Military Affairs.
In the Senate Friday, Mr.. Hill continued
without concluding his speech against the
passage of the PETER resolution TO lnNes-
tigate the bond sales of the present ad-
ministration. Mr.. Gear reported the pll
for the refunding of the Paclhc bond-aided
railroads This led to an alteration be-
tween Mr.. Gear, chairman or the comihl'-
tee. and Mr. Allen, the populist Senator
| from Nebraska in which warm words
were used on both sides. The Senate ad-
iourned until Monday. 1t was private
bill day in the House. One bill was passed
and one rejected. Some bitter speeches
were made Mr.. Pinkler reported the gem
eral pension bill prepared by the committee
on invalid pensions, and 1T was rccomni'-
ted An evening session was held Tor the
consideration of private pension bills.
In the House on Saturday the general
deficiency bill was reported. Several prl-
vate bills were passed, and at ! O'Clock
business was suspended and eulogies OF
the late General william Cogswell, Rep
resentative from the Sixth District OF
| Massachusetts. were delivered,
| In the Senate Monday Mr.. PETER con-
sented reluctantly to have his resolution
for an investigation of the recent bond
| issue laid aside temporarily until the APP
preparation bills are disposed of. The IN
dian appropriation bill was taken up, but
no progress was made The secretary oil
the Treasury sent to the Senate informa-
ton concerning the recent sale OF ponds'
The aggregate amount of money PAID IN
up to and including April 18th was S9b,aiS'-
O5O. of the face value of the bonds, with a
grand total of premium accrued interest,"
and principal, aggregating siohn",szo'so'
The sundry civil bill was reported TO the
| Senate. The estimates called Tor s4o'4.4,-
65s. and the House only appropriated w.
s36. 1922. The Senate increased this by -, ILL.,
$50. The same bill for the current year
carries an appropriation of si6j0O,oOo The
Senate bill is less by s1l,5G0,00O, ana less
than the estimates by So. 400 600. After pass
ing few private bills, the House spent
| the remainder of the session In the con-
| stderation of the general deficiency Dill
There was a prolonged debate over para
graph approprating $S500O0 to supply a
deficiency in the collection of the customs
revenue The bill was passed without
material amendment.
The Indian appropriation bill occupied
the attention of the Senate Tuesday. The
House voted, 100 to AZ, that j. E. Cobb
dem, was not elected a representative
from the fifth district of Alabama,
The Senate Wednesday adopted an
| amendment to the Indian appropriation
bill, allowing Indian contract schools tc
continue till 1898, The House considered
| pension bills.