Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-12-23
CONGRESS BEGINS.
Second Half of the Fifty-fourth
Session.
Senate.

-
Mitchell of Wisconsin a committee to
arrange for the coming Inauguration of the
President-e!ect in accordance with reso-
tuition introduced by Mr. Sherman Mr.
Blanchard Dem, La presented the Gre
dentials of his successor, Samuel Douglass
McEnery, for the term beginning March 4
memorial. Mr.. Gallinger (Rep., n H.) said
he fully approved the terms of the memo
rial, Including the statement that the great
powers of ChriStendom should intervene even
if it resulted i'll the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the
Turkish empire. Mr.. PETER pop. Kas)
introduced a comprehensive resolution for
the appointment of Il commission to nves-
tigate and report on the establishment of
permanent monetary system. Mr.. Hale
(Rep., Me) offered Il concurrent resolution
for the holiday recess of Congress from
December - to January 5. The Cuban
question came forward again when Mr.. Call
Dem. Fla.) presented three separate reso-
lutions. one denouncing the killing of Gen.
Antonio Maceo. Another resolution by MI
Call requested the President to demand the
release of all United States citizens impris-
oned in the Spanish 1I5 penal colony off the
Mr.. Call asked the secretary of state for
list of all United States citizens imprs-
oned in Spanish settlements. etc, with cir
etc. Mr.. Allen pop, Neb.) addressed the
Senate on a resolution introduced by HIM
self last week declaring the invioability of
contracts. The speech was largely in refu-
tation of charges made by Senator Hoar
in q recent address before the Home Mar
ket club III Boston, Mr.. Allen said that
neither Kansas Nebraska nor any other
state which had returned Populist electors
on that account to be claSsed as revo-
lutionary and regardless of the sacred ma
ture of the legal contracts and obligations.
MIR. PETER added Il reference against the
attacks prevalent IL the East that contract
Liabilities were being violated. He paid
high tribute to the integrity of his state
The resolution. with several amendments,
was then referred to the judiciary commit
tee. The Senate fixed the 18th inst at p.
m. for Il final vote on the immigration bill.
IL the Senate on the 10Th the House con-
current resolution for q holiday adjournment
from December ID 10 January was re-
ported favOrably and agreed to. Mr.. Nor
gan CDem., Ala) presented the credentials
of Edmund Winston Pettus as a senator
from Alabama for the term beginning March
next to succeed Mr.. Pugh. Something of
stir was occasiOned when Mr.. Allen pop,
Neb) offered resolution for n committee
of nine senators ION the use of money in
elections" The resolution directs that the
committee shall thoroughly investigate the
extent to which money, if any, was used
in connection with the recent presidential
election either in promoting the nomina-
lions or in influencing IN any manner the
choice of presidential electors, and to in
Quire whether any such expenditures were
excessive, illegitimate, corrupt or unlawful
and especially to inquire and ascertain to
what extent, for such purposes. the owners
of silver mines, gold mines. the bankers.
the manufacturers, the railroads or other
corporations and millionaireS of all classes
made contributions, and what contributions.
if any, were made by persons and corpora
tons residing abroad" The resolution
further empowers the proposed committee
to send for persons and papers and directs
a report by the first Monday of December,
1897: The bill validating certain New
Mexico bonds was taken up, the House
amendments agreed to and the Senate
amendments disagreed 70, so that the bill
now goes TO the President. Mr.. Palmer
bills heretofore vetoed by the President. but
yielded to Mr.. Morgan dem, Ala for q
speech on Cuba. He said in part: II am
not able to discover that the President has
made any specific recommendations or indi-
cation as TO any action he deems it proper
or eXpedient for Congress to take with ref
erence to Spain or Cuba, nor that he has in
Dictated any course, except a still patient
waiting. that the executive proposes to take.
Congress. thus left to its initiative, must
Of the most serious graTity Mr. Mor s9
closed his Cuban speech at 2:10 p m. and
the Senate then agreed to his resolution call
other cases The Allabach pension bill was
passed over the Presidents veto in the Sen
ate-Yeas. Al; nays, II.
The illness of Mr.. Allison Rep.. Ia and
Mr.. Warren (ReP., Wyo) was referred te
in the chaplains prayer at the opening of
the Senate on the 10th and the earnest hope
expressed for their speedy recovery. When
Mr.. Sherman (Rep.. o. favorably reported
several bills authorizing the acceptance of
medals, etc, from foreign governments to
United States citizens. Mr.. Allen pop,
went over The pension appropriation bill
was passed without division. 1t is identical
to the bill as it passed the House and carries
Sal. 23S.5S0. The bill will now go to the
President. Mr.. Vest Dem, MOI then called
up the Dingley bill for the purpose of max
ing some remarks. He said he appreciated
he was talking on a dead issue and he
would not allude to it if many well-meaning
people were not urging on Congress to act
upon this measure. He regarded the Ding
ley bill as one of the most remarkable pieces
presented |
result of the Presidents warning to Con-
gress year ago that the condition of the
holiday recess might well be abandoned. At
the close of the speech a sharp tariff de-
bate occurred between Messrs Vest, Mills.
Frye and Aldrich.
On motion of Mr.. Hale (Rep.. Me) the
Senate on the 18th agreed that when it
adjourns today it be until Monday next.
The House amendments to the Senate bill
to the lands OF the Atlantic & Pacific
Railroad company were non-cOncurred in
and Messrs. Hill Oem., n. ". Plat (Rep..
Comm and, Clark REP Wyo) named as
Senate cOnferees. Mr.. Chandler (Rep. N.
H. presented a large number Of petitions
from Alabama, recitinG that by reason of
the election methods prevailing in Alabama
the state was without a republican form
of government at the present time At 1
o'clock the immigration bill was taken up.
previous agreement having been made that
the final vote would occur at 4 y. m. An
amendment by Mr.. Palmer Dem. I'D to
make the age of admission p years was
defeated and Mr.. Lodge accepted one of
fcred by Mr.. Vest Dem. Mo- to make it
Is years. The Senate adopted the Morgan
Hoar amendment excepting Cubans from
the exclusion of the immigration bill dur
ing the continuance of the present dis
order in Cuba-yeas, Al; noes. 6. The
immigration bill was passed-52 to 10.
House
The reported assassination of Maceo the
Cuban patriot and it's effect on the attitude
of this country toward the revolutionists
was almost the sole topic of conversation
On the floor when the House met on the
14th, and there was q general expectation
that some radically sensational resolutions
would be introduced. No resolutions, how
ever were offered in open session. Mr..
Dingley, chairman of the ways and means
committee, presented a concurrent resolu-
ton for holiday recess from Tuesday, De
cember %, until Tuesday, January 5. The
resolution was adopted without division.
Representative NJ. " Howard of Ala
bama today introduced a resolution
recognizing the republic of Cuba as
free and Independent government.
Representative Woodman Of Illinois intro
duced joint resolution in the House on the
10Th directing the President to intervene in
Cuban affairs The resolution. after reciting
''Gen. Maceo's assassination and Spanish
cruelties in Cuba, says that the President
has failed to carry out the wishes of the peo-
pie; that the honor Of the United States is