Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-12-25
NATIONAL SOLONS.
REVIEW OF THEIR WORK At
WASHINGTON.
Detailed Proceedings Of Senate and
House-Bills Passed OF introduced
in Either Branch-Questions of Mo-
ment to the Country at Large.
The Legislative Grind.

tnent to the Country at Large.
The Legislative Grind.
In the House Friday Rev. Mr.. Cowden.
the blind chaplain, referred in his invoca-
ton to the action of the House in pro-
hibiting the sale of liquor in the Capitol.
I'VE thank Thee, o Lord" said he, ''that
the House is no longer responsible for the
liquor traffic within the halls of the ma
tional Capitol. Grant, we pray Thee,
that the bill passed here yesterday will
so through the regular channels and
speedily become a law, never again to be
repealed in the history of our nation" At
the conclusion of the prayer, half q hum
dred members a%pplauded vigorously, but
Speaker Reed promptly suppressed the
outburst. On motion of Mr.. Dinglcy, the
floor leader, it was agreed that when the
House adjourn it be to meet Monday.
Beyond agreeing to a resolution for a
two weeks recess the proceedings in the
House Monday were almost entirely de-
void of public interest. Most of the day
was spent in a struggle over the bill Of
Mr.. Morse of Massachusetts to render
the laws relating to the sale of intoxi-
cating liquors in the District of Columbia
more stringent. The reported assassina-
ton of Maceo, the Cuban patriot, and its
effect on the attitude of this country to-
ward the revOlutionists was almost the
sole topic of conversation on the floor
before the House met. No resolutions,
however, We're offered in open session.
Among the resolutions introduced in the
Senate was one by Senator Morgan of
Alabama calling upon the President to
send to the Senate copies of the papers
relating to Cuban affairs which was re-
ferred to in the recent report of Secretary
Olney. The resolution asks for especial
information in regard to the trial of per-
sons captured on the Competitor. Rep
%resentative NJ. v. Howard of Alabama
introduced n resolution recognizing the
republic of Cuba as a free and indepen-
den government.
Senator Morgan of Alabama held the
attention of the Senate and well-flled
galleries for al hour Tuesday by his earn
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 p%ensioning Nancy Allabach, which
had been vetoed by the President, and
passed it over the veto. In the House Il
bill to %reorganize the Atlantic and Pa
ci6c Railroad Company was passed with
out division, after certain amendments
had been adopted. The House then en-
%Nv,l ,,,>o,, %1, 49,. &c N ~
bill to amend the law relating to the
transmission of s%econd-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 en-
listing abuses. 1t is estimated that the
abuses of the law have cost the govern
mcnt S224O.O00.G00 in the last ten years.
No final action was taken.
The session of the Senate Wednesday
developed the most eventful 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 i'll notable statements on the lead
ing questions which have engaged the at
tention of Congress and the country of
late. Not only We're the lines laid down
on tariff and finance, but the debate par
took ofallthepent-up feeling resulting from
the recent national contest. Mr.. Sherman
closed the debnte by saying that he felt
the Dingley bill could never be passed.
Mr.. Bailey Dem., Texas created a rip
pie of excitement at the opening session
of the House by asking for the immedi-
ate consideration of n 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 AZ
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
a 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 US to ex-
clude from admission to the United
States all persons over 16 years of 9
who canno read and write the language
of their native country or som other
language, but an admissible immigrant.
over the age of III, may bring in with him,
or send for, his wife or parent or grand-
parent or minor child or grnnchild. 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
OH 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