Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-04-02
OF CONGRESS.
A Comprehensive Digest OF the Pro.
ceedings In the Legislative Cham
bcrs at washington = Matters that
Concern the People.
Lawmakers nd Labor.


bate was reached in the Senate Monday
when, on motion of Mr.. Sherman, chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons, the Cuban resolutions were recon-
mitted to the conference committee. The
vote to recommit. was unanimous and
without the formality of roll call, repre-
senting general 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 appointed to rep
| resent the Senate in further conference.
| simultaneously with this action Mr.
Mills presented Cuban resolutions which
propose to 60 farther than has yet been
suggested. They direct the President to
request Spain to grant local self-govern-
ment to Cuba, and in case Spain refuses
the President is authorized to u}aA the
military and naval forces in taking pos
session of Cuba and holding it until self
government is established by the Cuban
people, The House Committee on Elec-
lions Of President and Vice-President
reported favorably the bill introduced
by Mr.. Corliss, of Michigan, providing
for the election of Senators by direct vote
of the people. Some amendments of minor
Importance were adopted.
The question Of reforming the fee sys-
tenn of the United States District Attor-
neys and Marshals occasioned much de-
bate in the Senate Wednesday. Mr.. Hoar
opposed the change from fees to salaries
by means of an appropriation bill, as it
was large subject, needing separate
treatment. Mr.. Allen PopD Of Nebraska
attacked the high salaries. He declared
that the offices of District Attorney were
given frequently in payment of political
debts, and instead of requiring a high
degree of legal talent the places some
times went to "shysters" who could not
earn q living out of Office Mr.. George
(Dem.) of Mississippi attacked the entire
policy of giving high salaries and showed
that the Governors and Attorney Gener-
ais of States received less by half than
the bill proposed allowing Federal Dis
trict Attorneys. Mr.. Allen also criticised
the provision allowing the Attorney Gen
eral to designate the number of Deputy
Marshals. He spoke against the horde
of ofceholders" Under Buchanan the
Government spent $50,O0O,000 annually
and now it is 5O0,0O0,000. In that time
the population had doubled, but the eX-
penses had increased tenfold. Officers
were thrusting their hands into the treas
ury and by hook and crook. mainly by
crook, seeking to increase their salaries.
The purpose Of this provision was to add
to the offices controlled by an executive
officer. Mr.. Hoar responded warmly that
the Senate could not waste its time inves-
tigating the details of the number of
Deputy Marshas in each of the seventy
seven districts in the United States. If
it did it would become a laughing stock.
& tha 20 mi frus hn A 2
torney General with this duty then the
American Government had better shut
up shop and apply to some Populist club
to carry on its affairs. After an extended
debate the salaries for District Attor-
news and Marshas were agreed to as re-
ported, with a few minor changes The
legislative appropriation was not com
pleted when at 80 the Senate went into
executive session and soon after adjourn
ed The House discussed naval appro-
priation.
The Senate spent most of Thursday on
the legislative appropriation BILL but did
not complete owing to Mr.. Sherman's
motion to strike out the proposition for
the change from fees to salaries for Unit
ed States district attorneys and marshals.
A joint resolution was adopted allowing
ex-Presdent Harrison to accept decora-
tons from Brazil and Spain. The joint
resolution was passed providing for the
appointment of a commission under the
direction of the Secretary of War for the
preliminary survey. with plans, specifca-
tons and approximate estimates of cost
thereof, for the construction Of a ship
canal of approved width and depth, from
the lower shore of Lake Michigan to the
Wabash river. and for the further nvesti-
CATION of the .practicability of the con-
struction of such waterway. The naval
appropriation bill was passed by the
House without substantial amendment
The bill carries $31 GIL .034 and author
ICES the construction of four battle ships
and fifteen torpedo boats, the total cost
of which will be in the neighborhood of
$50, 100000.
The Senate INDUCED in an acrimonious
political debate Friday. The controversy
arose over Mr.. Hills motion to strike
from the legislative appropriation bill the
proposed change of the date of assem-
bling the New Mexico Legislature from
December to May. Mr.. Hill bitterly de-
nounced the change as a political trick.
Mr.. Elkins protested The debate took a
wide range, Senator's German, Faulkner.
Cockrell and other Democrats attacking
the provision as political, while Senators
Elkins. Carter. Cullom and other Repub-
lican Senator's defended it. Mr.. Cullom
sought to table Mr.. Hills motion, but
motion to this effect failed by a vote of
81 to 20. whereupon Mr.. Cullom yielded
to the Hill motion and the New Mexico
provision was struck out. The Senate
passed the legislative appropriation BILL
carrying $21 100000. Aside from provid-
ing the usual appropriate ions, the bin is
important in effecting a reform of the sys-
TEN of compensation for United States
District Attorneys and Marshals. sal
aries being substituted for fees. The ap-
preparation committee attempted to take
up the sundry civil appropriation bill in
the House, but the members who were
interested in bills on the private calendar
defeated them by vote of 142 to "a.