Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-03-12
OUR LAWMAKERS AT work.

most of the day 10 the agricultural appropria-
ton bill and passed that measure Carrying
50, ed2000 without material amendment Mr.
Allen, Pop. Neb, asked immediate consider.
alton OF q resolution declaring that all III =
bonds are redeemable in both gold and silver
but objection was made and the resolution
went over. Mr.. sherman called attention 10
the discrepancy in the journals OF the two
houses as TO the action OF the clerk OF the
that body He said that the House resolutions
had been reported as a substitute Tor the Sem
ate resolutions. but they had through Its House
clerk been reported TO the Senate as indepen-
dent resolutions. Word came later that the
error had been corrected. In It's corrected
form the House resolution Is an amendment 10
ported back the subject was referred TO
the committee foreign relations
Mr. German gave notice OF motion to recon-
slider the bill providing for additional enlist
ments In the navy in case OF emergency. He
said that he expected IL he succeeded In secur-
Ing the reconsideration TO move an amendment
limiting the time in which the secretary can
exercise the authority conferred. HoUsE-The
entire day was spent In debating the amend
ment To the legislative appropriation bill 10
abolish the fee system in the cases OF u. = dis
trict attorneys and marshals.
SENATE-Seventieth day-The consideration
OF the Dupont election case from Delaware
was begun The Cuban resolutions went 10
| conference as n result OF "a report from The
committee on foreign relations and Messrs
| sherman, Morgan and Lodge were named as
| Senate conferees Mr. Frye, from the COM
| nittee on foreign relations. reported the Ding
ley House bill providing for the extermnation
| OF the Alaskan fur seals HOUSE The entire
day was spent IN liking the salaries OF L -
| attorneys In the amendment 10 the legislative
appropriation bill 10 abolish the fee system
| The law al present likes the maximum salary
from fees AT $4,000 The request OF the senate
for a conference on the Cuban resolutions was
| received but not acted upon.
| SENATE-Seventy-f first day--The Senate con-
| ferees on the Cuban resolutions reported that
! the conference favored the resolutions as
IAt Nj tod hFf lkt.f ltv
| number OF Senator'S was IN attendance action
| was deferred Mr. Chandler. who had not before
| been heard on Cuba, declared himself in favor
OF not only recognizing but of maintaining the
| independence III cuba even If IL resulted In
| war with Spain Mr.. Hawley expressed SYM
pathy with the public feeling against Spain
yet he feared the earnestness and eager
ness OF the United states would involve us in
war not only with Spain but other European
| countries. He deprecated the hippancy with
| which warlike utterances were made. The
| Dupont election case occupied large portion
| OF the day. Mr.. Galltnger. chairman OF the
| pensions committee, introduced the following
| bills as amendments to the pension laws: Pro-
| viding that upon the the application for a
pension the fact that the applicant was ac-
| cepted and mustered into service shall be ac-
| cepted as satisfactory proof that he was OF
| sound body and mind: empowering fourth
| class postmasters to administer oaths TO PEN
| sioners In pension cases the oath OF private
| shall have equal weight with the oath OF an
onicer, the failure OF a soldier TO receive hon.
orble discharge. providing there is no charge
| OF desertion against him, shall not be bar to
the granting OF pension 10 his widow or those
dependent upon him in case OF his
proof that death was due TO military
service in the case OF widows as an
plicants under the act OF 1890 HOUSE
The House wrangled for four hours over the
salaries OF L. =. marshals and other features
OF the amendment TO the legislative appropra-
tion bill TO abolish the fee system in the cases
OF u. ;. attorneys and mashals. Interest in
that debate was completely overshadowed,
however, by a sensational attack made upon
President GlRValln6 Hartman Re
Mont, who felt himself personally aggrieved
by Mr.. Cleveland utterances at f.he Presby-
terrain home mission meeting IN lsew York and
who seized the opportunity allowed by the
latitude OF debate on appropriation bills
to repel the idea that the western
states were the horne OF evil influences,
as suggested by Mr. Hartman
The debate was Interrupted TO allow the speak
er to appoint a-sconferees on the Cuban reso-
lutions .iCssrs. Hit, OF Illinois, and Adams, of
Pennsylvania, Republicans; and Mr. Creary
OF Kentucky, Democrat Their conference
with the Senate committee lasted only 40
minutes and resulted IN an agreement to report
the House Cuban resolutions.
Seventy-second day.-No session OF Senate.
HOUSE. = The legislative appropriation bill
which has been under consideration for a week
was passed, the amendment to abolish the u ~
tenn ins the cases OF United States attotntysY
and marshals having been adopted. The House
then entered upon the consideration OF the
postorce appropriation bill, the largest OF the
regular supply bills which carries 81 .943. 751.
The spy system on local mail carriers was
knocked out. bill was passed TO abolish the
cash payment OF pensions, TO prevent the
swindling OF old veterans who draw their pen
sion money at the agencies on the Quarterly
paydays Reports from agencies show that
many pensioners draw their pensions in cash.
and their families complain that they get no
benefit from the money; This bill requires all
pensions TO be paid in checks, sent TO the
homes OF the pensioners.
Seventy third day.-No session OF the Senate
House The House entered into the consider
alton OF the eighth Of the thirteen regular
appropriation bills. that providing for the pos
tai service. Ii is the largest OF the supply bills
carrying over SgI,0JOOJO A series Of attempts
were made 10 increase the compensation OF
fourth class postmasters, but they went down
before points OF order The controverted items
in the bill relate TO postoifice inspectors and
special mail facilities.
E-Seventy- fourth day-Another stir
ring chapter in the Spanish Cuban contro-
versy was added Many Senators indicated a
desire to be heard on the subject and the con-
terence report. accepting the House Cuban
resolutions, went over In anticipation that
the last stage OF the Cuban question would be
reached the galleries were beseged by the
greatest crowd seen since the session opened
The speech OF the day made by Mr. Hale
KEEP. Me. In vigorous opposition TO this reso-
luton and TO the offensive interference Of the |
United states in foreign questions. The Sena-
tor declared that the spirit of militarism was !
abroad in the land: that our course involved
the possibilities OF war with all its dreadful |
consequences. Mr. Hoar offered a resolution !
postponing all action on the Cuban question |
later and may form the basis OF opposition !
TO an adoption of the conference report |
resolution by Mr.. Hoar. was adopted calling |
on the President for all available information |
on the Cuban subject HoUSE.-Distrct OF |
Columbia business consumed the major portion 1
OF the dav. Among the bills passed was one TO !
decease the cost OF gas from 81 30 TO 81 a thou
sand. This was the outcome OF a long fight |
against the gas company: Another item was a |
rag cure bill for the district which provides |
that persons convicted OF the habitual intern |
perate use OF stimulants may be sentenced bv |
police justices TO term not exceeding 20 davs |
In an institution To be established for inebrf- |
ates The authorities In charges OF public |
charities may also send those persons who |
may seem TO need "a course OF treatment and |
individuals who may voluntarily ask To he |
taken In may be treated At a cost not exceed |
ing so per week. The consideration OF the /
postonice appropriation bill was continued but |
no important amendments were adopted A
resolution was adopted calling on the secretary /
OF war for estimates OF the cost OF repairing |
the breakwater at Cleveland, o
The public debt was 1897, 067, 473