The Penn's Grove record., 1896-12-18
Congressiona

SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTY-FoURTH
CONGRESS BEGUN.
The Sub. Committee of the Senate
Committee on Finance engaged in an
investigation on the bond sales agreed
to make a partial report to the full
committee and ask for instructions re-
garding the compulsion Of witnesses to
answer questions. 4
In the National House Of Represent
tatives the resolution extending until
the end of the session the investiga-
ton by the Joint committee. of the use
of free alcohol in the arts was agreed
to.
representative Bell submitted to the
House a minority report on the Pacific
Railroads Funding bill, f~avorably re.
! ported at the last session.
MI. .Boatner, of Louisiana. offered
in the House, a bill increasing to $10,-
900 per year the salary Of the Speaker
of the House Of Representatives, and
to $500 per year the salaries of Sena-
tors and Representatives, to go into eff
feet March 18th, 1897.
The House judiciary Committee
ordered a favorable report on the bill
authorizing the President to re-appoint
Commander John N Q~uackenbush, OF
the navy, to his former grade and rank
as of date August LIST, 1888, and to
place him on the retired list of the
navy. 6
The reported assassination of the
Cuban General, Antonio Maceo, while
under a flag of truce, was the text of a
resolution offered in the United States
Senate by Mr.. Call, of Florida. It
was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations. The resolution
characterized the affair as a violation
of the rules of civilized warfare and as
q cowardly act of treachery. The COM
mittee is instructed to inquire into
the facts and to report to the Senate
at an early day. Another resolution
offered by Mr.. Call. which was sim
ilsrly referred, requests the President
of the United States to demand the re-
lease of all United States citizens he'd
by the Spanish Government now prs-
oners In Ceuta. Mr. Galiinger pre-
sented resolutions, passed by a church
congregation in New Hampshire, de-
clarine that the OUT ages in Armenia
should be suppressed by the civilized
Powers, even at the cost of the dis
memberment of the Turkish Empire.
A resolution was offered by Mr., PETER,
OF Kansas, and laid on the table for
the present for the appointment of a
commission of five to examine and
study the general subject of finance in
reference to its practical relations
to business. A resolution, offered
last week by Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska,
denying the power of any state to I'M
pair the obligation of oontracts, was
taken up aud made the basis OF a
speech by him After passing all the
pension bills on the calendar the Sem
ate adjourned.
BY unanimous consent the House
postponed consideration OF the Dis
lriet of Columbia bills. BY a vote Of
9S yeas to 86 noes, the HOUSE refused
to pass over the Presidents veto a bill
granting a pension to the divorced vile
of Lowell Taft, of the Eighteenth Reg
iment, Connecticut Volunteer Infan.
try, who died of alcoholism 10 a Sol
diers, Home. 2
A resolution for an inquiry into the
corrupt use OF money in the late Presi-
dental election was offered by Mr..
Allen. of Nebraska, and was, under
the rules. referred to the Committee
on Contingent Expenses. The Pension
bill of Nancy G. Allabach was taken up
and passed, notwithstanding the Presi-
dents objection-4l to IL.
Moat of the session was occupied in
considering the Senate bill to permit
the purchasers Of the Atlantic and Pa
ci6c Railroad Company TO form a new
corporation with the rights, privileges
and obligations Of the old one. II was
amended in several particulars and
A substitute proposed by Mr.,
McRae, of Kansas, was rejected.