Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-11
GRINDING OUT OUR LAWS.


ing the number of battleships from
four to two, which was defeated. The
effect OF this whole vote was to empha-
size the disagreement between the
house and senate, the former insisting
on four and the latter on two battle
ships. The items of ships and armor
was committed again TO conference.
HoUsE.-By vote of l53 to 80 the
house decided against the claim of VIM.
| Elliott from the First South Carolina
district and gave the seat TO Geo. w.
Murray, who is colored man. Mr..
Murray was given a round of applause
when he came forward to be sworn in.
Mr.. Elliott is the ninth Democrat un-
seated by the present house. The re-
mainder OF the day was mainly occupied
in debating the case of Martin VS..
Lockhart from the Seventh North Caro-
| lima district.
SENATE.-l4ith day.-Mr. Morgan, of
Alabama, asked for action on his reso-
luton requesting the President for in
formation as to the capture of the Com
petitor by Spanish warship and the
condemnation to death of United States
citizens; whether any demand has been
made for the release of the United
States citizens. The senator said that
while the case was one of great gravity,
involving the unwarranted condemna-
| ton to death of American citizens, yet
no information was available except
through press reports and rumor. The
executive branch had not given the
slightest information on the subject
Mr. Morgan read the statutes requiring
the President to make demand for
the release of an American citizen. He
argued that it was the duty of
! the President under the constitu-
ton to keep congress advised on
the state of the Union and in
particular on foreign affairs. Mr..
Morgan continued to score the
President and plea for some action by
congress on this important matter.
The senator declared that every day of
the confinement of the American
prisoners at Havana was a day of
American dishonor. Congress, which
was the sole war power, should
not leave without authorizing that
power to be used if necessary. In the
event that those American prisoners
are not released and delivered to the
President we should authorize him to
send ships of war TO Cuba and make
war sufficient to secure their release.
Mr.. Sherman rose, at this point, and
stated that the proceedings were of such
"a character as to require that they pro-
coed behind closed doors SO the galleries
were cleared and the question was con-
tinued for the greater part of the day.
! HoUsE.-Contested election cases oc-
cupied most of the day.
SENATE.-l45th day.-Some progress
was made toward clearing away the
great appropriation bills which stand
ahead of adjournment. The Indian
bill was finally disposed of, the con-
tract school item being modified so that
sectarian schools will be abolished July
1, 1897. After discussing the items of
battleships and armor plate most of the
day, the senate declined, by a vote of
"A to 30. to accept a conference report
recommending three battleships, and
the price of armor plate at n maximum
of S42j per ton. The sundry civil con-
ferees were instructed to insist on the
appropriations for new public build
| ings at the capitals of Utah, Idaho,
Wyoming and Montana, and additional
sums for buildings at other points.
The HOUSE cleared its deck for adjourn
ment by disposing of all the essential
| BUSINESS before it, which consisted OF
conference reports on appropriation
bills. The Presidents veto on the
sundry civil appropriation bill was re-
ceived and proved effectual, as the
house, by vote of 40 to 40, refused
TO pass the bill over the veto and sent
] to the senate a substitute, emitting the
French spoilation and other claims
which had incurred the presidential
opposition. Although there was little
debate on the Indian bill conference
report. which involved a compromise
extending government aid to church
schools for another year, when it came
to vote the compromise was rejected
by the narrow vote of 80 to 65. An
amendment authorizing the states to
make liens on aril lands TO cover ex-
penses was adopted.
| SENAlE-l4Otn day ne senate
passed the general deficiency bill as it
came from the house. This leaves but
four CT the great supply bills still in
issue-the District of Columbia, the In
dian, the naval and the sundry civil
bills. IIoUsE-In order to guard
against failure of quorum in the
closing hours of the session the house
revoked all leaves OF absence and or
dered the sergeant-at-arms to telegraph
absentees to return forthwith The
compromise relative to the old settlers
claims in the Indian bill was also
agreed to, leaving only the sectarian
school question in this bill open. Bills
and Joint resolutions were passed: For
scientific investigation of the fur seal
fisheries; TO amend the act for the pro-
lection of the salmon fisheries of
| Alaska: to amend the laws relating to
| American seamen, and to facilitate the
reorganization of the Northern Pacific
railroad. Just before the session
closed. after one unsuccessful attempt,
the house decided to take up the con-
sideration of the Aldrich- Underwood