The Yale expositor., 1896-05-22
SEEN AND HEARD CONGRESS-.

SENATE.-125th day.-The struggle
over the Santa Monica, Cal. deep water
harbor amendment to the river and
harbor bill was disposed by compro-
mise being effected whereby a commits
sion appointed by the President shall
determine the matter. An amendment
urged by Mr.. German, limiting the ex-
penditure under the contract authoriz-
atoms of the river and harbor bill to
$40, 000, 900 annually led to lengthy
debate. A motion by Mr.. Vest to table
the amendment failed. HoUsE.-A
contested election case and a few other
minor matters filed the day.
SENATE-126th day-The river and
harbor appropriation bill was passed,
making direct appropriations OF Sl2,-
POO, 600 and authorizes continuing con-
tracts of $64 900, 900, an aggregate of
about SIG. 900, 900 During the debate the
statement was made that this was the
largest aggregate fora river and harbor
bill in the history of the government.
Mr.. German sought to secure an amend
ment to the bill limiting the contract
expenditures to $4,000, 900 annually,
A number of house bills on the calendar
were passed during the day, including
the bill requiring year IS residence in
any territory us requisite to divorce.
HoUsE.-After one of the hardest
fought parliamentary battles of the
session, which continued until o'clock
at night, the contested election of
Rinaker VS.. Downing from the Six
teenth Illinois district was recommitted
to the committee on elections, with in
structions to recount the ballots in dis
pute.
SENATE.-127th day.-The Dupont
case, involving the right of Henry A.
Dupont to seat in the senate from
the state of Delaware, was taken up
with view to concluding the debate.
Two speeches were made against the
bill proposing additional restrictions
on immigration. by Mr.. Gibson Dem,
Md, and Mr.. Nelson Rep, MINI. Mr..
Gibson severely arraigned the A. p. A.,
declaring that it inspired this bill,
and that the organization was seeing
to evade politics. HoUsE.-The entire
day was given to private pension bills;
among those granted being that to the
widow of Gen. o. NJ. Poe, $50 per month.
SENATE-l2Sth day--The struggle of
the Republicans to seat Mr.. Dupont as
a L. $. senator from the state of Della
ware, which has been in progress off
and on for many weeks. was ended
when Mr.. Dupont, by vote of 81 to 30,
was declared to have not been elected.
The Populists voted solidly with the
Democrats. A resolution was agreed
to for an inquiry by the finance com
mittee relative to the competition
of Oriental products with those of this
country. Resolutions were proposed
by Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama, for an
inquiry as to our treaty rights with
Spain. and by Mr.. Gallinger, of New
Hampshire, relating to the need of
additional tariff enactments. HOUSE,
The House occupied itself in passing
the private pension bills which were
favorably acted upon i'll committee of
the whole during the two special days
given to their consideration. Mr.. Erd-
man, Democrat, of Pennsylvania, and
Mr.. Talbert, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima, threw such obstacles in the way
of the bill as they could. Thirty-four
were held up because they were not
engrossed, but 100 were passed, leav
ing about 60 yet undisposed of.
SENATE-120th day--By vote of
yeas to Al nays, the senate defeated
motion by Mr.. Allen, Populist, of Ne
braska, to proceed with the considera-
ton of the resolution to investigate al
legged election irregularities in Ala
bama. After the passage of several
minor bills the entire day was given to
the bill regulating gas rates in the Dis
trict of Columbia. HloUsE-A number
of minor bills were disposed of, among
them the following: To allow the
bottling of distilled spirits in bond; to
expedite the delivery of imported goods
in parcels and packages not exceeding
$500 in value: to provide for the regis
tration of trade marks on bottles. bar
rels. corks and other receptacles used
in interstate and foreign commerce: to
incorporate the Society of Colonial
Danes of America: for the general dis
tribution of condemned cannon by the
secretary of war and the secretary of
the navy; TO compel the attendance OF
witnesses before the local land offices.
The conference report on the bill to
improve the merchant marine engi-
nccr service was adopted.
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