Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-06-11
CONGRESSIONAL.

The Senate yesterday evening dis
posed of the last of the appropriation
bills, and fixed 4 p. m. to-day as the
time for the final adjournment. The
victory, if there be one, rests with the
Senate, for its dozen amendments to
the sundry civil bill making appropria-
tions for public buildings in western
cities were accepted gracefully by the
House, while House leaders still insist
ed upon the prerogative of their body
to originate appropriations. Both fac
lions to the contest over the govern
ment aid to church institutions claimed
to have prevailed in the compromise of
the District of Columbia bill, which
continued for one more year the dis
bursals to church charitable institu-
tions, coupling the extension with a
declaration that the governments pol
icy is to expend no more money in this
field. After being in session through.
out the day night session was deter
mined upon, in order to adjust the
many minor differences between the
two houses. A number of bills were
passed during the day, including the
important bill giving trial by
jury and other safeguards in pros
ecution for contempt of court. The
measure has been vigorously urged by
labor interests, particularly railroad
employees. 1t is the result of the agi-
I tation resulting from the imprisonment
of Eugene V. Debs for contempt of an
injunction issued at the time of the Chi
cago strike. The bill as passed contin-
ues the power of summary punishment
when an offense is committed in the i'm
mediate presence of judge. But in
Indirect contempt, such as q violation
of an injunction, the bill provides that
the accused shall be given full hear
ing, with opportunities to summon wit
nesses and offer defense. An amend
ment was made giving the accused the
right of trial by jury on application. In
case of conviction, an appeal is pro-
vided to the Supreme Court. Senators
Hill, Butler and PETER supported the
bill and Mr.. Plat opposed it as revolu-
tionizing the judicial system. Another
general bill passed during the day in
creasing the salaries of letter carriers,
fixing the amount according to length
of service.
A bill was passed authorizing rail-
road bridge over the Potomac river at
or near Great Falls.
An enormous amount of business was
transacted by the House in order to
| clear the desks for the final
adjournment. There was a great
clamor for recognition. Fifty-three
bills and joint resolutions were
passed, the most important of which
was probably the bill appropriating
5000, 900 for the Trans. Mississippi Ex-
position at Omaha. Chairman Cannon,
of the appropriations committee, made
fight to induce the House to stand
out against the Senate public building
items in the sundry civil bill, but the
members outvoted llim-100 to SIS.
After the conference report on the Dis
trict of Columbia bill, containing its
compromise on sectarian charities, had
been presented, MIR. Cannon precipitat-
ed heated discussion of the political
situation, in which Mr.. Dockery and
Mr.. Dingley participated. The work of
the session was deliberately reviewed,
criticised and defended. The confer
ence report on the District of Columbia
bill was adopted. The Senate resolu-
ton for final adjournment at p. m. to-
day was passed. The House held a
brief session at $50 to enable the
Speaker to sign the enrolled bills.