Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-04-30
OUR LAWMAKERS AT WORK.

ator Cockrell of Missouri. The Indian
appropriation bin provided that mo
money herein appropriated shall be
paid for educationin sectarian schools"
This provision is struck out by the
Coclxrell amendment as adopted, and it
is declared to be the settled policy of
the government to make no appropria-
tons for sectarian schools after July 1,
1898, thus giving two years for the
abandonment OF sectarian schools, in
stead of an immediate abandonment.
The amendment was adopted by the
decisive vote of IS TO "a. The Indian
bill was not completed The Presi-
dents veto of two pension bills brought
out some criticism from Mr.. Gallinger,
but no action was taken beyond refer
ring them TO the pension committee.
HoUsE-The consideration of the gen.
eral pension bill reported from the
invalid pension committee was begun.
1t amends the existing pension laws in
some very important respects. Mr..
Pickler, the chairman of the committee,
addressed the House for three hours in
support of it. Before the pension bill
was taken up Mr. GOODWIN, Populist,
was seated in place of Mr.. Cobb, Demo
crat, from the Fifth Alabama district.
SENATE-l09th day-The considera-
ton of the Indian appropriation bill
was resumed and several minor amend
ments were made, the most important
being the insertion of the item of
$1,000, 900 for the payment of the Che
rollee outlet fund, which had been
struck out by the committee. The bill
as thus amended was then passed.
The sundry civil appropriation bill was
taken up with the agreement that
it should not displace, except tenn
porarily, the bond resolution. House.
The pension laws were the subject of
discussion and Mr.. smith, of Michigan,
made warm address i'm favor of giving
pensioners more security in their COM
pensation than they have recently had,
owing to the spy system of the pres
ent pension administration.
SENATE.-l10th day-The day was
spent on the sundry civil appropriation
bill without completing it. The debate
was largely of a formal character. A
Venezuelan debate came up when an
item was reached, authorizing the
Venezuelan commission to pay rent for
its quarters out of 500, 900 appropriated
for its expenses. Several senators
were amazed to learn that notwith-
standing the fact that the Venezuelan
commission had been created by con-
greSs, on the advice of the Presi-
dent, and 100000 appropriated for
their expenses, during great popular
excitement, and was designed to settle
a conflict between two of the greatest
nations on earth, yet the comptroller
of the treasury steps in and says the
commission cannot use its appropria-
ton to pay its rent. Mr.. German in
sisted that the matter lay over until he
could investigate. Mr.. PETERS bond
resolution came up, was modified some
what by its author, and laid over by
agreement. Mr.. Sherman sought to
take up the bill proposing a repeal of
the law giving a rebate Of the tax on
alcohol used in the arts, but met strong
opposition, SO the measure went over.
HoUsE-The entire day was in a quiet
debate of the Picker pension bill, and
the evening on private pension bills.
SENATE-111th day-Mr. Sherman's
bill relating to duties on alcohol used
in the arts was defeated. The sundry
civil appropriation bill was completed
and passed. As it passed the House it
carried about $50, 900, 600; as reported to
the Senate it reached S35, 900, 900, and by
amendments added was raised to S37,-
600, 900. HoUsE-The Picl<ler pension
bill again occupied the day..
SENATE.-l12th day.-The naval APP
preparation bill was before the Senate
throughout the day. An amendment
offered by Mr. Chandler making it un-
lawful for retired naval officers to enter
the service of contractors furnishing
armor, etc, to the government occa-
stoned an animated debate, which
gradually broadened into a discussion
of the entire subject of armor plate.
1t was shown that American armor
manufacturers were charging 5000 per
ton for armor used by the United States,
and at the same time furnishing armor
TO Russia at $500 per ton. House.
District of Columbia business occupied
the larger portion of the day, and the
Pickler pension bill debate filled up the
1.aI m mi ,tr time