Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-09
A WEEK OF CONGRESS.
peaker Reed neversss His Famous Rui-
Ing-Thc Cuban Resolutions Posed.

The Senate Thursday resumed considera-
ton Of the postoflce appropriation bill.
The committee on appropriations reported
the Indian BILL carrying SOC. The
Senate then adjourned to Monday. The
House passed the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill.
The House Friday passed IS private PEN
sion bills. In the course of this part of the
proceedings Speaker Reed reversed his
famous ruling in tho Fifty-first Congress,
and declared that a majority OF the actual
mem bership Of the House constituted
quorum. In the Fifty-irst Congress he
held that it required majority OF ali tho
members elected to the House to make q
quorum, irrespective of vacancies. The
river and harbor appropriation bill'was re-
ported. 1t carries a total approprlatit,a of
50, $780, or about 81, 100 90 less than the
appropriation by the last Congress. Con-
tracts are authorized in the bill for an
amount in addition aggregatng s5l, 900.
The report of the conference committee,
recommending the adoption of the Senate
resolutions relating to Cuba, was taken
up. Mr.. Hit made Il speech in favor of
agreeing to the report, and Mr.. Bouteue
spoke against II. A night session was held
for the consideration of private pension
bills.
Debate on the Cuban resolution was re-
sumed in the House Saturday and con-
tinued in evening session.
The proposition in the Post-otfce appro-
pration bill affecting the consolidation
of small post-offices near the large towns
and cities led to a long debate in the Sem
ate Monday, in which there was an ex-
hibit!on of much political and personal
feeling. The House voted upon the report
of the Conference Committee recommend
ing the adoption of the Senate resolutions
regarding Cuba, instead of those recently
passed by the Hodse. They were agreed
to, the vote being yeas, 2i5; nays, q. Mr..
Powers voted for the resolutions and Mr..
Grout voted against them. The River and
Harbor appropriation bill was then taken
up. and, after 40 minutes debate. was
passed under suspension of the rules, by
vote of PIC yeas to 40 nays. This is said to
be the first limo in the history of river
and harbor bills that one has gone through
the House with as little opposition.
During the discussion OF the postoffice
appropriation bill In the Senate Tuesday
an amendment was adopted which re-
stricts the consolidation system to tho
limits OF corporate towns and cities The
bill was passed. In the House. the bill
providing for the establishment for a free
public library in Washington was sent to
conference, there being q difference OF
opinion between the House ana Senate
to the fund against which the expenses
of tho institution should be charged. The
House refused TO order to it's engrossment
and third reading the bill providing for the
adoption Of the metric system of weights
and measures by the government. Pend
ing a demand for the yeas and nays tho
House adjourned.
There was some Cuban talk in the Sem
ate Wednesday and a brief discussion OF
the Indian bill In the House the metric
system bill was ordered to be third reading
by q vote OF l1S to H.