The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-10
CONGRESS AT. WORK
House Wastes no Time h Beginning
an Interesting Debate
ssirmish In the Hosss over the Question %
Distributing the Presidents Message
to CommIttees-Curtls' Eu1 On
the Indian Territory.

WASHINGTON, Dec. ga new mem
Der, IN Henry Des Money, OF Missis-
sippi, was introduced in the senate
yesterday, and after some brief criti-
cism of the form Of his credentials, the
oath OF Office was administered 70 him
During the session los bills, many OF
which were private pension measures,
were introduced, in addition tOseTeral
joint resolutions and some senate resO-
lutions. An interesting contest for
precedence in consideration Of Mr.
Lodges immigration bin and the pro
posed legislation to confer authority
upon the president to act for the pro
lection OF the governments interest at
the sale Of the Kansas Pacific was
pending at the close Of the session
Among the bills introduced was one
by Senator Allen to provide for a con
gress Of Indian tribes to be held in
Omaha in connection with the Trans
mississippi exposition next year. The
bill provides that the various tribes
shall be represented and appropriates
$40, 600 20 pay the expenses Of the
gathering.
THE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, Dec S.-The session Of
the house yesterday, though it lasted
but two hours, witnessed very lively
skirmish over the question OF diStrib-
uting the presidents message TO the
various committees clothed with juris~
dictiOn over the subjects dealt with
The conflict of authority came between
the ways and means committee and
the banking and currency committee.
The battle ragged all along the line
During the debate Gen. Grosvenor,
Of Ohio, fired the first gun against
the civil service law, and this also
brought the friends and enemies
of that measure into action.
Mr.. johnson, of Indiana, IN
ringing warning, declared that if
bill to emasculate the civil service law
were passed, il would meet the presi--
Dental veto. Eventually Mr.. Dingley,
in Difference to the opposition Of the
members of the banking and currency
committee, agreed TO a modification of
the order Of distribution so as to send
to the WAYS and means committee all
matters relating to the revenues, the
bonded debt Of the country and the
treaties affecting the revenues" The
resolution was then adopted
After the session, Chairman Walker
| claimed he had won decisive victory,
and that his committee, under the
order, would have jurisdiction of a
measure to. as he expressed it, ICON
vert the greenbacks into gold certif-
Gates" But the members Of the ways
and means committee insisted that the
change of verbiage in the order would
not affect their jurisdiction, and that
a measure such as the president sug-
gested, If introduced in the house,
would be referred by the speaker to
their committee.
Mr.. Curtis, Of Kansas, introduced a
bill providing for the adjustment of
the present system of government for
the Indian territory. The bill is very
similar to his bill for the same purpose
introduced April 3, 1896. 1t provides
that all Indian laws shall be null and
void; that United States officers shall
conduct prosecutions and that a roll
of citizenship shall be compiled by a
special commission. An allotment OF
land is to be made per capita The
territorial form of government is not
to be affected by the passage of the
hill