The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-04-30
SENATE AND HOUSE.
WORK OF OUR NATIONAL Iaw.
MAKERS.
"A weeks Proceedings in the Halls of
Songress-lmpo Measures Dis
cussec and Acted Upon-An Impair
t1al Resume of the Business.
The National SoIous,

Ihe Senate passed the Indian appro
prlauon bill Monday. 1t is substantially
tne same as it passed the House. and can
occasion little division save on the amend
ment opening the Uncompahgre Indian
reservation. Resolutions of inquiry were
agreed to asking the Secretary of State
as to the operation of the reciprocity
treaties made under the Mckinley act.
Mr. Vest introduced his resolution de-
carlng illegal the recent order of the Sec
retary of the Treasury relative to imports
arriving after April l. After the execu-
i've session the Senate adjourned as u
mark of respect to Representative Null
hken, deceased
senator Morgan's resolution declaring
mat state of war exists in Cuba was
discussed briefly in the Senate Tuesday
ana then went over for a week The ag-
f1cultural appropriation bill was passed
without amendment. A resolution bv Mr..
doar was agreed to asking the Sec
retary of State for comprehensive infor-
nation as to the machinery of government
Q! all 1orelgn nations with which we have
olplomauc relations, the taxes or excises
ana methods of collection: imports and ex-
ports; method of aiding the merchant ma
rlne; discrimination against American
merchant vessels; public Indebtedness,
etc. Another resolution by Mr.. Cullom
asked the Secretary of the Treasury
1or information as to the effect of the pres
ent internal revenue tax on the honest
production of distilled spirits, to what
extent Illicit distillation had occurred. and
all 1urther information that will aid in
protecting the Government against
frauds. The resolution went over after
brief discussion The House was not in
session.
Senator Mason, of Illinois, made his
MAIDEN speech in the Senate Wednesday
and slgnalized it by some breezy criticism
on the rules of the Senate. 1t was such
variation from the prosy debate of re-
cent days that the Senator was accorded
close attention and twice received the
hearty applause of crowded galleries Mr..
doar, of Massachusetts, replied briefly.
pointing out that the other branch of |
congress was more open to criticism than |
dne Senate. He was in accord with Mr. |
mason, however, on the need of new |
rules. A vote was taken on Mr. Cor. |
man motion to refer the Mason resolu.
tlon to the Rules Committee which pre-.
Vaiied-yeas, 81; nays, "a. Most of the
Gay was given to the bankruptcy bill The
House after a ten-minute session. ad.
51ourned one day out of respect to the
late Representative Milliken of Maine.
The session of the Senate Thursday
opened with proposition for an official
expression of sympathy to the Greeks in
thelr struggle with Turkey. This was
soon merged into turbulent debate over
the dlsorganiZed state of the Senate.
Later in the day the Nelson bankruptcy
bill was passed by the decisive vote of
49 to s. The bankruptcy bill as passed
Is the substitute framed by Mr.. Nelson of
Minnesota. The free homestead bill"
was then taken up. Mr.. Morgan offered
an amendment providing that all public
lands not taken up by public entry by
Jan. l, 1900, shall be granted to the
States and Territories where the lands are
located for dedication purposes. The
homestead bill was made the unfinished
business and then laid aside. At i o'clock
a message from the House announced the
death of Representative Holman. Mr..
1urple OF Indiana presented resolution
volclng the regret with which the an
nouncement was received and providing
for committee of FIVE Senators to accom-.
pany the remains. The resolution was
agreed to- The presiding officer named
Senators Turpe, Fairbanks. Spooner.
Kyle and Rawlins as the committee. The
Senate adjourned to Monday The House
Old nothing of Importance.
The House Friday completed the consid
Grafton of the Senate amendments to the
Indian appropriation bin and sent the bill
to conference. The main contention CEN
tered about the Senate proposition to open
the Uncompahgre Indian reservation uu-
der the mineral land laws Finally an
was recommended to the eff
fect that no corporation should be allow
ed to obtain possession of these gilsonite
deposits, but that the Government should
lease the lands in limited areas and for
limited terms of years. The Senate
amendment striking from the House bill
the provision for the ratification Of the oil
and gas leases made by the council of the
Seneca Indians last December was dis
agreed to. A resolution was adopted by
which a committee of twenty-five was ap-
pointed to attend the dedication of the
Grant tomb in New York on Tuesday, and
the House agreed to a program of three
lay adjournments