The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-12-16
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGKESS.


day when Vice President Hobart in the senate
and Speaker Reed in the house called these re-
spective bodies to order. As congress had al
ready organized last March, tic opening ses-
sion was rather tame in comparison with the
usual first day Precisely at Il o'clock
the gavel of Vice President Hobart fell
and the senate called to order
The invocation was delivered by Rev. w.
II. Milburn. the blind chaplain. He made
beautiful and touching reference to our be-
loved president" who awaited news from the
bedside of the mother to whom he is Govoted.
and prayed that she might have peaceful
passage to the celestial shore. Seventy seven
senators responded to their names on the the
roll call. The president message was read in
both houses. after which adjournment was
had until Tuesday.
WASHINGTON, Dec s.-SENATE-During the
session Tuesday los bills. many of which were
private pension measures, were introduced in
addition to several joint resolutions and some
senate resolutions. An interesting contest for
precedence in consideration between Mr..
Lodges immigration bill and the proposed leg
islation to confer authority upon the president
to act for the protection of the governments in
terest at the sale of the Kansas Pacific rail-
road was pending at the close of the seS-
sion The probability is that it will be amicu-
bly, ARRANGED before the senate convcneS We'd
nesday. Mr. H. De S. Money. of Mississippi
was introduced, and after some brief criticism
Of the form of his credentials the oath of Office
HoUSE-The session of the house Tuesday
though it lasted but two hours. witnessed
lively skirmish over the question of distrbut-
ing the presidents message to the various COM
mttees clothed with jurisdiction over the SUBJ
jects 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. Dur
ing the debate Gen Grosvenor of Ohio nrcG
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 II bill to cmasculntc
the civil service law were passed it would
meet the presidential veto. Eventually Mr.
Dingley. in Difference to the opposition of the
members of the banking and currency commit
tee agreed to a modification of the order dis
tributon, so as to send to the ways and means
committee all matters relating to the rev
enues, the bonded debt of the country and the
treaties affecting the revenues" The rcsolu-
tion was then adopted.
WASHINGTON. Dec Wednesdays session
Of the senate occupied less than an hour. the
time principally being consumed by members
| in presentation OF memorials, resolutions and
bills. resolution presented by Mr.. Allen
(pop. Neb) declaring it to be the sense of the
senate that the United States should recognize
| the political independence of Cuba. was made
the subject of some remarks by the Nebraska
senator, in course of which he criticised the
president for not carrying into effect the pledge
| OF the republican party made in its last ma
tional platform to recognize the independence
OF the Cuban republic AT the conclusion of
| Mr. Aliens remarks, the senate by resolution
| OF Mr.. Hoar (Mass.) adjourned mark of
| respect to the memory of the late Ashley B.
| Wright. one Of the members of the house OF
| representatives from Massachusetts.
| HouSE-The session of the house Wednesday
| lasted only l5 minutes. Mr. w. A. Stone rep.
Pa) reported the pension appropriation bin
the first of the appropriation bills. and gave
| notice that he would call it up Immediately
| after the reading Of the journal Thursday. The
| committee on, election and the committee On
| banking and currency were given leave to sit
during the session of the house. Then at l.: Is
| the house adjourned.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-SENATE-The senate
| did q considerable amount of business. al
| though no very important measures were con-
| sidered or passed, and there very little de-
| bate Senator Gallinger. chairman Of the COM
| mittee on pensions, called attention to tho in
| creasing demand for private pension legislation
and requested senators to be careful in the iu-
| ture to see that their bills for private pensions
| were meritorious before they were introduced.
| An attempt was made by Senator Mcbride to
| secure an appropriation for the relief of the
| klondike miners, but the net result was res
| olution calling on the secretary of war for al.
| information he had on the subject An hour
| was devoted to the consideration of private
pension bills. and 45 were passed. The resolution
| of the Pacific railroad committee asking infor-
| nation regarding the sale of the Kansas Pacific
| was passed. which gave Senator Gear, of Iowa.
and Senator Thurston of Nebraska an oppor-
| tunty to make short speeches congratulating
| the country upon the settlement of the Pacific
railroad question. Some work was laid out for
| next week, Senator Carter securing the right
of way Monday and Tuesday for his census bill
and Senator Lodge the immigration bill made
| the unfinished business during the week. AT
| 2:40 p. IN. the senate adjourned until Monday
HoUsE-Tbe house Thursday entered upon
the consideration of the pension appropriation
bill and stirred up u debate that promises IL
continue for several days. Several of the
southern democratS offered criticisms of vari
Gus classes of pensioners, and Private John
Allen. of Mississippi. who led the assault in
speech repete with his characteristic humor
presented series of amendments designed as
| he said to correct some of the most glGrinl
evils. They prohibit the granting of pension,
to widows whose applications were not tiled
during their widowhood and the granting OF
pensions to widows whose applications
were based on marriages contracted
after the passage of this act. anL
to permanently insane or idiotic minors VINO
had reached their majority. Bills introduced
For the relief of persons who served 50 days Cl
more in the various construction corps in tn;
army; to establish national military park "a
the scene of Dade's maSsacree in the Semin i
war, with 100 acres of land to establish the de-
partment of commerce and industries; upprU
priating 100000 for the holding OF a congress
of the Indian tribes OF the United States il
Omaha, Neb
WASHINGTON, Dec. u-SENATE-Not i.
session.
| HoUSE-The house Friday passed the pen
sion appropriation with amendment ana 40
journed until Monday. The amendments Offer
ed by the democrats to correct alleged eXs
ing abuses were ali ruled out on the points O
| ..l.,,;