The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-04-15
WORK OF CONGRESS.
THE WEEKS DolNGS IN SENATE
AND HOUSE.
A Comprehensive Digest Of the Pro-
ceedings in the Legislative Cham
bers at Washington-Matte that
Concern the People.
Lawmakers at Labor.


| The Senate Monday by unanimous vote
adopted resolution reciting the reports
| that Gen. Ruis Rivera, the Cuban COM
| mander, is about to be tried by drumhead
court martial and shot, and expressing
the judgment of the Senate that if these
reports are true the President of the Uni
ted States should protest to the Spanish
Government against such violation Of
the rules of civilized warfare. This res
olution was not sent to the House Of
Representatives, but became effective as
a measure of advice to the President by
its adoption. After the disposal of the
Cuban question the day was given to
speeches, Mr.. Elkins speaking for two
hours on the development Of the Ameri-
can merchant marine and Mr.. Lindsay
advocating the passage of the Torrey
bankruptcy bill. A joint resolution was
agreed to directing the Surgeon General
of the Marine Hospital service to aid the
Mississippi River food sufferers by the
distribution of tents, blankets, food and
medicine under the epidemic fund of 1893,
and to purchase further supplies under
the present epidemic fund for distrihu-
ton.
The Senate Tuesday was occupied by
discussion of Cuban affairs and the bank
ruptcy bill. The President sent to the
Senate the following nominations: Treas
ury-AlonZo ]. Tyler of Tennessee. to be
collector of internal revenue for the sec
ond district of Tennessee; Park Agnew
Of Virginia, to be collector of internal rev.
enue for the sixth district of Virginia.
Navy-Theodore Roosevelt of New York,
to be assistant secretary of the navy;
Captain A. S. Crowninshield, United
States navy, to be chief of the bureau of
navigation in the department of the navy;
Rev. William G. Cassard of Maryland,
to be chaplain in the navy. Postmaster
William Barrett Ridgely at Springfield,
III
The House acted promptly Wednesday
on the Presidents message and adopted
a joint resolution authorizing the Sec
retary of War to expend 100000 for the
relief of the flood sufferers of the Mis-
slsslppi Valley. Adjournment was taken
until Saturday. Cuba and the flood suf-
ferers divided attention in the Senate.
The reading of the Presidents message
urging Congressional relief for the devas-
tated regions of the Mississippi River was
followed by the passage of joint resolu-
ton offered by Senator Jones of Arkansas,
appropriating S15O,OOO, to be Immediately
available for the flood sufferers 1t was
passed by the unanimous vote of the SEN
ate- Ihe plans were changed, however,
when the House resolution appropriating
S2OO,OOO for the Mississippi River and
Red River of the North was received.
Ibis was accepted in lieu of the former
resolution and was passed unanimously.
Mr. Morgan of Alabama resumed his
speech in support of the resolution on de-
claring that state of war exists in Cuba
The Senate Thursday heard Mr. Nor
gan of Alabama for the third successive
day on his resolution declaring that a
state of war exists in Cuba. Mr. Nelson
of Minnesota spoke for two hours on the
bankruptcy bill, opposing the pending Tor
rey bill. Mr.. Chandler offered a resolu-
ton, which was agreed to, as follows
Resolved, That the Committee on Inter-
state Commerce be directed to investigate
the payments made or agreed to be made
by the interstate commerce commission
for attorneys fees, and also to inquire
whether in any cases the attorneys of the
commission have also been employed by
railroad companies in similar cases. and
further whether any additional authority
from Congress is required for the en-
pioyment of counsel in any pending pro-
ceedings which have been instituted by
or on motion of the commission The
House gave no evidence of life.