Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-01-14
The Routine Work.

After its two weeks recess Congress
has again assembled.
The Senate Tuesday passed the House
bill abolshing the death penalty in q
large number of cases. The measure is
in the line of recent State laws abolishing
capital punishment and applies the same
principle to Federal offenseS, although
the change is not extended to total
abolition of the death penalty.
The House entered upon its work i'm
mediately after reassembling Tuesday by
taking up the Loud bill to amend the laws
relating to second-clnss mail matter. The
whole day was devoted to general debate
on the measure under special order.
Mr.. Loud Cal), the author Of the bill.
was its champion ON the floor. and Mr..
Quigg IN. " had charge Of the opposi-
ton.
In the Senate Wednesday Cuba was
the subject of speech by Mr. Cali. The
House bill was passed to provide for the
appointment by brevet of active or re-
tired officers of the United States army.
The bill providing free homesteads for
bona fide settlers on public lands &C.
Quired from the Indians was taken up
and debated at, length. The joint reso-
luton requesting the British Government
to pardon Mrs. Florence Maybrick was
indefinitely postponed. The Loud bill
to amend the law relating to second
class mail matter was passed by the
House after two days of debate. The
most important provision of the bill de-
MES the serial publications admission to
the mails at cent per pound rates.
The Pacific Railroad funding bill came
up Thursday in the House under special
order which allows two days for general
debate and one day for amendments and
debate under the five-minute rule. A
huge map Of the roads. with their feed
ers. was hung up. There were only
four speakers-Mr. Powers of Vermont.
the chairman of the Pacific Railroad
Committee, who opened with an exhaust
i've two-hour argument in support of the
bill; Mr.. Hubbard of Missouri. the minor
ity member of the committee. who has
charge Of the opposition. and Messrs.
Grow of Pennsylvania and Bell Of Tex
as. who spoke respectively for and
against the measure. The Senates had a
long and busy session. passing number
of bills on the calendar, including sew
eral amendments to the law of navigation
and also the bill authorizing the Presi-
dent to reappoint to the navy Commander
Quackenbush, whose case has occasoned
much controversy. The Senate adjourned
until Monday.
BY n vote of.16S to 1O2 the House Mon
day rejected the funding measure propos-
ed by the Pacific Railroad magnates. All
substitutes were similarly disposed of. and
the only thing left for the Government is
to now institute foreclosure proceedings.
The Pacific Railroad lobby was over
Wheined at the large Majority against the
bill. Comparatively unknown members
OF the House appeared to have studied
the question carefully and they poured
hot shot into the Pacific Railroad and it's
management. President Cleveland has
already announced in default of legisla-
ton by Congress he would proceed at once
TO foreclose the second mortgage which
the Government now holds and either buy
IN the first mortgage or take the chances
on the Government securing enough for
its lien to make itself whole. 1t is the
general belief that if the President carries
out his threat Mr.. Huntington's friends
VIII Immediately make a new and much
more favorable proposition to the Gov
eminent. which can he accepted through
the medium Of a new bill to be passed by
Congress. Secretary Olney in behalf Of
the United States. and Sir Julian Paunce-
tote. on the part of Great Britain. affixed
their signatures to new treaty. by which,
for term Of five years, the two English
speaking nations agree to abide in peace
ana without resort to arms. all possible
questions of controversy being referred
to Il court of arbitration. with the single
exception that neither nation surrenders
It's honor or dignity to the judgment Of
arbitration. Later in the day President
Cleveland sent the treaty and a message
earnestly approving it to the Senate, and
that body Immediately ratified it.