Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-04
WORK OF CONGRESS.

What Our Senators and Representatives
Are Doing at the National Capitol
In the senate the 26th Senator Turpfe
Qnd-) closed his speech the Cuban resoIu-
lions, holding that Spain had utterly failed to
Quel the outbreak and that the United States
should intervene. The Wolcott bill for an in
ternational monetary conference was consid-
cred, but final action taken The Mic
aragua canal bill was then debated After
wards the amendments to the senate bill for a
survey Of a water route from the mouth of the
jetties at Galveston, Tex, to Houston, were
agreed to and the bill finally passed - The
house passed over the presidents veto the bill
to pension Jonathan Scott. of Oswego, Kan, at
the rate OF S72 a month The Indian appropr1a-
ton bill was then considered. a bill was also
passed to satisfy claim for keeping SO African
slaves, landed at Savannah Ga, in 1859, until
they were sent back to their country.
THE senate on the 9th passed the military
academy appropriation bill after the defeat of
the amendment for the participation OF the
West Point cadets In the inauguration cere-
monies. The Nicaragua canal bill was then
taken up and debated Senator Villas (WiS-1
made a motion to recommit the bill, but the
senate adjourned before vote was taken, -.
The house, after debate of four hours adopted
the conference report on the immigration bill
by vote of 131 to 11S, Mr.. Bartholdt (MO.) speak
ing against the report.
THE bill for international monetary con-
ference was debated in the senate on the 18th,
Senator Chandler On. H-) speaking in favor of
it. Senator Stewart (Nev-) criticised the COM
mission futile but stated that he would not
oppose the measure. The Nicaragua canal bill
and the bankruptcy bill were before the senate
for brief time, but no progress was made on
either OF them Early in the day lively de-
bate occurred over the resolution OF Senator
Allen CNeb) questioning the presidents right
to forecloSe against the Pacific railroads. The
resolution went over for speech by Senator
Thurston (Neb.). A number Of petitions urg
ing the speedy ratification of the Anglo-Ameri-
can peace treaty were received. Senator PEI
fer Kan.) stated that the sentiment in Kansas
appeared to be strongly in favor of the early
ratification of the treaty. The appointment of
William s. Forman, Of Illinois, as commits
sioner of internal revenue was confirmed 80
The house passed the Indian appropriation bill
and entered upon the consideration of the agri
cultural appropriation bill. The feature of the
day was the scoring Mr.. De Almond Cdo) gave
the secretary of agriculture for the recent issue
of pamphlet entitled 1.-THE Farmers Interest
in Finance
BY the decisive vote OF IS to the senate on
the 10Th passed the bill for the appointment Of
commissioners to an international money con-
ference. The bill authorizing the patenting Of
lands containing petroleum and other mineral
oils under the placer mining laws Of the United
States and the bill to prevent the speculating
in claims against the federal government by
United States officers were also passed. Sem
ator Bacon (Ga-) introduced joint resolution.
which was referred deprecating and aVow-
ing that the policy OF the United States was to
arbitrate all differences with nations when
ever possible The senate then adjourned to
the 1st The house had an acrimonious debate
on the conference report to confer the fran
chiSeS Of the Atlantic & Pacific railroad on the
purchasers under the mortgage foreclosure. Mr..
Murphy (Ari) introduced bill to try Indian
criminals in territories in the United States
courts only. 1t was referred. The house then
discussed the agricultural appropriation bill.
The evening session devoted to private
pension bills.
THE senate was not in session the 30th.
The agricultural appropriation bill was con-
sidered in the house, the free distribution of
seeds causing animated discussion. An
amendment offered by Mr.. Mercer (Neb }
for the free distribution to members of poultry,
swine and other live stock, to illustrate his op-
position to free seed distribution, but the
amendment was ruled out by the speaker as be-
ing joke. Mr.. Hill Comm offered amend
ment to stop the free distribution of seeds but
1t was lost by vote of 43 to %. An amendment
continuing the fibre experiments was agreed to
and 5000 appropriated for the experiments
The bill was afterwards passed.