Evening star., 1897-02-11
IN CONGRESS TODAY
Appropriations Bills Considered in
Both Senate and House.
rHE DIPLOMATIC BILL PASSED
Fort'f'cationss Measure Favorably
Acted on by the House.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

In the absence of the Vice President Mr..
Frye, president pro tenn, occupied the
chair in the Senate today. There was some
amusement over a report by Mr.. Vest for
a bridge over the Columbia river in Wash
tngton. The Identical bill had passed and
become law. and yet the House passed 1t
again. AS the House wanted another law
On the same subject the senator said he
made favorable report on the second bill.
Senate bill to provide times and places
for the trial in Oklahoma territory of cases
under the federal laws was passed.
The House resolution appointing Gen.
John Marshall Brown of Maine as a mem
Der of the board of managers of the ma
tional homes for disabled soldiers, to sue
ceed the late General Beale, was agreed to.
The Allen Pacific railroad resolution went
over until Monday next on request of Mr..
Thurston
Senate bill providing for the retirement
OF enlisted men OF the army and navy af-
Ter thirty years continuous service at
tnree-quarters pay. was passed.
The diplomatic and consular appropria-
tlon Dill was then taken up.
The Greater Republics.
Mr. Morgan questioned the items of
SlO,oOo for minister to Nicaragua, Costa
Rica and Salvador and $4,000 for a min
1ster to Guatemala and Honduras. 1t was
understood. he said. that union had been
formed by three of these countries. and
that our ministers to Nicaragua Honduras
and Salvador had lost their resnectiye
functions, as their foreign offices had been
Closed The union under the name of the
Greater Republic of Central America, had
sent minister here, who it was under
nd L,
tue PRESIDENT. This was an awkward
SITUATION, he added. 'It all arises" de-
ciared Mr. Morgan, from the fact that the
PRESIDENT does not think 1t worth his while
to inform Congress as to the stains of our
iorelsn relations He seems to think that
ne can do 1t all himself, and that it is un-
.lecessary to inform Congress" The sena-
tor thought 1t was time to end the differ
ences between the executive and Congress
reiatlng to grave public questions. Here
.ne senate was about to act in the dark
appropriating for ministers to countries
"nlcn no longer had foreign Offices
Mr. Hale. in charge of the hill said tho
question would have to be settled later.
our ministers were in actual Service in
those countries and would have to be paid
II the union discontinued the places the
department would have to discontinue the
salaries at a suitable time
Mr morgan did not press the objection
SAYING MS only. purpose was to have the
public understand the peculiar conditions
Ine Bill Iassed.
The consular and diplomatic appropria-
tlon Dill was passed. the committee amend
ments being agreed to as reported. Mr.
Loose 'Mass). In charge of the conference
report on the immigration bill, asked that
'he maj vote be taken on Monday. but
yielded to appeals for more time and an
agreement was made for a vote next Wed
neSday' at O'clock
"a. ~ CLOCK. on motion Of Mr.. Sher-
man, the Senate went into executive ses-
sion. s
The Arbitration Treaty.
The Senate. contrary to yesterdays un-
derstanding. today resumed consideration of
the Pauncefote-Olney arbitration treaty II
had been arranged that the immir,-at ation
Dill should be given right of way TODAY.
but this order was changed on account Of
the absence of Senator Carter. vino de-
sired to be heard OH it.
Senator Turpie was the first of tadsv,s
speakers. He advocated the ratification of
tne treaty and directed his remarks in re
ply to Senator Morgap's attack upon the
treaty. h INV
He was opposed to amendments. and de-
clared that the treaty should be ratified az
1t came from the President, The amend.
ment could do no harm except to defeat
tne treaty The arbitration proposition, de-
clared MIR. Turpic, was no new thing. II
mad been proposed many times. In the
F1fty-hrst Congress a concurrent resolution
was adopted by a Congress republican in
both branches In favor of the general prin-
clple of arbitration. The resolution was as
follows:
Resolved by the Senate Che House of
Representatives concurring) That the
President be. and he is hereby requested
to invite. from time to time, as mt occa-
sions may arise. negotiations with any gov
ernment with which the United States has
or may have diplomatic relations, to the end
that any differences or disputes arising
between the two governments, which can
not be adjusted by diplomatic agency, may
be referred to arbitration, and be peace
ably adjusted by such means"
This resolution. Mr.. Turpie said, gave
expression of that Congress In favor of ar
bitration. an expression which the people
believed In. and whicn had never been con-
demned. Mr.. Turpie was listened to with
great interest by the Senate.