The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-04-10
CURRENT TOPICS.
THE NEWS IN BRIEF.
~FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.



I y the senate, on the 29th. during a short open
session. q bill was passed appropriating S250,000
to be expended in saving life and property in
the flooded district of the Mississippi valley:
also a bill to approve q compromise and settle
ment between the United States and the state
OF Arkansas. Two hours and a half was spent
in executive session discussing the arbitration
treaty---...In the house, during the discussion,
in Of the whole, of the tariff bill, the
high rates Of duty imposed in the cotton and
wooden schedules were attacked by MeSSrS. Nc
Call and lowering, of Massachusetts, and de-
Tended by MeSSrS. GroSYenor o., Russell
Comm AID Dingley Gie.). When the commit
tee rose the house passed senate joint IeSolu-
ton making Immediately available $4,000 for
protection of life and property in sEs lower
Mississippi valley.
IN the senate, on the Both. Mr.. A:ler Cpop..
Neb) spoke more than an hour to prove that
congress does not possess the constitutional
power to impose tariff duties on articles of
daily consumption for the express and avowed
purpose OF increasing the private fortunes of
one class OF citizens at the expense Of the
masses" House amendments to senate joint
resolution appropriating S50,0O to aid in pro-
tecting life and property in the Mississippi
floods were concurred in and the joint reSolu-
tion sent TO the president I'm the house
the day was nearly all spent in diSpoSing of
amendments to the tariff bill offered by the
COlllLlALltt VI ways duu HltdDS, pTllClpdiiy "
correct the phraSeO!ogyo or to make the clGSSih-
cation clearer. Among others. an amendment
putting books, maps and charts for the use of
schools, colleges and public libraries on the
free list was agreed to; also one restoring the
Mckinley rates on horses and mules.
II the senate, on the 3lst, the only matters of
public interest treated Of in open session were
two resolutions upon the subject of Cuba. both
Of which went over without action. At FPS p.
m. the senate proceeded to the consideration of
executive business, including the arbitration
treaty ard the question Of filling the vacancies
in the standing committees. .....I In the house.
the debate on the tariff bill under the five-min-
ute rule having ended by Limitation OF rule, the
vote on the measure was taken and resulted:
Yeas. 2O5: nays, III; present and not voting. n.
The affirmative vote was composed of 1879 re-
DublicInS, including Speaker Reed, four demo-
Gratis and one pOpuliSt; the negative vote OF liz
democrats and four populists.
IN the senate. on the LIST, during the hour of
the opening session. a joint resolution was
passed authorizing the secretary of the navy to
place a war vessel and n chartered merchant
vessel at the disposal of the collector of the
port of New York for transporting supplies to
relieve the furnishing poor Of India. The reSo-
luton. offered by Mr.. Morgan (dem. Ala.), as to
letters of Maxine Gomez TO President Cleve-
land and President Mckinley was passed; as
was the resolution, offered by Mr.. Mills dem,
Tex. as 10 the obligations assumed by the
United States toward the people of Cuba in as
sorting and maintaining the right to prevent
the acquisition Of the island by any European
power. The senate was in executive session
from ] p. IN. until 5:I5. when it adjourned to
the 5th......The house was not in session on
tho I-