Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-02-12
NATIONAL sOLONs.
REVIEW OF THEIR WORK At
WASHINGTON.
Detailed Proceedings of Senate and
House-Bills Passed OF introduced
In Either Branch-Qucstions of Mo.
ment to the Country at Large.
The Legislative Grind.

mene to the Country at Large.
The Legislative Grind.
The nominal business of the House Sat-
urday was the consideration of the agri-
cultural appropriation bill, which was
passed before adjournment, but much of
the time was devoted to political discus
sion. The free distribution of seeds by
the department of agriculture raised a
lively discussion. Mr.. Northway NRep.l
of Ohio asserted that Secretary Morton
e~ndeavored to discredit the custom by
procuring poor seeds, and Mr.. Bromwell
lRep.) of Ohio charged that n Minneapo-
lis seed firm had attempted to bride him
by an offer of seeds free to refrain from
calling the attention of Congress to the
quality of the goods they furnished tho
department.. An amendment was offered
by Mr.. Mercer for the free distribution to
members of poultry, swine and other live
stock, to illustrate his opposition to seed
gifts. At the request of agricultural or
CARNATIONS of his State Mr.. Hill of Con-
n%ccticut proposed to strike out the seed
items, but his proposition was lost. Speak
er Reed voted for the first time this SEES
sion. and against free seeds.
An unusually large number of bills were
passed by the House Monday, but few
of them of any considerable Importance.
The bills passed included the old bill
which has been pending before Congress
for SO many years to retire John NJ.
Quackenbush. who was court-martialed
and suspended from the naval service in
1871 for drunkenness, as a commander
under date of June 1, 1895; also a bill to
the heirs of Albert Augustine,
OF Hose Hill. Iowa, in the sum of $3.50 for
Two COWS destroyed in the Cayuse war Of
le4'. Bills were passed to authorize the
Columbia and Red Mountain Railroad to
construct n bridge across the Columbia
river; to prevent the carrying of obscene
literature and articles designed for indie
cent and immoral use from a State or ter
ritory into another State or territory; to
prevent trespassing upon and the protec-
ton of the Chickamauga and Chattanoo-
gu and other national military parks; to
amend an act entitled an act to repeal the
timber culture laws and for other pur-
poses 1.-THE act relates only to the entry
of lands in the Sioux Indian reseryationl.
to authorize the entry and patenting Of
lands containing petroleum and other
mineral oils under the laws relating to
placer mining (the purpose of the bill
was to circumvent n ruling made by the
secretary Aug. Z. 1896. The Nicaragua
canal bill occupied the attention of the
senate most of the day. but no progress
was made toward a final vote.
h feature of the Senate Tuesday was
a very spirited debate on the conference
report of the immigration bill. Mr.. Glib
son OF Maryland opposed the report and
MT. Lodge defended it. After two hours
struggle the report went over and the
Nicaragua Canal bill was taken up, Mr..
Villas continuing his remarks. Mr.. Teller
OF Colorado also entered the debate in on
position to the measure. The House bill
to allow the bottling of spirits in bond
was reported favorably. The day in the
House was very dull. nearly the whole
session being devoted to debate OH appro-
priation bills. The diplomatic md con-
stlar bill was passed and considerable
progress made with the District of Column
bin bill. The bill as passed carries ST.
6I3,1OS. Resolutions arranging for the
formal canvassing of the ELECTORAL vote
OF the last Presidential election to taks
place Wednesday were adopted.
The contested election case of Cornctt
versus Swanson. from the fifth Virginia
district. occupied the attention of the
House "Wednesday. Three Republicans and
three Democrats OH the Elections Com
mittee had reported in favor of the Demo-
cratic contestee. Mr.. Swanson, and three
Republicans offered a minority report rec
oinlnending that the seat be declared VA
cant on the ground that II fair election
could not be held under the Virginia cleo
tlonlaw. When the vote came to be taken
the minority could not muster enough
Votes to call the yeas and Il and Mr..
Swanson's title to his seat was confirmed
by an overwhelming viva voce vote. AZ
Ter Il brief parliamentary struggle in the
senate the friends of the Nicaragua Canal
bill were unable to hold a quorum and sit
OUT the obstruction to that measure. The
friends of the bill finally gave up hope
OF securing Il quorum and yielded to an
adjournment. Mr.. Villas continues tt
hold the floor.
The session of the Senate Thursday was
one of unusual activity. Mr.. Morrill, en-.
deavored to pass the bill prohibiting the
use of intoNicants in the capitol building.
This aroused the opposition of Mr.. Hill Of
New York, who denounced the %busybodies
oaAA AiiASGHicI- Aliu keiS inspiring tnlS Cl1SS
of legislation. He moved to recommit the
bill. but this was defeated by Il vote of
% yeas to 30 nays. However, he sue
ceeded in prolonging the debate to 2
O'Clock, when tine bill was displaced by the
Nicaragua Canal bill. The immigration
bill was recommitted to conference. Mr..
Lodge. in charge of the measure, adopt-
ing this course as Il result of urgent ap-
peals for a modification of the bill. Be-
fore this was done. however. II warm
personal and political colioquy occurred
between Mr.. Lodge md Mr.. Chandler ON
II hand and Mr.. German ON the other.
MIR. Villas added another day to his speech
against the Nicaragua Canal and had not
concluded when the Senate adjourned.
The proceedings in the House were very
dull and almost entirely devoid of pub
lie interest. The major portion of the
day was devoted to the District of Column
bia appropriation bill. The House agreed
to the Senate's request for 81 further con-
ference or the immigration bill.