Evening star., 1897-01-13
IN CONGRESS TODAY
The Senate Spent Some Time in Ex-
ecutive Session.
EIFRADIfION TREATIES DISCUSSED
No Action Withdrawing the Amend
ments Was Taken.
ROUTINE IN THE HOUS E

The Senate galleries were cleared and
the doors closed Immediately after the ses-
sion opened today on the adoption of Mr..
Sherman's motion that the Senate go into
executive session.
The Extrndition Treaties.
Immediately after going into executive
session today the Senate took up the mo-
ton of Senator Sherman. made at the re-
quest OF Secretary OIney. to reconsider the
~ote by which the extradition treaties be-
tween this country and Argentina and the
Orange Free State were amended.
The motion was debated at considerable
length The principal point in contention
in the extradition treaties is the authority
granting a foreign government to take by
force from this country persons who escape
to this country and are charged with GER
tain offenSes. 1t was this point which was
first stricken out and which Secretary OIL
ney asks be retained. Senator Davis. a
member of the committee on foreign rela-
tions made a strong argument against the
principle which Secretary Olney desired to
have retained in the treaties. The discus
sion took a wide range. and covered the
general features and precedents of extra
diIion.
Secretary Olney was defeated at every
point by the Senate in executive session to-
day. when that body refused to reconsider
it's action on the extradition treaties. and
would not consider the suggestions which
he made. The treaties as amended by the
Senate will stand
Al DIS nm. the doors were opened and
the work of the regular session was re-
sumed.
To Vote Tomorrow.
An agreement was reached that the final
vote on the pending free homestead bill be
taken at pm tomorrow
Use of the Library Building.
There was considerable debate over the
resolution reported by Mr.. Morrill, (Vt) re-
stricting the uses of the new library to
legitimate library purposes Mr. Hale OF
Maine thought it was well enough to re-
strict tbs building against inaugural balls,
etc but not against other uses in cc1nec-
ton with the government service MI
Morrill, wanted the restriction absolute as
against museum. congressional and all 9TH
er service unconnected with the library
The resolution finally went over.
A resolution by Mr.. Stewart New was
agreed to directing the committee on mines
and mining to report on the best means OF
American mines. Mr.. Murphy (N.Y.) in
troduced bill for new custom house at
New York.
To Recognize Cuba.
The Mills resolution for the recognition
of Cuban Independence was called up, and
Mr.. Bacon (GaD spoke IN its favor.
THE HOUSE.
A rumored reooeuing of the Johnson
sui-e controversy did not materialize in
the House today. The Senate resolution
authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury
to make the contract for the government
builiing at tie Tennessee centennial expo
sitioa without the customary period of
advertisement, was adopted.
Minor Measures Passed.
Quite a number of measures of minor
Importance were passed, including bills to
pay Col. Philip Kirshner s337 for the serv-
ices of a band for the 10th o. V. L.; to re-
open the claim of Coggswell & Company of
ST. Louis for 81 900; to transfer Marion
County. Ala, from the I orthern to the
southern judicial district of that state; to
remove the charges of mutiny and conduct
CnbecoIning an cftlcer against Lieut.. David
Sample of the 18th Michigan Infantry; to
grant 10 the Muscogee Railroad Company a
right of way through the Indian territory;
TO authorize Surg. p. VI. Rixey, U.SN, to
accept from the King of Spain the grand
cross of naval merit for services rendered
at the time of the explosion on board the
santa Maria in New York harbor.
Several pension bills were passed. At 2
O'Clock Mr.. Cox (Tenn.) demanded the reg
rlar order, and the House proceeded to
consider business under the call of COM
mittees.
Jurisdfction of Court of Appeals.
From the committee on judiciary, Mr.
Henderson Qowa) called Up a Senate bill,
which failed in the House at the last ses-
sion. to withdraw from the Supreme Court
crimira al cases other than capital and give
the Court Of Appeals final Jurisdiction over
them He said that over forty such cases
were Low blocking the docket in the Su-
rreme Court The bill was passed.
A bill was also passed to make IL unlaw-
fui for federal officers to purchase or spec
uiate In claims against the United States.