Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-18
WORK OF CONGRESS.
What Our Senators and Representatives
Are Doing at the National CAPITOL.

Ns0Etf> O0AS0fteSSs
What Our Senators and Representatives
Are Doing at the National Capitol.
THE senate on the 9th spent most Of the day
in executive session the arbitration treaty,
Senator Morgan (Ala.) holding the floor nearly
all the time. bill was passed to improve the
channel Of the South pass by closing the
crevasse in Pass 1Outre in the Mississippi river.
THE house agreed to the final conference
port on the immigration bill and passed two
bills to pension the remarked widow of John
II. Patton, OF the Seventh Illinois. and also the
REMARKED widow of Maj. Albert B. Soule, of
the Twenty-Third Maine volunteers Both the
bills had been previously vetoed by the preSi-
dent. The senate amendments to a bill giving
the settlers 1900 acres of swamp lands in
Mississippi preference right of entry for
year agreed to. A bill also passed to
prevent the fraudulent use OF the word copy
right on books and other publications.
SENATOR MORGAN (Ala-) announced in the
senate the 10th his withdrawal of the Nicara-
qua canal bill. The agricultural appropriation
bill was taken up and, after an amendment by
Senator Thurston (Neb) to appropriate 5000
for continuing the beet sugar experiments was
agreed to, the bill passed It appropriates
So, 255 800. The house bill was passed extending
the time for complying with the requirements
Of the act FORGETTING railroad lands 1t applies
to lands along the Northern Pacific route SEN
ator Tillman Is. c. called up the bill limiting
the effect of the federal laws the liquor
traffic SO to give each state absolute control
of the subject 1t caused lively debate, which
cut OF by the time arriving for the senators
to participate with the house in counting the
electoral vote In the house the electoral
vote was formally counted by the joint session
of the house and senate, Vice President Steven
son presiding and Speaker Reed sitting at his
side. There was round of applause, both
the floor and in the galleries, when the an
nouncement was made follows: For presi-
dent-McKinley. 271 Bryan, 176. For vice
president-Hobart, 271; Sewa1, 149; Watson, 81
The house passed the senate bill relating to the
carrying Of obscene matter by express compa-
mics and it has gone to the president for sigma
ture.
THE senate on the 18th passed the greater
part OF the day in debating the Anglo-Ameri-
can arbitration treaty, Senator Turpie Qnd.)
speaking in favor of and Senator Morgan (Ala.)
in opposition to it's ratification. The diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bill
passed and the 18th was fixed for a final vote on
the conference report on the immigration bill
Bills fixing the time and place for federal trials
in Oklahoma territory and providing for the re-
tirement Of enlisted men OF the army and navy
after 80 years continuous service at three
quarters pay were also passed The house
passed the Notifications bill and made some
Roadway with the post office appropriation bill
But the major portion OF the day consumed
in political debate on the financial question
which was presented by provision in a bill
providing for funding the debt of the territories.
THE Indian appropriation bill was reported
to the senate the 18th. A resolution
passed requesting Secretary Olney to his
influence in lettering the condition of Sylvester
ScoVell, the newspaper correspondent 1mpr1S-
oned in Cuba. Senator Morgan (Ala) offered
resolution for the abrogation of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty with England A bill
passed authorizing the appointment of adj
ditional judge Of the United States court in the
Indian territory. The rest OF the day passed in
discussing the AnglO-American arbitration
treaty The house debated the post Office ap-
preparation bill and afterwards passed it. It
carries 500, 425.714.
THE senate spent most of the 18th consider
ing the arbitration treaty, but absolutely
progress made in the matter and there
was such q diversity of opinion revealed about
the treaty that little hope is left for its ratica
ton during the session of the present congress.
A resolution was passed authorizing the secre
tary of the navy to place vessel at the dis
poSa1 of the San Francisco chamber of COM
merce to convey corn to the furnishing poor Of
India. Senator Allen (Neb.) introduced reSo-
luton asking the civil service commission
about certain discharges Of government en-
ployes at Omaha Neb. A resolution agreed
to for committee to investigate the issue of
patents in the Perrine land grant in Florida
The house resumed consideration of the sundry
civil bill and Mr.. Dockery CMo) scored the
travagant appropriations of the present house.
Mr.. Savers (Tex.) also followed in the same
strain Mr.. DeArmond (do.), in the discussion,
took occasion to criticise the supreme courts
decision declaring the income tax unconStitu-
tiOnal and then made some remarks against
the governments attitude towards Cuba that
produced several bursts of applause from the
members.