The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-03-04
OPEN SESSION
Of the United States Senate Draws q
Crowd Sunday Afternoon.

Il Was Strictly . Business Session, snd
Consid sration Of the Sunary Civil APP
preparation Bill Was Rssumed-
The Last Days of the Session.
WARRINGTON, March IAN open ses.
sion of tho United States senate on q
Sunday afternoon is such remarkable
and unusual occurrence and so much
at variance with the religious senti-
ment of the country that crowds were
attracted to the north wing the cap
itol an hour before o'clock in the af-
ternoon, the time to which the senate
at half.past 2 in the morning had
taken recess. All classes and condi-
tions of people were in the crowd. Some
were on hand early enough to obtain
seats in that section of the galleries
that is open to the general public.
Others who were the holders of tickets
to reserved sections presented them
and were admitted, SO long as any
space was left Those who could get
inside stationed themselves near the
gallery doors waiting their chances of
admission or wandering listlessly up
and down the marble staircases and
the spacious halls. AS to the senators
themselves, the day seemed to make no
difference to them. They were pres
ent in about the usual number, a
vote taken soon after the proceedings
began showed that there were nearly
seventy senators in the hall-some of
them being paired. Nor was there any
noticeable distinction as to the men
representing the New England states
and the men representing sections of
the country where Sabbath observance
is not SO general or strict, and business
went on just as it does on week days.
1t was strictly business session, and
consideration of the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill was Immediately re-
sumed. the question being on those
committee amendments which were
passed over without action Saturday
night. The first of these appropriated
81, Os5, 1856 to pay the producers of sugar
the balance of their claims for bounty
under the Mckinley law. On this Mr..
Vest (dem., No., demanded the yeas
and nays and it was agreed to-37 to H.
The next amendments were those
making appropriations for the great
river and harbor improvements under
contracts authorized by former river,
and harbor bills, the various amounts
being generally reduced by the COM
mittee about 25 per cent from the
figures fixed by the house. Eight or
nine pages of those amendments were
disposed of with little debate but the
item appropriating 100000 to prevent
the Mississippi river from breaking in
to the Cache river near Cairo ILL.,, pro-
voked an extended discussion, during
which the whole subject of the i'm.
provement of the Mississippi river was
gone over.
An item in relation to electric light
ing in the District of Columbia to
which Mr.. Hill (dem., N. W. was op-
posed gave that senator an opportuni-
ty of expressing his views in relation
to Sunday session of the senate. He
had doubted the propriety of the sem
ate meeting on Sunday to enact legisla-
tion for the people y of the
United States. His attention had
been called to various petit
tions presented by honorable senators
asking for "a rest day" for the District
of Columbia, and he had been disposed
to acquiesce in the sentiment expressed
in these petitions. He also remem-
bered that the senator from Michigan
(Mr. McMillan), who had suggested
this senate amendment, had in
troduced bill to protect the
first day of the week, commonly
called Sunday, as a day of rest
and worship in the District of Colum-
bia." That bill, If it had passed, was
broad enough to prevent any legisla-
tion on this day. For those reasons he
! hesitated to engage in a general de.
bate. But now, to be serious" he
continued.
"Have you not been serious all the
time?' senator asked in low tones.
''That is a reflection on the remarks
which have made" Mr. Hill replied;
and then he went on with his state
ment.
The amendment was adopted.
The last week of the Ffty-fourth
congress finds the senate with the
great appropriation bills in more
backward state than for several years.
Six of the annual appropriation bud
gets have become laws with the ap-
proval of the president. The Indian
bill and the post office bill, the
latter of which was passed at an
early hour Sunday morning, are in
conference. There are now before the
senate the Notifications, District of Co.
lumbia, the sundry civil and naval
bills. The sundry civil bill was under
discussion Sunday afternoon. This
and the naval and district bills prom
Use to be prolific in debate, SO that the
senate will be compelled to give closer
attention to it's work during the few
remaining days than it has up to this
time. The general deficiency bill will
be reported from committee Monday.
If the debate is prolonged, as some
senators appear to be content to have
it, there will be good grounds for the