The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-13
VERY DULL DAY In
SENATE AND HOUSE
Open Session in Upper Branch Lasts
But One Hour.
ARBITRATION TREATY DISCUSSED
The House Devotes the Day to Con.
sideration of the Postofiicc ApprO-
priation Bill--Ways and Means
Committee Arranging Steel Schcd-
ule--Other Legislative Topics.

Washington, Feb. 12.-The fight for
the Nicaragua canal project was not
definitely closed for the session two
DAYS ago when Mr.. Morgan of Ala
bama withdrew the bill from present
consideration. A new phase of 1t was
opened today by the introduction OF
Joint resolution declaring the Clayton
Bulwer treaty of April 10, 1850, abro-
gated The joint resolution went over
till tomorrow, Mr. Morgan announcing
his purpose of then addressing the SEN
ate upon it.
Neither has the defeat of the plan to
have the West Point cadets at the in
augural parade been regarded as final,
by the rejection of the item for that
purpose in the military academy appro-
pration bill two or three weeks ago-a
bill for the participation of the cadets
of the naval and military academies
having been introduced by Mr.. Frye
Of Maine.
The special expenses of the senate
for the inauguration ceremony We're
provided for by the passage of a joint
resolution appropriating $1,000 for the
purpose.
The resolution heretofore introduced
by Mr.. Pettigrew, of South Dakota,
for an inquiry by the committee on
public lands into the issue of a patent
for the Perrine grant of land in Flor
ida was taken up and was, under an
imperative rule of the senate, referred
to the committee on continent eX-
penses.
The question of the right of congress
to recall from the president a bill sent
to him for his approval Except to COR
rect an error in engrossment or enroll
menD came up again today and was
under a resolution offered by Mr.. Hill,
of New York, ordered to the judiciary
committee for examination and report.
Mr.. Hill also offered a resolution, which
was agreed to, directing the secretary
of state to use his good offices with the
Spanish government to have Sylvester
Scovel, the American newspaper cor
respondent recently arrested in Cuba,
transferred to Havana in order that
he Will be under the immediate care
and protection of the United States
consul.
The open session of the senate lasted
only an hour. Then the galleries We're
cleared, the doors were closed and the
consideration of the arbitration treaty
was resumed in executive session.
POSTOFFICE APPROPRIATION.
The house devoted the day to the
consideration of the pCstoffice appro-
priation bill An effort to strike ou
the provision for special mail facili
ties between Boston and New orleans
was defeated, but an amendment t
the section was agreed to, making this
service operative between New Yorl
and New orleans only. This allowed 6
reduction of about $4,000 in this ap
preparation, leaving it at $171,20S. one
or two amendments of minor impor
tance was agreed to and the bill passed
The sundry civil appropriation bill
was taken up and its first reading be
gun.
The house adjourned until tomor
row, doing away with the usual Fri
day night session.
ARRANGING STEEL SCHEDULE
A number of small items in the iror
and steel schedule occupied the atten
tion today of the Republican mem
bers of the ways and means commit
tee. Nickel was left on the free list
where it was placed in the present law
The basket clause, which included
manufactured articles not special.
provided for in the present law, com
posed wholly or in part of metal, anC
whether partly or wholly manufac
tured, was changed from the eXistin!
rate of 80 per cent. ad valorem to tn
Mckinley rate of 40 per cent. ad valOr
EN-. This practically finishes the worl
on the iron and steel schedule, al
though certain items which wer
passed over this week will receive con
sideration later.