Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-05-06
SHORT, SESSIONS.
Both Houses of Congress Did Little
Work on Thursday.
WILL HOLD The BALANCE OF POWER
The Silver Republican Senators VIII Be
Able to Control Fourteen Committees
and Popullsts Eleven-CalhOun
VIII Go to Cuba.

WASHlN6TON, ApIll oV' AO Y"SSNo'A
OF whether business was to be done by
the senate this week was raised by Mr..
Pettigrew, of South Dakota, when the
senate met yesterday. Mr.. Pettigrew
proposed that the senate direct a con-
ference on the Indian appropriation
bill. Mr.. Chandler, Of New Hamp-
shire, however, gave notice that he
would object to any business being
done, because there was an under
standing that none should be taken up
during the absence of SO many SEN
ators in New York to attend the cere-
monies OF dedicating the Grant monu-
ment Other senators protested that
there had been no such agreement
made.
A message from the president trans
hitting the report of the commission
to adjust the boundary line between
the United States and Mexico, west OF
the Rio Grande, was read. Then Mr..
Quay presented a resolution calling
upon the secretary of the interior for
information as to whether the leases
of the Senecas oil lands had been
made in the usual manner and whether
there had been any corruption. TWAS
agreed to without debate
During the presentation of memo
rails Mr.. Spooner offered one from
several thousand men who work for
wages in the lumber districts of Wis.
consin," asking for the enactment OF
the lumber schedule of the Dingley bill.
Mr.. Pettigrew followed with a reso-
luton calling on the commissioner OF
labor for information as to the cost OF
producing 1000 feet (board measure) OF
white pine lumber, the answer to in
clude the cost of work in the woods
and in the mill, both in the United
States and Canada. This was adopted,
with the addition Of question, pro-
posed by Mr.. Frye, of Maine, concern
ing the cost of stumpage.
Mr.. Vest, of Missouri, introduced a
resolution directing the committee on
commerce to report at the beginning
Of the next session the causes of the
Mississippi floods and means of pre-
venting them; whether they are due
to the destruction of timber at the
head waters; whether system of out
let's was practicable concerning the
condition of the lcvees; whether the
continuance of the Mississippi commits
sion was advisable; whether the jetties
should be continued. and what the cost
Of comprehensive works would be. He
gave notice that he would call 1t up at
the next session of the senate.
A resolution was offered by Mr..
Morgan of Alabama and adopted re-
auesting the president, if not incom-
patible with the public interests, to
transmit to the senate all correspond
ence with the consul-general and con-
suls in Cuba since the beginning of the
war not heretofore published Then,
at 1889 p. m, the senate adjourned
until Monday.
The house was in session seven min
utes yesterday, The journal was not
read. The objection that there was no
quorum present was interposed by Mr..
Simpson, of Kansas, whereupon Mr..
Payne, of New York, made motion to
adjourn. c. W. Stone, of Pennsylva-
MIA, who was in the chair, held that an
adjournment under the order of the
house, made last Friday, would be UNI
til Monday next. Mr. Simpson pro-
tested vainly that it was unconstitu-
tional to adjourn for more than one
day without quorum, and he asked
an opportunity to be heard. But the
Irregular order" was loudly demanded,
and Mr.. Payne's motion was put and
carried, "A to "A, most OF the democrats
voting with the republicans.
WILL HOLD THE BALANCE OF POWER
WASHINGTON, April 3O.-The demo-
cratic steering committee of the senate
yesterday began the work of assigning
members of the various committees
under the arrangement for n general
reorganization of the senate commit
tees. No permanent results were
reached, but the indications point to the
selection of Senator Turpie, of Indiana,
to succeed Senator Voorhees, as mem
Der of the committee on finance, and Of
Senator Chiffon, Of Texas, TO succeed
Senator Hill on the judiciary commit
tee. The republican committee has
almost completed its assignment under
the reorganization programme. In adj
dition to the changes heretofore an
nounced, it has been determined that
Senator Kyle shall return TO his old
place as chairman Of the committee on
education and labor, and that Senator
Carter shall become chairman of the
census committee, to succeed Senator
Chandler, who goes to privileges and
elections Under the new system the
silver republicans will hold the balance
Of power in IA committees and the
populists in II. All parties expect To
be ready to have the reorganization
consummated next week.
CALHOUN WILL GO TO CUBA.
WASHINGTON, April w. j. Cal.
houn, the lawyer Of Danville, ILL.,, who
has been selected by President Nc
Kinley to represent the United States
at the Spanish investigation Of DR..
Ruiz, has accepted the appointment
conditional upon the health Of his
| liz NJ. Calhn,v, 10 noun a Urn N f,i n n