Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-07
CONGRESS At WORK
PETER Intro iuces a Bill to Improve
the Banking Business
TO REDUCE The DEATH PENALTY.
The House Debates the Loud Postal BILL
A Resolution Passed About Certain
Union Pacific Grants OF
Land In Kansas

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The senate re-
assembled at noon yesterday, after the
two weeks holiday recess The meet
ing was without unusual incident the
attendance on the floor and in the gal
leries being somewhat meaper. In the
course OF the chaplains PRAYER he In
voked restoration OF our industries
and the return OF prosperity Mr.
Hoar, Of Massachusetts, called atten.
ton to a petition from the Massachu'
sets Historical society, urging that
the old ship Constitution be perma'
nently preserved and placed at the
Washington navy yards, where, like
Nelson's famous frigate, Victory, at
Portsmouth, Eng, the ship be used as
naval museum.
Among the bills introduced were
those by Mr. PETER, Of Kansas, ITO
improve the banking business, and by
Mr.. Shoup, OF Idaho, as to alien own
srship OF lands In territories.
The first reference to Cuba was In
two resolutions offered by Mr. Call, OF
Florida. The first requests the presi-
dent to send to the senate, in secret or
open session, as he may deem best all
reports relating to the condemnation
to life imprisonment, in chains, " the
Spanish authorities at Havana, OF San
gully, an American citizen. The SEQ
ond resolution recites the circum-
stance Of the Sanguilly trial and con.
domination, and directs the score ary OF
stale to "demand his immediate re.
lease" The resolutions went over,
Mr. Call stating that he would make
some remarks on them.
Mr.. pettigrew. OF South Dakota, Of
fered n resolution, which was agreed
to. asking the secretary Of the TREASURY
for information as 10 the Behring sea
seal fisheries.
Mr.. PETER then addressed the SEN
ate on his resolution for national
monetary commission. The resolution
recites that, whereas, the result OF the
recent election did not show major.
ity Of voters favorable to any one none
tary policy, that commission Of five
senators be created to investigate the
entire monetary subject and report
within a year. Mr. PETERS speech
dealt largely with the Heterogeneous
character Of our various kinds OF money
and the uncertainties Of the present
financial system. At the close OF Mr..
Peffer's speech his resolution was re-
ierred to the finance committee.
A message from the president was
received transmitting the report Of the
secretary Of state concerning the death
OF Charles Goving in Cuba.
The bill providing for free home.
steads in Oklahoma for bona flde set.
tiers, which has the right of way as
unfinished business" was laid aside
until to-day.
Mr.. Hale presented memorandum
on the method of recognition Of for
eign governments and foreign states
by the government of the United
States from 1850 to 1897" which, not
withstanding the document makes no
such claim, Is unquestonabiy intended
to bear upon the question of The recog-
milton OF Cuba
Mr.. Hoar then called up the bill "to
reduce the cases in which the penalty
OF death he inflicted After a brief
discussion the bill was passed as re-
ported.
Mr. Proctor, Of Vermont, gave no.
tice that he would speak next Mon.
day on his resolution extending the
presidential term to six years and fix.
ing the terms of members of the house
Of representatives ut three years. At
2:25 .. IN. the senate adjourned
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan 1.-THE house on.
tered upon its work Immediately after
reassembling vest rlay by taking up
the Loud bill TO amend the laws relat-
ing to second-tass mail matter The
whole day was devoted to general de-
bate on the measure under a special
order whsh will bring the bill to a
vote this afternoon at -four o'clock.
Mr.. Loud, Of california, the author of
the bill, is its champion on the floor,
aud Mr.. Quitr, of New York, has
charge OF the opposition,
The following resolution was adopt
ed on motion of Mr.. Broderick, of Kan
sns;
whereas, There are large and valuable
tracts OF land In Kansas embraced In the grant
to the Union Pacific Railway Co. TO which pat
ents have not yet been ISSUED.
Whereas, Most Of these lands have been sold
BY said company to the said purchasers, who
are in possession and who have nude lasting
and valuable improvements thereon.
Whereas, The land office at Topeka has al
lowed and are allowing homestead entries to DO
sade upon these lands Without apparent legal
authority therefore,
Resolved, That the secretary OF the interior
DO directed to report to the house the cause
Of the omission to issue patents to said lands
and the authority under which the land officers
pretend to act In permitting these entres to be
made
At 4;4o the house adjourned,
JUDGE SpRlNGER'S PLAN.