The Flagstaff sun-democrat., 1897-01-21
WORK OF CONGRESS.

What Our Senators and Repr esentativo
 Are Doing at the National Capitol.
 THE chief event in the senate on the 1ith was an impassioned speech by Senator Mills (Tex) in favor of his resolution to recognize the in- dependence of Cuba and to appropriate $i0,0O0 for the salary of . minister to the island. There was an informal discussion by several senators, but no definite action was taken. Senator Proctor (Vt.) made an address in favor of constitutional amendment limiting the presi- dents term to six years. .. The Pacific railway funding bill was defeated in the house by the vote of 1888 to li2 and the army appropriation bill, carrying ssS, l2e, ,2S4 was passed.
 In the senate on the 18th Senator Hill (N. Y.) introduced bill to make the terms of post- masters four years. The bill was referred. Senator Stewart (Nev.) made speech against the reelection of the president of the United States and favored the shortening of the term to two years, So that the president would be in close touch with public sentiment The free homestcads bill was then taken up and debated, Senator Peffer Kan.) speaking in favor of the measure ... MT. Johnson (Cal) rose to ques- tion of privilege in the house and there was Q wordy duel between him and Mir. Mcclure (Cal). The bill relating to the rights of aliens to hold land in the territories and resolution to pay ex-Speaker Crisp's widow $i,4s4 for the expenses of her husbands illness and funeral were passed.
 THE opening session of the senate on the l3th was much curtailed by an executive session lasting two hours. After this the balance of the day was given to Senator Bacon (Ga.) who spoke on the power of congress to uphold new governments. .. In the house number of minor measures were passed and then the bill to make oleomargarine, butterne and other limitations of dairy products subject to state laws was debated, but the house adjourned be- fore the bill was disposed of.
 DELEGATE FLYNN'S free homes bill passed the senate on .he 14th by . vote of B to II, all the western senators, except Vest and Cockrell (Mo.) voting for 1t. Senator Culom Qll) se- cured the adoption of resolution calling on the civil service commission for information in regard to it's reports. The senate then ad- journed until the 18th. .. The house spent al- most the entire day debating the bill to subject oleomargarine and other imitation dairy prod- ucts to the laws of the states into which they are taken. The measure was finally passed by vote of l28 to 8. The presidents veto of the bill to create new judicial district in Texas was laid before the house and referred A res- olution was adopted looking toward the preser- vation of the old frigate Constitution at Wash- ington as a naval museum and the house then adjourned.
 THE senate was not in session or the 15th.... The proceedings in the house were uninterest- ing, the day being devoted to private bills. A resolution was adopted calling on the secretary Of the interior to issue patents to lands sold by the Union Pacific in Utah. The widow of Gen. Gibbon was granted pension of SlOO month. The free homestead bill was referred by the speaker to the public lands committee. Mir. Spencer (Miss.) introduced bill authorizing the secretary of state to offer Spain 800 oJ0O 900 for Cuba and appropriating slO,o0o for the ex-' penses of the negotiations The evening ses- sion was devoted to pension legislation.