Connecticut western news., 1897-12-09
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
SPIRITED DEBATE ENllvENS PRO-
 cEEDlNGs IN THE HOUSE.
Two Bills For Rights of Way to the KlondIke Goldfelds-For a Gunbost, e Battleship and Nine Torpedo Boats. Senator Perkins' Joint Resolution.

Battleship and Nine Torpedo Boats.
 Senator Perkins' Joint Resolution.
 Washington, Dec. S.-The session of The house, though 1t lasted but two iours yesterday, witnessed very live skirmish over the question of distrib- lting the presidents message to the 'arious committees clothed with juris- fiction over the subjects dealt with. The conflict of authority was between he ways and means committee and the ,anking and currency committee. Chair nan Walker and other members of the alter committee believed that the lan- guage of the resolution for distribution, which referred all matters relating to he revenues, the national finances, the >ublic debt, the preservation of the gov- .rnment credit and the treaties of the United States affecting the revenues to he ways and means committee, would 'ob their committee of all Jurisdiction )ver the question of impounding the sreenbacks, as recommended by the oresident-a question which they con- ended was fundamental to any scheme Or the revision of the currency. The battle ragged all along the line.
 During the debate Mir. Grosvenor of Ohio fired the first gun against the civil service law, and this also brought the friends and enemies of that measure nto action.
 After the session Chairman Walker claimed he had won a decisive victory tnd that his committee under the order would have Jurisdiction of measure Q, as he expressed 1t, convert the .reenbacks into gold certificates, but members of the ways and means com nittee insisted that changes of verbiage n the order would not affect their turis- fiction and that a measure such as the president suggested, If introduced in the louse, would be referred by the speaker o their committee.
 In the Senate.
 A new member in MT. H. de s. Mon- ,y of Mississippi, was introduced in the ,enate yesterday, and after some brler criticism of the form of his credentials he oath of office was administered to Jim.
 MT. Money was assigned to the seat ormerly occupied by MT. Daniel of Virginia the latter securing the seat in he center of the Democratic side which vas occupied by the late Senator George. During the session 10S bills, many of which were private pension measures, were introduced, in addition o several joint resolutions and some lenate resolutions.
 Among the bills introduced were hese:
 By MT. Mcbride, authorizing the oyea-Klondike Transportation compa- ny to locate and construct a line of transportation from Dyea to Lake Ben- lett, the line to consist of railways, aerial tramways or wagon roads, as he company may deem proper. The bin grants 100 feet on each side of the pro- posed road as right of way: also a bill granting a similar right of way to the 5kagguay and Lake Bennett Tramway company from Skagguay over the White pass to the boundary line of Northwest Territory on the Skagguay rail.
 By Mir. Mason, to establish a postal savings bank system. This is known as he Chicago Record bill.
 By MT. McMillan. for the construc- ion of gunboat on the great lakes to take the place of the United States yunboat Michigan at a cost of s230 900.
 By MT. Hale. to increase the navy es- tablishment by the addition of a first class seagoing coast line battleship at cost not to exceed S3, 750 900, six sea- going torpedo boats of 175 tons dlsplace- ment at cost of SLIPS. 900 and three torpedo boats of greater speed at a cost of $900. 900. It Is provided that the oattleship shall be primarily for coast defense and that 1t shall carry the heaviest armor and most powerful ord nance and that 1t shall have a displace- nent of Il 500 tons.
 MT. sperry's Bills.
 The establishment of @ national sys- tenn of postroads and the extension of the postoffice system so as to cover the entire business of public transportation Is contemplated in a bill presented in the house by Mir. Sperry of Connecticut and referred to the committee on post offices. Another bill introduced by MT. Sperry provides for an appropriation of 900 for the improvement of the New Haven harbor. Mir. Sperry also introduced a bill appropriating 500 for the maintenance of the improve ments on the Connecticut river below Hartford, In accordance with the rec- concentrations of the corps of engi- neers. United States army: also for BIO, 900 for the further improvement of the Connecticut river.
 Senator Perkins introduced a joint resolution authorizing the president to appoint a commission to draft code of laws for the territory of Alaska. The resolution provides that the commis- sion shall consist of three persons, two of whom shall be residents of Alaska. They are to be paid at the rate of S10