Evening star., 1897-02-18
In SENATE ANDHOUSE
The Upper Body Spends Much Time
in Executive Session.
ARBITRATION TREATY NOT CONSIDERED
Nominations That Have Been De-
Iayed Taken Up.
MATTERS IN THE HOUSE

Only five senators were present when
| the session of the Senate opened today
but the galleries were crowded with ladies
here to attend the mothers congress
House joint resolution was passed admit
ting free of duty needlework imported for
exhibition purposes by the New York Asso-
citation Of Sewing Schools.
Mr.. Villas (Wis) secured the passage of
the Senate bill Ito extend the use of the
| mai! service 1t provides for using pat
ent postal card and envelope, with coupons
attached. The Postmaster General is au-
thorized TO suspend this system if it proves
unsatisfactory on a test.
An Executive Session.
After the open session had proceeded
twenty minutes Mr.. Sherman moved an
executive session, having given previous
notice that he would seek to secure final
action on the arbitration treaty. Mr.
quay Qa.) wanted to go on with the bill
Tor commission to look into labor prob
lems. but said that as the executive ses-
sion was likely to bring definite results he
would not antasonize Mr.. Shermans mo-
tlon. ihereupon, at 12:2o pm, the Senate
went into executive session.
Soon after the Senate went into execu-
tive session there was 4 contest as to
Whetner the arbitration treaty should be
cohsidereC or nominations taken up. There
was sed ana nay vote on the proposition
IN Which those who desired TO consider
nominations We're victorious. Many SEN
ators who favor the treaty voted to take
up the nominations. because they wished
TO nave the combinations of persons IN
Whom they We're interested made. The
vote was significant in Slowing that a ma
)orlty or the Senate do not believe a vote
can he reached on the treaty
The nomination of Charles F. Amidon to
be district judge in the North Dakota dis
trlct was taken up, and Senator Hans
brough of that state took the floor in op-
position.
judge for the district of Nebraska
THE HOUSE.
AT the opening of the session of the
House today Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the
appropriations committee, presented the
general deficiency appropriation bill He
gave notice that he would call it UP tomor-
row in the hope of passing it before the
close of the week. The conference reports
on the bills to pension the widow of Major
General StoEeman and Major General
Julius II. Stahl, fixing the rate in the for
mer bill at $50 and the latter at SO, were
adopted.
The consideration Of the Eopkins-Ken-
dali contested election case from the tenth
Kentucky district, which was entered upon
yesterday prior TO adjournment, was then
resumed. Mr.. Royce Qnd.), one of the
members of the committee who signed the
minority report, took the floor in support
of the contestant claim.
During Mr.. Royce's speech a joint reso-
luton was adopted appropriating 5000 to
defray the expenses of the inaugural GER
emonies at the Capitol.
Mr. Dinsmore (Ark.) spoke in support
of the majority report.
Mr. Linney, the other member of the
committee who signed the minority report
made characteristic speech in behalf of
Mr. Hopkins.
He criticised the majority report which
was written by Judge Daniels. The men,
bers crowded about to listen to his keen
and witty sallies and he was greeted with
round after round of applause. In con-
clusion, he made a glowing plea for right
eous decisions in elec ton cases, saying that
every right verdict constituted an addi-
tional prop under and placed an additional
sentinel over our political liberties.