Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-02-01
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, February l.

doors were closed he reported the gen.
eral treaty of arbitration as amended
Saturday by the committee. The first
of these amendments as previously
stated in these dispatches adds at the
end of the first article the clause:
"But no question which affects the
foreign or domestic policy of either
of the high contracting parties, or the
relations of either with any other State
or power, by treaty or otherwise, shall
be subject to arbitration under this
treaty except by special agreement"
The second strikes out all reference,
wherever it occurs, to the King of
Sweden and Norway as the umpire
where the tribunal fails to agree upon
such umpire.
After the report was made Mr.. Sher-
man asked that, inasmuch as the text
of the convention had been made pub
lie the INDUCTION of secrecry be re-
moved from the text of the amend
ments but Senator Morgan objected
and the request was denied. No at
tempt was made to arrange time for
the consideration of the treaty nor was
anything said about debating it in open
session.
The doors were re opened at 12:45
and legislative business was proceeded
with.
Various petitions in favor of the rati-
fication of the arbitration treaty were
presented, among them one from the
New York board of trade, presented by
Mr.. Hill, and one from the Connecticut
Legislature, presented by Mr.. Platt.
Mr.. Hill introduced bill granting
pension Of SIS month to the widow OF
General Joseph B. Carr, and explained
that like bill had previously passed
Congress and been sent to the presi-
dent, who had not signed it, but it was
claimed at the pension Office that it
had failed to become law because Con
gress was in recess during the ten days
allowed for the signature or veto OF bills.
He doubted the propriety of that ruling,
but felt that the simplest and easiest
way was to pass the bill over again. The
bill was passed, as was also another
bill governed by the same facts increas-
ing the pension of the widow of Gen.
Hough to $50 month.
Bills to provide for the revision and
codification of the criminal and penal
laws of the United States; to consoli-
date the circuit and district courts OF
the United States; and relating to the
employment of counsel by the attorney
general or by district attorneys were
Introduced by Mr.. Hoar and were re-
ferred to the judiciary committee.
Mr. Chandler offered resolution di.
recting the committee on privileges
and elections to inquire into the recent
presidential and State elections in Del
aware, and whether that State is in the
enjoyment of q republican form of gov
eminent. Referred to the committee
on privileges and elections.
A bill giving certain powers to the
commissioners of the District of Colum-
bia as to the stretching of wires for
illuminating purposes during inaugura-
ton week was fercely resisted by Mr..
Hale, who denounced the "obstinacy
and wrong medicines" of the commits.
sioners, using, as he said, measured
phrases" and who declared his belief
that, by the fourth OF March, the streets
of Washington would be found in a
"deformed and disfigured condition"
The bill was defended by Mr. Bacon,
who said that it would not affect the
streets in any way. He modified the
bill SO as to conine it to overhead
wires.
After q long discussion the bill was
passed, with an amendment prohibiting
specifically the construction of under.
ground conduits for the purpose.
The Nicaragua canal bill was taken
up as the unfinished business, and
unanimous consent was asked by Mr..
Morgan, in charge of the bill, to have
the vote taken at 4 o'clock tomorrow.
Mr.. Villas objected. The stage of the
debate, he said, had not been reached
when a time should be fixed for the
vote.
Mr.. Hale suggested an extension OF
the time until Thursday next at
o'clock, but to that MIR. Villas also OBJ
jected.
Mr.. Hoar appealed to Mr.. Villas to
withdraw his objection and let the time
NC uAtQ lOI d uudl NOL6.
Mr.. Davis joined in the appeal, or
the special ground of allowed the bank
ruptcy bill to be taken up and acted on.
Mr. Daniel, of Virginia, one OF
the opponents OF the Nicaragua canal
bill, said that in the present shape of
the measure, its opponents could not
consent to fixed time for taking the
vote. The conditions of the measure
had undergone much change recently,
and there were many amendments to
be offered to it. 1t therefore ought not
to be urged with whip and spur.
HOUSE.
Business in the House to-day was
opened by calls of committees for rou-
tinue business and much of this kind of
matter possessing only local interest
was disposed of. When the committee
on interstate and foreign commerce
was reached Mr. Sherman called up the
"anti-scalpers" bill.
The question of consideration being
raised the House divided and by vote
of yeas 81, nays IS, refused to consider
the bill.
Among other bills passed were these:
To prevent the carrying from one State
to another of obscene literature or arti
cles designed for indecent or immoral
uses; giving officers in the volunteer
army the brevet rank held by them and
the right to wear the uniforms of those
ranks; to prevent trespassing on, and
for the erection of, national military
parks; providing that surgeons and as.
sistant surgeons of soldiers homes may
be appointed from others than those