The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATOR KENNY OF DELA-
WARE TAKES HIS SEAT.
Senate Now Has Its Full Membership
No Change In tho Relationship OF
Parties-StiIl Talking Against Time to
XIII Nicaragua Bill.

Feb 5-The Senate admitted Richard r
Kenny to the Delaware seat vacated many
months ago by Mr. Higgins and which has
since then been the subject of continuous
controversy. This augmented the Demo,
cratic membership to forty and fol
the first time raised the full member.
ship of the Senate to its proper
quota of ninety. 1t affects no essential
change in party strength, however, the d.
vision being: Republicans, including indie
pendents, A; Democrats 40; Populists 6;
total, 80. The Nicaragua debate proceeded
without definite conclusion, Mr.. Caffrey
Democrat, of Louisiana speaking against
the bill. The pension calendar was cleared
for the day, about fifty pension bills being
passed.
1t was private bill day in the House and
the entire day was spent in clearing the cal
endar of the unfinished business reported
from the Friday night sessions. Out of six
ty-three bills, ffty-nine were passed.
Feb 4.-The session of the Senate was
one of unusual activity, with sharp COLO
qutes and vigorous speeches, which drew
large crowds to the galleries. The ball was
set rolling early in the day when
Mr.. Morrill, endeavored to pass the
bill prohibiting the use of intoxi
aroused the opposition of Mr.. Hill of New
York. who denounced the busy-bo and
mischief-makers inspiring this class of
legislation. The Senator spoke for the
fullest enjoyment of individual liberty con-
sistent with the common good. The speech
was not only notable for the vigor which
Mr. Hill threw into it, but also for its
effect in prolonging the debate until 2
O'clock, when the bill was displaced by the
Nicaragua bill The debate on the canal
bill was then resumed. Mr.. Villas had not
concluded when the Senate adjourned.
The proceedings in the House were very
dull and almost entirelydevoid of public in
lterest The major portion of the day was
DEVOTED to the District of Columbia appro-
prfation bill.
Feb. 3.-After a brief parliamentary
struggle in the Senate, the friends of the
Nicaragua canal bill were unable to hold a |
quorum and sit out the obstruction to that |
measure. Mr. Villas, Democrat of Wiscon- |
sin, had continued his speech in opposition, |
being his third successive day. At 4:30 |
p m crossfre of motions to adjourn and |
calls of the Senate began. The friends of |
the bill resisted adjournment, while the |
opposition sought to close the session and |
give Mr. Villas rest from his protracted |
efforts. The parliamentary contest con- |
timed at intervals for half an hour, when |
all business was suspended by the absence |
of a quorum and yielded to an adjournment. |
Mr.. Villas continues to hold the floor In the |
earlier part of the day Mr. Thurston Of |
Nebraska addressed the Senate on the |
Pacific funding bill from legal point of |
view The Cornett-Swanson election con-
test in the Fifth Virginia district was settled |
by the House in favor of Swanson, the Dem
ocratic contestee, without division.
Feb 2.-The feature of the Senate was a
very spirited debate on the conference re-
port on the immigration bill. Mr. Gibson Of
Maryland opposed the report, and Mr.. Lodge |
defended it After two hours struggle the |
report went over and the Nicaragua bill |
was taken up. Mr. Villas continuing his re-
marks. Mr. Teller also entered the debate
in opposition to the measure Mr. Chandler |
a resolution declaring for the |
free coinage of gold and silver on a bime /
tallic basis established through interna-
tional agreement, and gave notice that he !!
would call it up in day or two for discus
sion
The day in the House was very dull, the |
whole day being devoted to debate on appro- |
priation bills. The diplomatic and consular !
bill was passed and considerable progress |
made uwith the District of Columbia bill |
The bill as passed carries 81 ,673,7o6
Feb 1.-The Nicaraguan canal bill occu-
pied the attention of the senate most of the |
day, but no progress was made toward a |
final vote. Mr. Morgan, in charge of the |
sought to secure an agreement to |
vote to-day or Thursday, but the opponents !
of the measure, led by Mr.. Was and Mr. |
Daniel, resisted any agreement While dis |
any purpose of obstruction or fill |
clustering against the bill, the opposition in |
sisted it was of such grave moment as to de- /
mand complete discussion.
1t was suspension day in the house and /
large number of unimportant bills were |
passed.
Jan 30.-The nominal business of the |
House was the consideration of the agri- !
cultural appropriation bill, which was |
passed before adjournment, but much of the /
time was devoted to political discussion |
Incidental to this discussion was spirited |
speech by Mr.. Mondell, Republican, of |
Wyoming, upon the free silver Repub- |
licans of the west who had bolted from |
their party during the campaign. He |
declared that the boltlng Republican lead |
ers had been raised to prominence as much |
by their party organiza ton as by their own |
worth, had used that organization b aid |
the Democratic-Populistic combination, and |
then after the election had been rewarded |
by the treachery of their allies. He cited |
the defeat in Idaho of Senator Dubois, to |
whom he paid high tribute. A motion to |
strike out the item for free seed distribution |
was defeated 40 to 10.