Evening journal., 1897-01-12
Proeeedings of Congress.

Proceedings of Congress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-The chief event |
of the senate session was an impassioned |
speech by Mr. Mills Of Texas in favor of
resolution introduced by him TO declare
the recognition of foreign government
congressional prerogatiye and TO recognize
the independence Of Cuba and appropriate
$4,000 for the salary of a minister. In
& support Of the first proposition the senator
quoted a long line Of precedents, and,
s speaking ON the latter question, he strong
Z ly denounced the administration, charging
3 it with fayoritism toward Spain. He spoke
3 contemptuously of CASTELAR, and Weyler
and of Signor Crispi because of the latter's
declaration that Europe could not look
without concern upon the pretension of
the United States. The Cuban question
was the mercantile spirit of the nation
against its honor, he declared. There was
an informal discussion by several senators,
and Mr.. Bacon of Georgia gave notice Of
a speech at a subsequent time.
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska made an unsuc-
cessful attempt to secure the adoption of
4 resolution calling on the secretary Of the
navy for information as TO whether con
tractors men in the Brooklyn navy yard,
are made to work more than eight hours
f per day.
Six Years Term Proposition.
Mr. Proctor of Vermont made speech
in favor OF a constitutional amendment
TO limit the president to one six year term.
His principal reasons for the amendment
were; First, longer presidential term
s and ineligibility for reelection are more
S in accord with the ideas and purposes of
the trainers OF the constitution than is the
present system as it has developed in prac-
tical results; second, the proposed change
is not radicel or revolutionary, but is in
the line of true conservatism-it is a
change of the letter to preserve the spirit
of the const' tuition; third, re-eligibility is
wrong in theory and vicious in practice,
Z for 1t results in the use of the patronage
of his Office by the president for the pro-
motion Of his chances of reelection OF
else subjects him to the imputation Of
such use; fourth, the change will more
thoroughly divorce the legislative and ex-
ecutive branches of the government, an
& end most strongly desired by the constitu-
tional convention; fifth, even if the pres
ent system was wise in the beginning, the
changed conditions, the growth of the
4 country in population, especially in cities,
the great increase in our territory and the
growing danger of sudden popular revul-
sons make the change now desirable;
sixth, thereby the business interests of the
country will be saved from such frequent
disturbances, and the time and expense in
cident TO campaigns will be proportion
ately reduced; seventh, by lengthening
the terms of representatives to three years
laws will be better considered and will
have a longer and fairer trial before their
p friends go c't Of power in congress.
The Arbitration Treaty Submitted.
The arbitration treaty between this coun.
try and Gre;.t Britain was delivered TO the
senate, accompanied by q message from
the president. In executive session It was
referred to the committee on foreign rela-
tions, and, without being read, was order
ed TO be printed. The presidents message,
& however, was read.
Senator Morgan suggested that the
treaty should be made public, but Senator
Sherman, as chairman of the committee on
& foreign relations, replied that it should be
examined by the committee to which il
had been referred before being published
This suggestion was accepted with, the un-
derstanding that the committee should
3 have the privilege Of making the treaty
M known.
The two treaties providing for the mu-
tual extradition Of criminals between the
rs United States and the Argentine Republic
and the United States and the Orange
Free State were ratified after being amend
led in phraseology so as 70 conform to sim
liar treaties with other countries.
House Defeats Funding Bill.
81 The Pacific railroad funding bill went
= down TO its doom in the house under an
adverse majority Of 66. Tho friends of the
measure, who had predicted its passage up
X to the last moment, were surprised by the
decisive character Of their defeat. They
had been led to hope from the votes on the
substitutes that the bill had more than an
even chance of passing. The Bell substi-
3 tute provided that if the Union Pacific and
Central Pacific would clear of the first
mortgage and advance the government S
lien the government would extend the in
debtcdness at per cent 1t was defeated
by a vote of 10 to 15S The Harrison sub
stitute provided for a commission to nego-
tiate a settlement of the debt. 1t was re-
jected by the house by vote of 90 to Sli.
Many of the members were as much OPP
posed to these substitutes as to the Powers
bill The California and middle west mem
bcrs voted almost solidly against them.
when the vote came on the main PROPOSE
Fion, the whole opposition swung into line
and crushed it by an adverse vote Of ldS TO
.os. The vote was not taken directly on