The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-07-23
SENATE AND HOUSE.
WORK OF OUR NATIONAL Law
MAKERS.
A Weeks Proceedings in the Halls OF
Congress-Important Measures Dis
cussed and Acted Upon-An Impair
tial Resume of the Business.
The National Solons.

discussion of Union Pacific Railroad
nffairs occupied the attention of the Sen
hte Monday. The deficiency appropria-
ton bill was taken up early in the day
and Mr.. Morgan proposed an amendment
designed to prevent the consummation of
an agreement made some time since for
the settlement of the Governments
claims against the road. Mr. Morgan
spoke throughout the day. severely ar
ralgninS the Pacific railroad managers
Late in the day the entire subject was
disposed of by the withdrawal of the
paragraph to which Mr.. Morgan had of
fcreG his amendment. The deficiency
appropriation bill was not completed up
to the time of adjournment.
The price to be paid for armor plate
Tor the three new battle-ships now in
course Of construction was the theme
of extended and at times lively debate in
the Senate Tuesday. Late in the day
an amendment to the deficiency appro-
priation bill was agreed to restricting the
price of armor plate to $500 per ton. or
Sl25 less than the amendment reported
by the committee and recommended by
the navy department as the minimum
rate acceptable to the armor contractors
Another amendment inserted in the bill
directed the Secretary of the Navy to in
TeStlgate as to the establishment of q
government armor factory and to report
to the next session of Congress. Then
the deficiency appropriation bill. the last
of the great supply measures, was
passed. The House took recess for one
day without transacting any business.
The Senate was in deadlock for sew
eral hours Wednesday, with business at
n stantlstill. while calls of the Senate, roll
calls and other parliamentary eXpedients
were resorted to. 1t was due to the eff
fort to secure action on the resolutions of
Mr.. Harris of Kansas, designed to pre-
vent the disposal of the Government lien
on the Union Pacific Railway under the
terms of an alleged agreement No final
vote on the motion was secured. 1t
finally went over. In the House Mr..
Henderson of Iowa asked unanimous con-
sent for the consideration of joint res
olution to permit the erection of tenn
porary studio on the future site of the
statue of Gen. Sherman, for the erection
Of which a contract has been made. The
resolution was adopted. Mr.. Cannon
moved nun-concurrence in the Senate
amendment to the general deficiency bill.
The motion prevailed. and Messrs Can
non, Northway and Sayers were appoint
ed confcrees.
Mr.. Stewart moved in the Senate
Thursday Il reconsideration of the action
OF the Senate in passing the resolution
directing the Secretary of War to pro-
coed in the construction of Il breakwater
at San Pedro, Cal. 1t reopened the long
standing controversy over the location of
deep water harbor on the Pacific coast
and led to an exciting debate between
Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. White of California.
The motion to reconsider WAS disagreed
to. Mr.. Th,rston. chairman of the Com
mttee on International EXpositons, Sc
cured the passage of the joint resolution
accepting the invitation of the French
republic to take part in the international
exposition at Paris in 1900. Mr.. TilIman
secured the passage of the bill in relation
to the interstate transportation of dis
titled spirits and declaring such spirits
to be subject to State laws to the same
extent as spirits distilled in the State
The House did nothing.
In the Senate Friday the Harris cso-
luton relating to the Union Pacific Rail-
road WAS further discussed. The confer
ence report on the deficiency appropria-
ton bill was considered. Mr.. Hale said
the price Of armor plate was not included
in the report. Nothing had been done
on that subject except that the Senate
conferees had stated positively that the
Senate would not consider any sum over
$500 for amor. The report was agreed
to and a further conference ordered. Mr.
Morgan secured the adoption of resolu-
ton requesting the President for inform,-
tiop as to the arrest of Alfred o. III. Hug
net, Il citizen of the United States. by the
Spanish authorities at Havana Sept 6.
1896. On motion of Mr.. Pettigrew of
South Dakota the bill was passed to give
the consent of Congress to Il compact en-
tered into between the States of Soutl,
Dakota and Nebraska respecting the
boundary between said States. The
House agreed to the partial conference
report on the general deficiency bill and
then concurred in the Senate amend
ment fixing the limit of cost of armor
plate for the three battle-ships now build
ing at $500 per ton.
How IVHSf