Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-01-26
CONGRE SSiONA AL,
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington, Jan. l3.--An executive ses-
sion was devoted to consideration OF treat
les between the Orange Free States and
the Argentine Republic, the senate finally
refusing to agree to the treaties as pro
posed by Secretary Olney. Bacon, of
Georgia, made an address unfolding the
power of congress to recognize new govern
ments, and made an attack upon one-man
power.
House
After several minor bills had been passed
the house took up bill to make oleo-
margarine, butterine and other limitations
of dairy products subject to the laws of the
state INTO which they are transported. A
big fight resulted and the bill finally went
over without action
HOUSE.
The house spent almost the entire day i'm
debating the imitation butter bill, and the
bill was finally passed by vote of l26 to
96.
SENATE.
Washington, Jan 1.-THE senate to-day
passed the measure known as the. free
homestead bill, which has been under dis
cussion since the holiday recess. The effect
OF the bill is to open to settlement all
public lands acquired from Indians, free of
any payment to the government beyond
the minor office fees, and to release from
payment those who have heretofore settled
on these lands, Morgan secured the adop-
ton of resolution for inquirlng as to
whether the Union and Centaal Pacific
roads now belonged to the United States
by reason of default in payment of bonds.
HOUSE.
Washington, Jan. 5.-Representative
Spencer, of Mississippi, today introduced
the following bill:
The secretary of state is hereby author
lied to offer to the government of Spain q
sum of money, not to exceed 500, 000, 900,
for the purchase of the island of Cuba
The sum of $1,000 or so much thereof as
may be necessary to defray the expenses of
pending. negotiations, is hereby
appropriated.
1t was private bill day and little of inn
portance was done. An evening session
was devoted to pension legislation.
MONETARY CONFERENCE BILL
Washington, Jan. 16-Following is the
exact wording of the international none
tary conference bill, as agreed upon by
the republican caucus:
That whenever, after March 4, 1897, the
president of the United States shall deter
mine that the United States should be rep
resented at any international conference,
called by the United States or any other
country, with view TO securing by inter-
national agreement fiXity of relative
value between gold and silver as money by
means of common ratio between these
metals, with free mintage at such ratio, he
is hereby authorized to appoint five or more
commissioners to such inter- ational con-
ference, and for compensation of said COM
missioners and for all reasonable expenses
connected herewith, to be approved by the
secretary of state, including the proportion
TO be raid by the United States of the joint
expenses of any such conferences, the sum
of 100000, or SO much thereof as may be
necessary, is hereby appropriated.
HOUSE.
Washington, Jan. l6.-Most of to-day i'm
the house was devoted to oratorical tri-
butes to the late speaker Charles f. Crisp,
of Georgia, who died during the recent
session of congress. Several bills of lit
tie importance were passed.
SENATE
Washington, Jan. 1S-Pettigrew offered
resolution asking secretary of state as to
the statutes of the Venezuelan con troversy.
II iaiu Oh tBe taDle. senate voted TO take
up the Nicaragua canal bill and Morgan
advocated its passage. Chandler pre-
sented the bill for an international confer
ence on silver. In executive session
Frances appointment as secretary of the
interior was confirmed.
HOUSE
The bill to prohibit sale of intoxicating
liquors to Indians to whom an allotment
of land has been made while the title is
held in trust by the govc&e ment,. or to any
Indian who is a ward of the government
passed Two bills slightly amending
patent laws passed. The remainder of the
day was devoted to District of Columbia
business
SENATE.
Washington, Jan Ex-senator Turpie
spoke against the Nicaragua canal bill, and
the reading of the legislative appropriation
bill was completed with the exception of
sections making provisions for the con-
gressiona: library, which were passed over
temporarily in the absence of senators in
terested in the subject. The bill for ma
val battalion in the District of Columbia
passed.
Under special order the entire day was
devoted to consideration of private pension
bills, and fifty-two of the 800 on the calen-