Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-01-20
CONGRESS-.
Senate.

for the 10Th inst Mr. Mills called up the
resolution introduced by him declaring that
the determination of the expectancy OF
recognizing the independence Of foreign
government belongs to Congress. and when
Congress shall so determine the executive
should act in harmony with the legislative
department OF the government III also rec
ognizing the independence of the republic
Of Cuba and appropriating $4,000 for the
salary Of Il minister thereto. Mr.. Mills
then proceeded to address the Senate upon
Few senators were present when the Sen
ate met on the 18th. Almost Immediately
after the reading of the journal, on motion
of Mr.. Sherman chairman of the committee
on foreign relations, an executive session
lasting twenty minutes was held. The Sen
ate concurred in the House amendments to
the bill to conform to and ratify the con
struction Of bridge across the Red river
above Fulton, Ark, by the TeXarkana and
Fort Smith Railway company and the bill
passed
Immediately after going into executive
session ON the 18th the Senate took up the
motion of Senator Sherman made at the
request of Secretary Olney, to reconsider
the vote by which the cxtradition treaty
between this country and Argentine and
the Orange Free State were amended The
motion was debated at considerable length
The principal point in contention in the
eXtraditiOn treaties is the authority grant
ing foreign government to take by force
from this country persons who escape to
this country and are charged with certain
offcnses 1t was this point which was first
stricken en- out and which Secretary olney
Der of the committee on foreign affairs
made strong argument against the prin-
ciple which Secretary Olney desired TO have
retained in the treaties The discussion
took Il wide range and covered the general
features and precedents of eXtradition. Sec
rotary Olney was defeated at every point
when that body refused to reconsider its
action on the Argentine and Orange Free
state eXtradition treaties, and would not
consider the suggestions which he made
The treaties as amended by the Senate will
stand The Senate has agreed to Il final
vote on the free homestead bill al 4 p. IN.
| The Mills resolution for the recognition of
the Cuban independence was called up and
Mr.. Bacon Of Georgia spoke in its favor
The Senate on the 14th passed the meas
ure known as the free homestead bill. which
has been under discussion since the holiday
recess. 1t is a measure of far-reaching i'm
portance, particularly to the West and the
interest in it shown by the fact tina
Il plank concerning it was a feature of the
several national platforms. The effect of
the bill is 10 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 pay
ment those who have heretofore settled on
these lands. The number of acres involved,
according to an estimate made by the com
missioner of the general land office is 80
25254i, which would have yielded the gov
eminent. at the prices heretofore estab-
lished, 33.;}43. o06. TO Offset this statement.
the lands were mainly arid, and that those
who had settled upon them were unable to
make payment on account Of the Scanty
products of the soil. The Western senators
il the main favored the bill as an extension
of tbs general homestead policy of the gov
eminent.
House
The Pacific railroad funding bill went to
its doom in the House the 18th, under
an adverse majority of &C. The friends of
the measure, who had predicted its passage
up 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 passage. The Bell
substitute provided that if the Union Pa
cifc and Central Pacific would clear off the
first mortgage and advance the govern
mcnts lien, the government would extend
the indebtedness at per cent 1t was de
feated 10 10 los The Harrison substitute
provided for Il commission TO negotiate Il
settlement of The debt. IT was rejected by
the House by vote Of % to 2f4. Many OF
the members were as much opposed TO these
substitutes as to the Powers bill. The Cali
fornia and Middle West members voted al
most solidly against them. When the vote
came on the main proposition, the whole
opposition swung into line, and crushed 1t
by the adverse vote of 1O2 to 16S. The vote
WAS not taken directly on the passage of the
bin. but the preliminary motion TO on
gross and read the bill n third time. Bills.
the subject of hard contests, are usually
brought TO final test before the last par
'itic Funding bill two years ago was de-
feated in the same manner on the same mo-
ton. This is the fourth funding bill killed
in ne House III ten years. An analysis of
the votes today shows that eighty-SiX Re
rubicanS and sixteen Democrats voted for
the bill, and ninety-nine Republicans. fifty
eight Democrats and SIX POpuliStS and five
Independents against it.
Little interest was manifested in the
House on the 10Th in the speakers decision Of
the point of order made yesterday by Mr..
Dockery Dem, Mo- against Mr.. Powers
motion to recommit the Pacific railroads
funding bill made yesterday after the defeat
of the measure Immediately after the
reading of the journal the speaker sustained
the point of order and the bin will not be
reCOmmtted A bill to better define and
regulate the rights of aliens to own real
estate in the territories passed. On
motion of Mr.. Hartman (Rep., Monte bill
was passed to amend the law relative to the
making of atidavits in the entry of public
lands so as to permit applicants to appear
before the land office registers by deposition
and also to place the burden Of proof in dis
puted questions as to the classification of
mineral and agricultural lands upon the
em cd c pTinad IN Mr. the M RseaT
his remarks on the bill, some Very Very
caustic comments Mr.. JohnsonS speech
and the. latter promptly made reply. Mr..
Johnson's speech was sensational as well
as pathetic and he admitted that ne (John-
SOM had been indicted in New York thirty
years ago, but said he had gone to California
and paid back every dollar he owed. His
voice shook as he told of his early troubles
and he got a hearty round of applause when
he finished. Mr.. Johnson said in his
speech: IF the gentleman from Wisconsin
Cooper or the gentleman from California
(Maguire) thinks | am cowardly let either
repeat to me outside the chamber what he
said inside and their curiosity will be APP
peased." BY vote of the House later the
remarks of Mr.. Mcguire were expunged
from the Record
After a very dull day devoted to passing
bills of minor Importance. the 18Th, the
House plunged into warm controversy
over bill to make oleomargarine and other
limitations of dairy products subject to the
laws of the states into which they are trans
ported. The author of the BILL Mr.. Grant
lVt) led the fight for it, and it was opposed
by the Democrats and several Republicans,
chiefly on the ground that it would give
the states power to prohibit the use of such
products. The House got into a parliament
tary struggle over the measure on account
Of the determination Of MI Cannon CID
to secure more time for It's consideration,
and adjourned leaving it unfinished. One
OF The Senate bills passed was to withdraw
from the Supreme court criminal cases 9th