The Red Cloud chief., 1897-12-24
CONGRESSIONAL CHAT
WEEKS DOINCS OF NATION
AL LAWMAKERS.
A General Resume Of the Most Import
ant abors OF the House and Senate
Executive and Departmental Actions
Noted Briefly.

The senate has passed the Joint reso-
luton coming over from the house in
creasing the limit of cost for the gov
eminent building or buildings at the
ans-Mississippi exposition and de-
creasing the cost of the government
exhibit. The resolution authorizes the
secretary Of the treasury to erect a
building for an exhibit of the United
States ~life-saving service ut a cost not
to exceed s., 800, an increase Of from
$4,000 to So, 500 in the appropriation
for a government building or buildings
n reduces the cost of the govern
ment exhibit from $3.50, 900 to Si37, 500.
Chairman Mercer Of the house com.
mittee on public buildings and grounds
has announced his subcommittee
appointments. Mr.. Mercer is chair
man ST the subcommittee for the states
Of Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Ala
bama. For Nebraska there are four
bills pending before his committee; one
TO increase the limit of cost for the
Omaha public building to 81, 900, 600,
n to pay half of the cost Of paving
around the public building In Lincoln,
sll 800. 30; one for a SIS, 900 building
for Plattsmouth and n for a $40, 900
site for Hastings.
When the bill for prohibition Of
Pelagic sealing was up for consider
alton in the senate, a lively debate
ensued in the course of which Senator
Pettigrew Of South Dakota made a few
remarks relative to continued submis-
sion To 1.-The hooked-nosed Jews Of
London to ascertain whether they are
willing that we should do this and So"
! Ia 1nGiral m t,.nlpp En- Lin ~,
seals off. The amendment failed, and
the bill passed by a vote of 81 10 IA.
The conference report on the emer-
gency relief measure for the Klondike
country was agreed to by the house.
1t compromises the mOun Of relief at
$500 900; provides for securing the con-
sent OF Canada To extending the relief
to the Canadian side. and authorizes
the use Of the army to carry out the re-
lief measures. 1t also provides that
the supply must be purchased, instead
of being donated.
Senator Allen introduced o resolu-
ton, which was passed, directing tho
postmaster-general to inform the sen.
ate of all railway and steamship mail
contracts made by the United States
now in force, the names of persons or
companies with whom they are made,
the service to be performed and the
sum to be paid by the United States.
Senator Teller will oppose the nomi-
nation OF Charles Page Bryan as minis
ter to China. His opposition, he says,
is based solely upon the ground that
the complications arising out of the ut
tempt to dismember China and divide
her territory will need a stronger man
than Mr.. Bryan. one more able and Of
wider experience in diplomacy.
In its consideration Of the legislative
and judicial appropriation bill the
house so ar has disposed of eighty-nine
Of the liz pages of the bill. Only one
amendment of Importance was adopted.
1t reduces the clerical force ut the pen
sion Office ninety-fivc, involving o re-
duction in salaries of Sis 600.
The names of Acknowledgement Me-
kenna and Charles q. Dawes have been
sent to the senate, the former for as.
~sociate justice of the supreme court TO
succeed Justice Field, the latter for
comptroller of the currency to succeed
James Ii. Eckles.
Congressman Maxwell has intro
duced u bill appropriate SIS, 900 for the
purpose of retaining and increasing
the height Of h riprap work on the
right bank OF the Missouri river at q
point Immediately above Sioux City, in
Dakota county, Neb.
Senator Allen Of Nebraska has ad-
dressed a letter to the secretary of the
interior, suggesting the a~dvisability of
making an Indian exhibit at the coming
Omaha exposition. Secretary Bliss
has the matter under consideration.
The names of VIM. r. Akers of Al
lance, Neb., and Harlan G. Baird Of
Coleridge, have been sent 10 the sen
ate, the former TO be receiver of public
money, the latter as Indian agent at
the Santee Indian agency.
Senator Allen has prepared an
amendment to the Indian appropria-
ton bill comforting on the secretary Of
the interior the right to establish cat
tie trails and wagon roads across the
Indian possessions.
Senator and Mrs. Thurston have
cards out for a reception at 8 o'clock
on the evening of Saturday the 25th,
Christmas day, the occasion being the
tw~enty-ffth or silver anniversary of
their marriage,
Senator Aliens resolution, calling
for information from the bimetallio
commission, went over till the middle
OF January on request of Senator VOL
colt, who asked for time to prepare a
statement.
Senator Aliens bill granting the
right to the Omaha Northern Railway
company to construct u railway across
the Omaha and Winnebago reservations
in Nebraska has been passed by the
} senate.
Secretary Bliss has approved for pat
ent for the Union Pacific Railroad com,
pany a list of lands selected under its
grant embracing 1000 acres along the
: line Of the Dad in Nebraska.
Representative Green has introduced
a bill TO provide for the purchase of a
site for the erection of a public build
} ing at Kearncy, Neb,, the site TO cos,
not more than Sl0,O 200.
Congress has adjourned for the holi
days to meet January 5.
Most of the Nebraska deIegat;o,