Crawford avalanche., 1897-04-29
SENATE AND HOUSE.
WORK or 'OUR NATIONAL LAW
sr MAKERS.
Weeks Proceedings In the Halle OF
portant Measures Dis
cussed and Acted Upou-An Impair
tisi Resume of the Business.
The National solons.


The Semitic passed the Indian appro-
priation bill Monday. 1t IL substantially
the same a. 1t passed the House. and can
occasion little division save on the amend
ment opening the Uncompahgre Indian
reservation. Resolutions of inquiry were
agreed TO asking the Secretary of State
as to the operation Of the reciprocity
treaties made under the Mckinley act.
Mr.. Vest introduced his resolution de-
claring illegal the recent order of the Sec
retary of the Treasury relative to imports
arriving after April l. After the execu-
tive session the Senate adjourned as
mark Of respect to Representative Null
liken. deceased.
Senator Morgan's resolution declaring
that state of war exists in Cuba was
discussed briefly in the Senate Tuesday
and then went over for a week. The ag-
ricultnral appropriation bill was passed
without amendment A resolution by Mr..
Hoar was agreed to asking the Sec
retary of State for comprehensive infor-
nation is TOT he machinery of government
of all foreign nations with which we have
diplomatic relations. the taxes or excises
and Methods of collections imports and ex-
ports; method of aiding the merchant ma
rine; discrimination AGAINST American
merchant vessels: public indebtedness.
etc. Another resolution by Mr.. Cullom
asked the Secretary of the Treasury
for information as to the effect of the pres
ent internal revenue tax on the honest
production of distilled spirits. to what
extent Illicit distilaton had occurred. and
all further information that will aid in
protecting the Government against
frauds. The resolution went over after a
brief discussion. The House was not in
session.
Senator Mason, of Illinois. made his
maiden speech in the Senate wednesday
and signaized it by some breezy criticism
on the rules of the Senate. 1t was such
variation from the prosy debate of re-
cent days that the Senator was accorded
close attention and twice received the
hearty applause of crowded galleries. Mr..
Hoar. of Massachusetts. replied briefly.
pointing out that the other branch of
Congress was more open to criticism than
the Senate. He was in accord with Mr..
Mason, however, OH the need of new
rules. "A vote was taken on Mr.. Cor
mans motion TO refer the Mason resolu-
ton to the Rules Committee, which pre-
vailed-yeas. 80; nays, "A. Most of the
day was given to the bankruptcy bill. The
House, after a ten-mnute session, ad-
journed one day out of respect to the
late Representative Milliken. of Maine.
The session of the Senate Thursday
opened with proposition for an official
expression Of sympathy to the Greeks in
their struggle with Turkey. This was
soon merged into a turbulent debate over
the dsorganized state of the Senate.
Later in the day the Nelson bankruptcy
bill was passed by the decisive vote of
40 to s. The bankruptcy bill as passed
is the substitute framed by Mr.. Nelson of
Minnesota. The free homestead bill''
was then taken up. Mr.. Morgan offered
an amendment providing that all public
lands not taken up by public entry by
Jan. i, 1900, shall be granted to the
States and Territories where the lands are
located for dedication purposes. The
homestead bill was made the unfinished
business and then laid aside. At 4 o'clock
message from the House announced the
death of Representative Holman. Mr.
Turpie of Indiana presented resolution
vdcing the regret with which the an
nouncement was received and providing
for a committee of FIVE Senators to accom-
pany the remains. The resolution was
agreed to. The presiding officer named
Senators Turpie, Fairbanks, Spooner,
Kyle and Rawlins as the committee. The
Senate adjourned to Monday. The House
did nothing of Importance.
The House Friday completed the consid-
Grafton of the Senate amendments to the
Indian appropriation bill and sent the bill
to conference. The main contention CEN
tered about the Senate proposition to open
the Uncompahgre Indian reservation un-
der the mineral land laws. Finally an
amendment was recommended to the eff
feet that no corporation should be allow
ed to obtain possession of these gilsonite
deposits, but that the Government should
lease the lands in limited areas and for
limited terms of years. The Senate
amendment striking from the House bill
the provision for the ratification of the oil
and gas leases made by the council of the
Seneca Indians last December was dis
agreed to. A resolution was adopted by
which a committee of twenty-five was ap-
pointed to attend the dedication of the
Grant tomb in New York on Tuesday, and
the House agreed to a program of three
day adjournments.