Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-02-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
SUMMARY OF NATIONAL
LAWMAKERS.
Appropriation Bills Under Way In Both
Housewife Supreme Court Sharply
Attacked by Mr.. MoMIlIIn OF Tennos-
See-The Arbitration Treaty.


Feb. 20.-The House spent the day in dis
cussion of the general deficiency bill, which
was not finished. There was warm debate
over an amendment by Mr.. Hopkins Rep.)
Of Illinois to take out the item of 812, 200 to
pay members of the Flfty-third Congress
amounts withheld from their salaries for
absence, in accordance with a rule
adopted by that Congress. Mr.. Hopkins
said that Speaker Crisp had enforced
that rule to hold a quorum, and
Democrats should not apply to a Republican
House for reimbursement Mr. Hopkins
carried the point 119 to So. Just before
adjournment, Mr.. McMillin (Dem.) of Ten
nessee renewed recent attack by him upon
Justice Shiras of the Supreme court of the
United States for his part in the income tax
decision, and incidently said that he was
glad that 1t had at last got through the
'thick hide" of the justice that he had de-
prtved the American people of the right to
tax wealth He spoke of the majority
opinion of the court as ''slush"
The Senate considered the Indian appro-
priation bill, but did not finish 1t. The read
Ing was uninterrupted until the Senate
reached the provision of Representative
Broderick enabling merchants in Kansas
to go upon any reservation or to any agency
In that state to collect their ac-
counts against Indians to whom allot-
ments had been made. The Senate COM
mittee had stricken 1t from the bill Mr..
| Gallinger inquired the reason and Mr.: Pet
tigrew said 1t had been done because
the licensed traders who did go upon the res
| ervations gave bonds and were subject to
departmental supervision of their charges.
''If outsiders" he declared, "can come in
unrestricted and unrestrained they will
| take ahvanta ne Of the Indians oh
90 to 800 per cent profit all to the injury of
the licensed traders" Pettigrew CARRIED
his point and Brodericks provision was
thrust out
Feb. 19.-The Senate adjourned at s:15
o'clock after having spent almost eight
hours in continuous executive session on the
arbitration treaty. No result was accom-
plished beyond voting down the motion
made by Senator Nelson to postpone fur
Their consideration of the treaty until March
8. The open session of the Senate lasted
only thirty minutes, the proceedings being
largely formal A pension of $50 per month
was voted to the widow of the late General
Stoneman.
A very spirited debate on the general sub
| ject of the payment of claims found to be
due against the United States was INDUCED
in by the House during the consideration of
the general deficiency appropriation bill,
| WHICH Was SlLGLGu upOll lHlS NIL
Richardson of Tennessee called attention
to the apparent inconsistency of an item to
pay the costs of defending suits, and the
fact that the bill contained no item to
pay the judgments This furnished Mr.
Walker of Massachusetts, text for lively
speech against the ''nlggardly' and dis
honest" policy of the government, and Sc
we're arraignment of the committee on rules
| for the tyranny 1t was said to exercise over
the proceedings of the House. Mr.. Mahon
of Pennsylvania, chairman of the war
claims committee, made the statement that
the House had been frightened by "bogie
man" and the just claims against the gov
erument, instead of aggregating hundreds
| of millions, as was frequently stated, could
be discharged with ten millions. The con-
sideration of the bill was not completed
The bill carries ts,441,027.
Feb 19-After a protracted session last
ing nearly all day, the Senate, by a vote of
So to IA, confirmed the nomination of
Charles +. Amidon to be United States Dis
trlct judge of the District of North Dakota.
This nomination has been contested some
time by Senator Hansbrough of North
Dakota. The open session of the Senate
lasted only twenty minutes during which
minor business was transacted the rest of
the day being spent in executive session.
The House, by vote of 1877 to 81, reversed
the finding of majority of the elections
committee aud decided the contested cleo
ton case of N. II Hopkins VS. j. NJ. Kendall,
from the Tenth Kentucky district, in favor
of the Republican contestant Eleven Re-
publlcans and three PopuliSts voted with
the Democrats against unseatlng Kendall.
Feb 1.-THE immigration bill now goes
to the President, the last legislative step
having been taken i'll the Senate by an
agreement to the conference report on the
! bill Strong opposition was made to the res
port but on the final vote the friend
of the measure rallied a small ma
| iOrity the vote being yeas "a, nays 81.
The House after two hours debate, passed
bill of considerable Importance to the arid
regions of the West. It opens to use and oc-
cupation under the right-Of- act of
March 3, 1891, all the reservoir sites re-
served by the geological survey. There are
| 1873 of these sites scattered throughout the
arid country and this act will enable them
to be put to practical use by individuals or
corporations
Feb. 16.-In the Senate Mr.. Chandler Of
New Hampshire spoke for three hours for
bimetallism. 1t was an argument against
single standard OF either metal gold or
silver and a warning against a policy of
mouOmetalliSm Then the senator turned
| to political phases of the question, speaking
| in turn of Bryan, of Palmer and of McKin-
| ley. Mr. Palmer sat across the aisle and
was frequently addressed by the speaker
as one who had contributed to the
ection of Mckinley Tn c cOntro-
verSy between Mr.. Chandler and
Mr.. Pettigrew was one of the hottest per-
sOnal episodes the senate has had in some
time, the South Dakota Senator declaring
Mr.. Chambers statements relative to the
violation OF pledges ut St Louis were
wholly and absolutely false. Mr. Chandler
| did not modify his statement, but mutual
| explanations restored cordial relations.
The peroration of Mr. Chandler was an
appeal to the incoming President and his
advisers to heed the needs of the people,
particularly on the money question, and
warning Of speedy political disaster certain
| to follow delay
The House devoted the day, after routine
business had been disposed Of to the. con-
sideration of private pension bills. Thirty
nine bills in all were passed. For the first
time this session the House, on vote, de-
clined to override pension veto submitted
to it for action. The bill was that to PEN
sion Nancy A. Allabaeh, the widow of Peter
IL Alladach, of the One Hundred and Thir-
ty-hrSt Pennsylvania volunteers, at the rate
of $50 per month. The House sustained thu
yeto-115 to So