The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-02-20
CURRENT TOPICS.
THE NEWS IN BRIEF.
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS,

SeCouu SebbiOn.
IN the senate, on the sth. the Anglo-Ameri.
can arbitration treaty occupied nearly the
whole day in executive session. The bill Gre
ating a new iudicisl district in Texas was
passed over the presidents voto-57 to H..
In the house business relating to the District
OF Columbia occupied almost the entire ses-
Sion. The copies OF the returns Of the several
states for presidential electors were laid be-
fore the house. The second agreement Of the
conferees on the immigration bill was pre-
scented, after which the house adjourned.
In the senate, on the 9th, o concurrent reso-
luton withdrawing from the president q bill
passed by both houses in relation to the tim
Der culture law was passed. A JOINT resolu-
tion was offered and referred looking to the
payment of some t57,O00 to employees of the
government printing Office for leave OF absence
which they did not have since 1887. Most OF
the session was taken up in executive session
In consideration OF the arbitration treaty ......
In the house two pension bills to soldiers
widows who had remarked and lost their Sec
ond husbands were passed over the presidents
veto. The conference report on the immigra-
tion bill was agreed to-217 to 81. Several
minor bills were passed.
IN the senate, on the 10th, Mr.. Tillman's bill
'amplifying and classifying" the existing law
as to the right OF state authorities to seize in
toxicating liquors brought into the state was
NDESoNA oAA
went over without action. The senate as @
body withdrew TO meet In the house Of repre-
sentatives to witness the counting Of the
electoral vote. A~ftcrward the Nicaragua ca
nal bill came up and was withdrawn. The ag-
ricultural bill was taken up and passed ......In
the house the Notifications and the post office
appropriation bills were reported and placed
on the calendar. The house then joined with
the senate in witnessing the count Of the cleo
toral votefor president and vice-presldent Of
the United States for the term beginning
March 4, 1897, and after the announcement Of
the result adjourned.
In the senate, on the 18th, the diplomatic and
consular appropriation bill, carrying an aggre-
gate Of II .6a5 .30S, was passed. An agreement
was reached to have the vote on the conference
report on the immigration bill taken up ut 4 p.
m. OF the Eth. The arbitration treaty was fur
ther considered in executive session .... In the
house the bill providing for tho refunding Of
the bonded Indebtedness OF the several terri
tories was amended and passed. The sundry
civil appropriations bill was reported from
committee and placed on the calendar. The
committee report on the contested election
case from the Tenth Georgia district In favor
Of Mr.. Black, was made, and the post office ap-
preparation bill was taken up in committee OF
the whole and discussed for an hour without
action.
In the senate, on the l2th, a Joint resolution
was introduced declaring the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty abrOgated. A joint resolution appro-
p~riating $50 o for the expenses Of the senate
for the Inauguration ceremony was passed, as
was a resolution, offered by Mr.. Hill, directing
the secretary OF state to use his good Offices
with the Spanish government to have Syl-
vester Scovel, the American newspaper corre-
sPondent recently arrested in Cuba. removed
to Havana for his better protection by the
United States consul-general. The arbitration
treaty was taken up in executive session In
the house the post office appropriation bill
was passed, and the sundry civil appropria-
tions bill was taken up and its first reading
begun.