Hutchinson gazette., 1897-02-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
ONLY ROUTINE BUSINESS
IN BOTH HOUSES.
Number of Unlmportant Bills Passed.
House wrestling With Appropriations
--NlcaraguS and Cuba Up In the Sem
Ste-COngressIonal Proceedings.

Feb. 9.-The session of the Se~ote accom-
plished little save the passage of bills to
which no objection was made. In the first
part of the day Mr.. Thurston of Nebraska
continued his speech on the Pacific rail-
roads At O'Clock the Nicaragua bill came
NJ but gave way to the calendar. There
was some discussion of the cuba resolutions
reported by the committee on foreign rel0-
| lions when reached, but they went over
| without action. At 8 p. m. eulogles were de-
livered on the late Representative Cogswell
of Massachusetts,.
The House passed the District of Columbia
| appropriation bill, and after some routine
at 2:45 adjourned
Feb 6-The Senate admitted Richard Il.
Kenny to the Delaware seat vacated many
months ago by Mr.. Higgins and which has
since then been the subject of continuous
controversy. This augmented the Demo-
cratic membership to forty and for
the first time raised the full member
ship of the Senate TO its proper
quota Of ninety. It affects no essential
| change in party strength, however the di-
vision being: Republicans, including Inde-
| pendentsy A; Democrats, 40; POpulists 6;
total, 80. The Nicaragua debate proceeded
without definite conclusion. Mr.. Cafrey,
Democrat of Louisiana, speaking against
the bill. Thepension calendlTw was cleared
for the day. about afty pension bills being
passed
It was private bill day In the House and
the entire day was speut IN clearing the cali
endar of the unfinished business reported
from the Friday night sessions Out of six
ty-three lis, htty-nine were passed.
Feb 4.--The session of the Senate was
one of unusual activity, with sharp colo
quies and vigorous speeches, which drew
large crowds to the galleries. The ball was
set rolling early in the day when
Mr.. Morrill, endeavored to pass the
bill prohibiting the use of lntoxi
cants in the Capitol building. This
aroused the opposition of Mr., Hill of New
York, who denounced the busy-bodies and
mischief-makers inspiring this class OF
legislation. The Senator spoke for the
fullest enjoyment of individual liberty con-
sistent with the common good. The speech
was not only notable for the vlgor which
Mr.. Hill threw into 1t, but also for its
effect In prolonging the debate until
clock when the bill was displaced. by the
Nicaragua bill The debate on the canal
bill was then resumed. Mr.. Villas. had not
concluded when the Senate adjourned.
The proceedings in the House were very
dull and almost entirely devoid of public in
terest The major portion of the day was
devoted to the District of Columbia appro-
priation bill
Feb < 9.-After a brief parliamentary
struggle In the Senate, the friends of the
Nicaragua canal bill were unable to hold
quorum and sit out the obstruction to that
measure. Mr. Villas, Democrat of Wiscon-
sin, had continued his speech in opposition,
being his third successive day. AT 4:30
D. m. a crossflre of motions to adjourn and
calls of the Senate began. The friends of
the bill resisted adjournment, while the
opposition sought to close the session and
give Mr.. Villas a rcst from his protracted
efforts The parliamentary contest con-
tinued at intervals for half an hour, when
all business was suspended by the absence
of quorum and yielded to az adjournment.
Mr.. Villas continues to hold the floor. In the
earlier part of the daT Mr.. Thurston Of
Nebraska addressed the Senate on the
Pacific funding bill from legal point of
view The Cornctt- Swanson election con-
test in the Fifth Virginia district was settled
by the House in favor of Swanson. the DEM
Ocratic contestee, without division.
Feb 2-The feature of the Senate was
very spirited debate on the conference re-
port on the immigration bill Mr. Gibson of
Maryland opposed the report, and Mr.. Lodge
defended it. After two hours struggle the
report went over and the Nicaragua bill
was taken up. Mr.. Villas continuing his re-
marks Mr. Teller also entered the debate
in opposition to the measure Mr., Chandler
introduced a resolution declaring for the
free coinage of gold and silver on blme-
tallic basis established through interna-
tional agreement, and gave notice that he.
would call it up in day or two for discuss
sion.
The day in the House was very dull. the
whole day being devoted to debate on appro-
priation bills. The diplomatic and consular
bill was passed and considerable progress
made with the District of Columbia bill.
The bill as passed carries 81, ,673,706.
Feb. 1.-The Nlcaraguan canal bill occu-
pied the attention of the senate most of the
day. but no, progress was made toward
anal vote. Mr.. Morgan, in charge of the
measure. sought to secure an agreement to
vote to-day or Thursday, but the opponents
of the measure, led by Mr.. Villas and Mr.
Daniel, resisted any agreement While dis
claiming any purpose of obstruction or hli-
clustering against the bill, the opposition in-
sisted 1t was of such grave moment as to de-
mand complete discussion.
1t was suspension day in the hOLse and a
large number of unimpOrtant bills were
passed.