Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-05
FIFTY FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, January 5.
SENATE.

WASHlNGTON, January D.
SENATE.
The reassembling of the Senate this
morning, after its fortnight's holiday,
was unmarked by any noticeable in
cident. There was no storming of the
galleries by the outside public, and
Senators entering the chamber and
taking their seats wore the same list
less air as if they had had no holiday,
and the Cuban question was only a
dream. Pink carnations and white
lilies decorated the desks of Senators
Blackburn and Walthall.
The chaplain in his opening prayer
returned thanks that the Senate had
met again in safety, health and peace,
and prayed for u restoration Of the
peoples industries and prosperity.
Mr.. Hoar presented a memorial from
the Massachusetts Historical Society
on the subject Of the frigate Constitu-
ton, now lying at the navy yard in
Kittery, Maine, in condition in which
she must either be practically rebuilt,
or broken up. The memorial recalls
the history of the frigate which, they
say, the same interest should attach as
TO Nelson's famous battleship Victory;
and they ask that the Constitution be
repaired, and placed permanently at
the Washington navy yard, and that,
like the Victory at Portsmouth, she
may be hereafter kept in good repair
and used as naval museum open to
all. The memorial was referred to the
committee on naval affairs.
The legislative, executive and iu-
dicial appropriation bill was received
from the House and was referred to the
committee on appropriations.
Mr.. Call offered a resolution request
ing the president to send to the Senate
either in open or secret session, all the
correspondence and reports of the
United States Consul General at Ha-
vana, relating to the Imprisonment oil
Julio Sanguilly, United States citizen.
and instructing the president to "de'
mand the immediate release" of San.
gully. 1t was laid over until to-mor-
row when Mr.. Call proposes to address
the Senate on the subject.
The joint resolution introduced by
Mr.. Peller, of Kansas, on December II,
for the appointment of national none
tary commission, was taken up and Mr..
PETER addressed the Senate on the
subject.
The commission is to conclude its
work and report within twelve months
after the date of lis organization. Fifty
thousand dollars is to be appropriated
to defray the expenses of the commits
sion.
HOUSE.
The House of Representatives reas-
sembled after the holiday recess with
an attendance of only about half its
members. The galleries were we'll fill
ed and the occupants for time remain
ed in their seats listening to the debate
upon the Loud bill to amend the postal
laws with respect of the transmission
of second class matter, which had been
made the special order for the day. Be-
fore the House proceeded to that busi-
ness Mr.. Broderick, of Kansas, secured
unanimous consent for the presenta-
ton of resolution, which was agreed
to, in respect OF homestead entries upon
lands in Kansas held by their present
occupants for % years.
The House then went into commit
tee of the whole for the considideration
of the Loud bill.
Mr.. Quigg began the argument
against the bill. He said the author of
the bill had been wofully misled by the
statement that this class of matter was
being transmitted at cost of eight
cents pound, and that, therefore, this
amount would be saved. The fallacy
of the conclusion lay in the fact that
the gentleman made no allowance for
fixed charges in the postal service
The bill, if enacted into law, would not
dispense with single postmaster,
clerk, railway postal clerk or a single
mile of mail service. All these would
remain in existence whether or not the
class of matter in question was kept
out of the mails. The only possible
saving under the bill would be the in
definite amount actually paid the rail
road companies for carrying the matter.