Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-18
SENATE AND HOUSE.
WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAW
MAKERS.
A weelI's Proceedings In the Halls of
congress-Importsnt Measures Dis
cusscd and Acted Upon-An Impair
tiai Resume Of the Business.
The National soIous.

The National solous.
The electoral votes of the forty-fve
States Of the Union were formally count
cd at the joint session of the House and
Senate held Wednesday for that purpose.
and Vice President Stevenson proclaimed
the election of Mckinley and Hobart
as President and Vice President respect
lively. Senator Morgan, champion of the
Nicaragua canal bill, announced in the
Senate his abandonment of that measure
for the present session of Congress, and
thereupon 1t was displaced by the bank
ruptcy bill. He gave notice that he would
renew his Advocacy of the bill at an early
gay OF the coming extra session. The
bankruptcy bill succeeds to the adyanta-
geous position of unfinished business"
The agricultural appropriation bill was
taken up late in the day and passed at
$3,255,5O The House bill was passed
extending the time for complying with
the requirements of the act FORGETTING rail-
road lands. The House has passed the
Senate bill relating to the carrying of
obscene matter by express companies, and
1t has gone to the President for his sig
nature. The penalty for violation, upon
conviction, is fine of not more than
$4,000 or imprisonment at hard labor for
not more than five years, or both, mt the
discretion of the Court.
The House Thursday passed the fortifi-
cations appropriation bill with but sim
gle amendment and made some Roadway
with the postoffice appropriation bill.
The major portion of the day was consum-
ed in political debate on the financial cues.
ton, which was precipitated by a proyis-
ion in bill providing for funding the
debt of the territories. The bill aroused
the opposition Of Mr.. McMillin Dem.) of
tennessee because 1t provided for gold
bonds and the payment of interest in gold
or its equivalent. Mr.. Knox Rep) of
Massachusetts said that the stipulation
regarding gold bonds applied only to Ari-
iona, which had outstanding gold bonds to
be refunded. An amendment by Mr. Nc
Millin Dem) of Tennessee was as fol-
lows: Provided, That the principal and
interest of the bonds funded under this
act shall be payable in any lawful money
of the United States, except the Arizona
bonds above described heretofore issued"
This was adopted, and the bill passed.
The Senate spent the greater part of the
day in executive session debating the
Anglo-American arbitration treaty. The
entire time was consumed by Senators
Turpie and Morgan, the former in advo-
cacy of and the latter in opposition to
ratification. No action was taken on any
amendment or on any part of the treaty
and but little appreciable progress was
made.
The feature of Fridays discussion of
the Anglo-American arbitration treaty by
the Senate was the general effort to reach
basis of agreement whereby the treaty
could be disposed of and other business
taken up. There were innumerable short
speeches during the day, but the prin-
cipal addresses on the merits of the
treaty were made by Senators Daniel.
Stewart, Hoar, Lodge and Chandler.
The proposition advanced Thursday by
Senator Turpie that any negotiation un-
der the treaty would under its terms
necessarily be submitted to the Senate
just as would any original treaty, formed
the basis of Fridays proceedings 1t was
generally conceded by all those who spoke
that if there could be any assurance that
this Interpretation would be placed on the
treaty If accepted there would be no spe-
cial opposition to its ratification. Senator
Turpie contended that no other position
was possible in view of the indisputable
fact that the Senate was a part of the
treatymaking power of the United States.
Senator Daniel, however, took an oppo-
site view, as did Senator Chandler and
most of the other Senator's who spoke.
Drring the debate on the postal appro-
ysiation bill, which was passed by the
House, Congressman Hugh Belknap, of
Chicago, made a speech in favor of re-
tanning the marine postal service at De-
troit. Congressman Belknap said that
the vesselmen of the great lakes would
never consent to such a change. They
are greatly benefited by the present SER
vice at Detroit. Several other members
made speeches in favor of the present
arrangements, and it was decided by the
House to continue them during the COM
Ing year. The perennial fight was made
to strike out the appropriation of S196.-
900 for special mail facilities from Bos-
ton to New Orleans, but il was defeated.
40 to 10I. The bill as passed carries $685..
435.714.
General debate on the sundry civil bill
'losed Saturday In the House. The bill
vas used as basis for an attack by the
democrats on the vast appropriations
'hde by this Congress. which Mr.. Sayers
nd Mr.. Dockery estimated would aggre-
ate S1,O45,O0O,OOO. Once the gate was
opened, the debate naturally drifted into
politics. The relative merits of the Me-
kinley and Wilson bills as revenue pro-
ducers were attacked and defended. The
income tax decision and Justice Shiras'
change of position came in for share of
attention, and Mr.. De Almond MOI con-
cluded the day with brilliant plea for
struggling Cubn which won from, tho
House shouts of approval. The Senate
did nothing of Importance.