Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-12-23
The Legislative Grind.

The Legislative Grind
Mr.. Lodge (Mass.) made an effort In
the Senate Monday to secure an immedi-
ate vote upon his immigration bill. which
Is substantially the same measure that
was passed by the Fifty-fourth Congress
and vetoed by President Cleveland. Mr..
Allen (Neb) objected to an immediate
vote and suggested that the final vote on
the amendments and the bill be taken on
Monday. Jan. II, Mt 3 p. IN. This sugges-
ton was accepted by Mr.. Lodge and the
order for vote Mt that time was made.
Mr.. German, chairman OF the Democratic
steering committee, presented an order
which was adopted, rearranging some OF
the committee assignments of some OF the
Democratic members, made necessary by
the incoming Of new members. Mr.. Pet
tigrew Is. d. called up the bill granting
to settlers the right to make second home
stead entries. He made brief expana-
ton Of the measure. 1t gave all persons
who were not ut the time owners OF land
under the homestead law the right to
make second homestead entries. Each
person would be entitled TO acquire lOO
acres of land. The bill was passed. A
bill providing for the erection Ct an add
ton to the public building at Los An.
geles. Cal, to cost S250,000, was passed.
Mr.. Wilson (Wash.) presented a resolu-
ton directing the civil service commission
to transmit to the Senate statement by
fiscal years since 1890 showing the total
number Of persons examined. the total
number passed and the total number ap-
pointed in the several branches Of the
Government service at the beginning of
each of those fiscal years. The resolution
was agreed to. The Senate then adjourn
cd. Excepting the reporting Of the legis-
Iative, executive and judicial appropria-
ton bill, the House did no public bust
ness Monday.
Wednesdays proceedings in the Senate
were enlvened by an interesting debate
upon the bill presented by the Foreign
Relations Committee providing for the
prohibition of pelagic sealing by Ameri-
cans. The provisions of the measure were
explained by Mr.. Davis. Mr.. Pettigrew
Us. d. sharply antagoniZed the measure,
saying that this country had already suf-
Tered more than enough humiliation on
account of the seal business, and that he
favored the settlement of the question by
killing all Of the seals as they appeared at
the rookeries of the Prybilof Islands, If
by the first of June next Great Britain
also had not agreed to the prohibition of
pelagic sealing. He offered an amendment
to that effect, but it was defeated. The
| bill was passed by vote of 81 to IA. Mr..
Mcbride of Oregon endeavored to secure
the adoption of his resolution directing
the Secretary Of War to supply relief to
the suffering miners in the Klondike re
gion and appropriating $250,0O0 for that
purpose. The resolution was amended so
that the supplies might be transported by
means of reindeer. Mr.. Mcbride con-
sented finally that the resolution should
be recommitted to the Military Affairs
Committee, with the understanding that
it would he promptly reported. The ses-
sion closed with spirited civil service
| debate upon the bill presented by the
| Census Committee providing for the APP
| pointment of director of the census and
| thirty-two employees who should form the
skeleton of an office force for the twelfth
census. In the House the legislative, ex-
| ecutive, and judicial appropriation bill
was discussed, but only one amendment
of Importance was adopted 1t reduced
| the clerical force at the pension office
| ninety-fve.
In the House on Thursday bill passed
appropriating $4,000 for relief of peo-
| pie who are in Yukon river country, and
also bill passed by the Senate the day be-
fore to prohibit pelagic sealing by Amer
lean citizens. Former bill encountered
practically no opposition. Bill to pro-
hibit pelagic sealing warmly antagonized
by Mr.. Johnson of North Dakota, Mr..
Loud of California, Mr.. Hepburn and
others. In the Senate resolution direct
ing the Secretary of War to send supplies
| to American and other sufferers in Klon-
| dixie region passed Mr.. Pritchard of
| North Carolina, chairman of civil service
investigating committee, delivered brief
| speech upon execution of civil service
law as developed by his committee. Sem
ate passed bill directing Secretary of
Treasury to purchase or construct suita-
BILE vessel for revenue cutter service on
| j ukon river, Alaska, to cost not to exceed
$4,000. Mr.. Allison of appropriations
committee reported favorably House
| joint resolution providing for recess of
Congress from Dec. IS, 1897, to Jan. 5.
1898. Adopted. Mr.. Hawley of Military
Affairs Committee reported resolution
of Mr.. Mcbride of Oregon for relief of
American miners and other sufferers in
Yukon valley, Alaska. Committee struck
out all but enactng clause and amended
by appropriating $250O00, which is to be
used by Secretary of War for purchase
of subsistence and supplies and for their
transportation and distribution. Adopted.
| In the Senate on Friday joint reso-
luton accepting the invitation of Norway
10 participate in an International fisheries
commission next year was passed. One
hundred and thirty-eight private pension
bills were passed. Resolutions on the
death of William Steele Holman, late rep
| resentative from Indiana, were taken up.
Tributes to his memory were paid in elo-
quent euloges by several members. The
resolutions were passed, and as n further
mark Of respect the Senate at loo p. IN.
adjourned until Saturday. In the House
amendments to the legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill were adopt
ed. The House refused to accept the Sen
| ate amendment to the bill for the relief
of the miners in the Upper Yukon.
| I'm SATURDAY. both houece nf