The herald., 1897-03-02
IN THE HOUSE
Dull Routine Enlivened by Debate on Prize
Fight News

| w 1O4N, MdICH lie HOuSt
galleries were thronged with visitors all
day, but the crowds witnessed nothing
beyond the dullest of routine matters un-
til the last half hour of the session, when
the bill to prohibit the transmission of
detailed accounts of prize fights by mail
or telegraph was brought up This led
to very lively skirmish in which prize
fighting was denounced on all sides and
the advocates of the bill insisted that
the ''sickening details" should be sup
pressed in the interest OF good morals
But the bill met most strenuous oppo-
sition on the ground that it would tend
to establish a censorship of the press.
At the end of the debate, which was par
ticipated in by Messrs. Aldrich of Him
ois. Republican; Grosvenor of Ohio, Re-
publican Morse of Massachusetts, Re-
publican, in favor of the bill, and Messrs.
Dockery of Missouri. Democrat, and
Cummings of New York, Democrat, in
opposition, the adversaries of the meas
ure outvoted the friends of the bill on
several filibustering motions, but
agreement for recess until 10 o'clock
tomorrow put an end to the hostilties.
The bill now becomes the unfinished
business whenever the call of commit
tees is reached but conference reports
have the right of way. and it is doubt
ful whether that order of business will
again be reached this session. The SEN
ate bill to test the merits of the patent
postal card of the Economic Postal as
ISOLATION was laid on the table.
Mr.. Aldrich. Republican, of Illinois,
who called UP the prize fighting bill,
said that while this would not prevent
the mill scheduled to take place in Ne
vada March 18th, or the transmission Of
news of the result" it would prevent the
broadcast dissemination of the sick
ening details and the demoralizing pre-
liminaries, with which the columns of
newspapers already teemed.
Mr.. Morse of Massachusetts, advoca-
ted the passage of the bill.
AS protection to the youth of the
country" he said he hoped the result of
the fight would be that these two brutes
would kill each other.
Mr.. Grosvenor expressed the opinion
that the necessities of morality demand
the suppression Of prize fighting.
IF l lived in state" he said, which
had nothing eles to commend it, might
favor prize fighting" Gaughter)
Mr.. Dockery vigorously opposed the
bill. He opposed prize fighting, he said.
as much as any one, but this bill would
establish a censorship of the press. AMI
If carried to it's logical conclusion would
q
Mr.. Cummings characterized the bill
as dangerous. He said if it ever pass ed
many of the books in the congressional
library could not be sent through the
mails.
Mr.. Hepburn. Republican. of Iowa.
closed the debate with an earnest plea
for the bill
The sundry civil bill was sent to con-
ference, Messrs. Cannon. W A. Stone
so hafy, hn fzr1
postoflice appropriation bill was also
sent to conference, Messrs Loud of
California. Smith of Illinois and Kyle of
Mississippi being appointed conferees
number of other bills were sent TO
conference.
The conference report on the bill to
protect national military parks was
agreed to-
bill was passed to provide for the
transmission to Washington of presi-
Dental election returns by mail. Tha
bill abolishes the systems of messengers
now employed.
The senate resolution to enable an Of
ficer of the United States army to ac-
cept under the government of the
Greater Republic of Central America
position as military instructor was
adopted.
At 6:10 recess was taken.
SfSSlON NOI ES.
The president has refused to interfere
further in the case of the murderers at
Santa Fe, n. NJ. On February 20 h.
granted a stay of death for thirty davs
or until March 2S Now, having inves-
tigated the case, he refuses a pardon
saying: u am quite clear that these
convicts are not entitled TO executive
clemency in any form / believe that
the homicide of which they were coa-
victed was cold -blooded and deliberate
assassination, and that every considera-
tion in favor of peace, good order and
personal safety demands the execution
of their sentence
The senate today conferred: w W.
Follitt, to be consulting engineer of the
United States on the international
(water) boundary commission, provided
for in the convention with Mexico Of
March 1st. 1883. to fill vacancy. Post
masters: California-David c. Heyer
Susanville; army-Major Isaac Arnold
Reed, to be lieutenant-colonel,F February
90. 1897. vice Parker. deceased; and
other promotions in the army and tbs
nominations sent in today.
Arrangements have been perfected
for the naval participation in the. IN
augural parade. There will be 500 blue
Jackets in line under command of Car.
tain Sands, the commander of, the
cruiser Columbia. The battalion will be
made up from the crews Of the New