The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-12-16
CONGRESSIONAL DoINGS.
The Closing seasion of the Memorable
Fi:ty-Ftfsh at WORK ON Liquidation
Affecting the Nation.

AT the opening OF the senate's session on the
Eth Senator Hawley Conn }. chairman Of the
military affairs committee. introduced a bill
for the reorganization Of the regular army.
Senator Boar tMasS) secured the adoption OF
q resolution for a committee OF seven senators
to take action on that part of the presidents
message relating to the celebration OF the CEN
tennial Of Washington as the nations capital.
LII the executive session q lively debate was
had over re emit appoinim .nts OF senator's by
the president on commissions. Senator Hoar
Mass making a vigorous protest against the
practice and asking what became of their
functions as senator's when their report was
placed before the senate Hon John Hay was
confirmed as secretary Of state. In the house
the anti-scalping bill was passed by vote OF
1l9 to l0l, after spirited debate lasting for@r
hours Mr. Hull Qa). chairman OF the COM
mittee on military affairs. introduced bill in
creasiug the regular army to approximately
100. goo men This bill is not the one framed by
Gen. Miles.
WHILE the senate was considering pension
bills on the calendar on the Sth Senator
Vest MOI made vigorous protest against
passing them by simply reading their titles
and when quo was not present Senator
Vest also introduced q resolution for the APP
pointment of joint commission to investigate
the charges OF corruption in the conduct Of the
war with Spain and bill prohibiting senators
and congressman from serving on presi-
Dental commissions Senator Caffrey (La)
introduced resolution 10 mooiiy Inc
Clayton Bulwer treaty as far it
related to constructing canal across
the isthmus of Darien Senator Mitchell
(WiS) introduced bill to allow volunteers
disabled in the war with Spain to enter voluu-
te soldiers homes The Nicaragua canal
bill was then made the unfinished business and
an adjournm mt was taken to the 18th The
house passed the urgent deficiency bill prac-
tically without opposition. The amount car
ried by the bill Is 81, s9'.S92 The house then
adjourned to the 18th. to give committees an
opportunity to work without interruption
In the senate on the 18th, as soon as the
morning routine business had been disposed Of
Senator Vest (Mo called up his resolution de-
caring it to be unconstitutional for the United
States government to acquire foreign territory
except for coaling stations or some other like
purpose unless its intention was to confer
statehood upon the territory. The senator con-
tended that the principle had been sustained
by the supreme court and spoke for over an
hour against territorial expansion Senator
Platt (Conn) took issue with Senator Vest
and gave notice OF a speech on the subject In
the near future Senator Morgan Gala then
opened the debate on the Nicarauga canal bill
with three hour appeal for action at this ses-
sion. Senator Pettigrew Is. d. introduced q
bill for raj ing the battleship Name and Sena-
tor, Hoar (Mass.) introduced reso-
luton looking to the mastering out
of volunteers who had families depending
on them or whose bus ness affairs would be
seriously interfered with by longer continu-
ance in the service. The house spent most OF
the day on District Of Columbia affairs Mr..
Mcclellan (N W introduced bill for the re-
organization OF the army and Mr.. Hepburn ia
a bill authorizing the president to acquire by
purchase land in Costa Rlca and Nicaragua
necessary for a canal and appropriating $l40, :
| 0OO. QUO for the purpose Mr. Hepburn also in
troduced a joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the constitution that no territory not
under the jurisdiction of the United States on
January I. 1898. should be admitted into the
union unless three-fourths of the members of
both houses of congress voted afirmatively foI
such admission.