The National tribune., 1898-06-16
DOIuGS OF CONGRESS
Abstract of the Important Pro.
ceedings.

the bill, proposed an amendment provid
ing that, in addition to the Director ant
: Assistant Director of Census and five ex
pert statisticians, not more than rs per
sons shall be appointed to the Census be
fore Jan. 1, 1899. Mr.. Cockrell (Mo., d..
accepted the amendment in lieu of one.
offered by him the day before, and it wa:
agreed to-.
MIR. Cockrell offered an amendmen
| striking out the provision that the Census
force should be subjected to such exami
/. nation as the Director, with the approva
. of the Secretary OF the Interior, may pre-
scribe. In lieu thereof he proposed tina
the employees should be examined anC
certified by the Civil Service Commission
lie maintained that, as provided for in the
bill, the appointments would be "spoils'
appointments, and he felt that there was
no more reason why the Census EN-
ployes should be exempted from Civil
Service examinations than there was fol
the exemption of other employees of the
Government. 1t was violative, too, he
thought, of the pledges of the politica
parties.
In the House Mr.. Cannon, from the Com
mittee on Appropriations, presented a
conference report of partial agreement
upon the sundry civil bill, which was
agreed to. Mr.. Cannon moved further
} insistence of the House upon it's disagree
ment to the remaining amendments OF the
Senate, but Withdrew it at the suggestion
OF Mr. Sayers Tex, d. that a separate
vote upon many of the amendments BY as
desired and would expedite disposal OF
the measure.
i The bill providing for the participation
OF volunteer soldiers in Congressional cleo
tons during the existence of the present
war was taken up. Mr.. Lacey Iowa n. J
SAID the bill found constitutional warrant
in the section giving Congress power to
make or alter regulations prescribed by
| the State Legislature affecting the times,
places and manner of holding elections for
| Representatives. Consideration of the
measure precipitated a prolonged cOlIoquy
on questions of constitutional construc-
! ton.
| In the House, Mr.. Dingley, Chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee, pre-
| scented the conference report on the war
revenue bill.
After the reading of the report and
statement of the House conferees, Mr..
Dingley said the desire of the Committee
was to enact the bill into law this week
especially in view of the fact that great
losses would be avoided by early passage
of the measure.
bill would pass, and, in view of that he
realized the Importance of early action.
In response to Mr.. Dingley's query, he
said no difficulty would be experienced in
reaching vote by night.
AT night the House agreed to the con-
vote of Isl to 1917.
The conference agreement upon the war
revenue bill Is Il compromise upon all the
important subjects OF controversy. The
bill has been improved and if the agree
ment is ratified by both Houses will be
more satisfactory to the Treasury off
Gals than it was either in the form it
passed the House or as it afterwarf
passed the Senate.
The provision for the issuance of bonds
ana deOt certificates, as now agreed upon,
viii enable the Secretary of the Treasury
to issue bonds at once, without regard to
the debt certificates, and the latter propo-
sitiOn may be enforced only as it is deem
ed TO be advisable and practicable by the
Secretary OF the Treasury. The popular
loan feature is retained.
In the Senate on June the census bill
providing for the appointment of clerks
and employees by the Director and the
Secretary OF the Interior, passed. The
civil service amendment, offered by Sena-
tor CocLrell, of Missouri, the previous
day, after warm debate, was rejected by
a vote of 81 to IS.
Mr.. Hale, Chairman of the Naval At
fairs Committee, reported favorabIy a bill
to organize hospital corps of the United
States Navy, to define its duties, and
regulate ITS pay. The bill was passed.
In the House the first open clash of
Administration Republicans with Speaker
Reed over Hawaiian annexation came.
The Republicans who want annexation !
and want action by the House immediate |
ly, in accordance with the Presidents |
wishes, have chafed under Speaker Reeds |
tactics in delaying consideration. With |
Chairman Cannon, of the Committee on |
as his ally, and plenty of |
conference reports on appropriation bills |
at hand to occupy all the spare time of |
the House, the Speaker has been able to t
g. nDf Iy,IN oh rIr
belief grew during the week that the |
Speaker would carry through his pro-
gram OF diSp0Sing Of the approximation
bills at once and effect an adjournment
of Congress within a week or two. This
spurred the friends of The Newlands reso-
utionS to further threats of party caucus.
and peremptory petition was circulated
Mr.. GrosvenOr failed in his request for a
'ule on the consideration of the Hawaiian
eSolutlonS, utreturned to the attack later
N the day. The afternoon had been con-
'umed on the Sundry civil conference report |
and Postoiiice conference report, which was
and with the Lacy bill. Repre-
sentative 3. w. Smith, of Michigan made
he motion to adjourn, which brought
len. GrosvenOr Immediately to his feet.
protesting that he had parliamentary in
Jury. MIR. Smiths motion to adjourn
vas being pressed, and the Ohio member
lad not been recognized. 1t was gen
rally understood that the Lacey bill, still
unfinished, would come up the next day
md have precedence. 1t was to find ont
he effect of adjournment that Gen.
IrOSVenOr rose.
A wrangle followed. Gen. GrOsvenor.
n response to some nearby member Who'll
lad suggested that adjournment would
De equivalent to a continuing order, MAX
ng the election bill privileged to-day.
aid, angrily: Eyes, | know it is a con,
lnulng order, and it is continuing order
o obStruct the passage of the Hawaiian
Representative Lacey, of Iowa, was
eard to declare, The gentleman should
re ashamed to make such an accusation."i
ddressIng, with much vigor, Gen. Gros-
enOr.
After the commotion was Quoted, Gen.
,rOSvenor put his query to the Speaker |
tho said the effect of adjournment would
cave the election bill the privileged bust
ess, to be called up Immediately after
onvening; but he added that the uues-1
ion OF consideration could be raised, and
ne House to-day could vote to displace
ne bill.
TellerS were ordered upon the motion to
djOurn, and the vote was proceeding
hen the Speaker interrupted TO say: i
1t is fair to say to the House that, upon a
| doubt the correctness of the
eply given to the gentleman from Ohio. 4.
he Chair Is not quite certain as to the =
xact language employed on yesterday in :
taking the bill privileged today, and if ,,
lat language should make it appear that -
re matter was to proceed to consideration r
ntil disposed of, the question of con-
Iteration could not be raised tomorrow.
he language did not appear this morning