The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-02
CURRENT TOPICS.
THE NEWS IN BRIEF.
"FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

IN the senate. on the cath, the feature OF the
days session which. by its Importance and in
tenSity. Overshadowed everything else, was the
speech Of Senator ThurStOn, of Nebraska. de-
livered by the command Of silent nps'-a
delicate tribute to his wife. who died during
their recent trip to Cuba. During its delivery
hundreds OF his listeners, among them staid
senators, bowed their heads and wept audibly.
AT its close Mr.. Allen, the senator's colleague,
led the almost exhausted and fainting speaker
from the senate chamber. ......In the house the
naval appropriation bill was taken up, and its
discussion occupied the entire session.
THE senate was not in session on the 9th.
In the house the day was taken up with debate
on the naval appropriation bill. during which
Mr.. Hartman (>ilver rep. MOnt) blocked bust
ness for a time By insisting in injecting a pOlit-
zeal speech into the debate. which was under
the tive-miuute rule. and. as 4 result, but four
pages of the bill were disposed Of. Tn minori-
". supporting Mr.. Hartman. kept things lively
by reSortinE to tlibustcrinG tactics
THE senate was not in session on the 9th.
In the house consideration OF the naval apprO-
priation bill was resumed under the tive-minute
rule. Every utteraace in favor Of aggressive
action against Spain was appiaudcd to the echo
by the crowded galleries. y strong effort was
made to increase the appropriation for the
naval reserves. bat it failed. Another effort To
have the government uniform the naval militia
also failed. The main contest Of the day was
over u proposition to decrease the number of
timber dry docks authorized by the bill from
four to three. Two amendments having this
object in view were defeated.
II the senate. on the 2~th. the presidents
message transmitting the findings Of the Maine
court of inquiry was received. Throughout the
reading OF the message and the findings Of the
court there was not the slightest demOHStra-
ton. \ I the close Of the reading Senator
| Money CIiSS.) obtained the floor and delivered
Il speech upon his recent observations in Cuba
and his deductions therefrom. The death Of
Representative SimpkinS. OF Massachusetts
| was announced aud the senate Immediately adj
journcd ......In the house one wave of applause
awep, from floor to ceiling upon the completion
| then. the death Of Representative SimpkinS be-
ing announced. the house adjourned.
IN the senate. on the 18th. Mr.. Allen Neb)
introduced a resolution recognizing the indie
penicnce of the Cuban republic; Mr.. RawiinS
offered 4 resolution declaring war against
Spain; Mr.. Foraker introduced a resolution for
independence of Cuba. and Mr.. Frye submitted
a resolution demanding that Cuba be made
free. Mr.. Mason IlL) obtained the floor ana
delivered his announced speech on the presi-
dents message. at tn" conclusion OF which "A
| private pension bills were passed. After eulO-
gieS on the late Senator Earle. OF South Caro-
lima. the senate adjourned ..-...In the house
the day was spent in consideration of private
bills, no opportunity being afforded, under the
rules. of debating the all-abSOrbing topic. The
bill to pay certain claims for stores and sup
plies furnished to the Union army by loyal citi-
zenS of the south during the war was amended
and passed.