Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-03
WORK OF CONGRESS

consideration or the resolution of Mr.
Allen OF Nebraska directing the com.
ittee on naval affairs to investigate
the disaster to the battleship Maine
An arrangement las been made for tho
adoption or the resolution, with n
minor amendment, without debate
Mr.. Mason Ut Illinois, however, .Dro.
posed Il substitute, providing for nm in
vcstigatton to be conducted by n Joint
committee OF the two branches of con-
gress. Upon this the Illinois senator
disrcsa%dihg an appeal not to force n
discuss!ol;, delivered Il speech in which
he said that the people demanded tho
truth concerning the explosion. and do
clnred thu; they woul;. not be snristin1
with the investigation to be conducted
by the officers of the navy, who womb
virtually try their own case and womb
cover up any blame that the officials
might show attached to them. Ho
iiercely denounced the policy of the
government in dealing with the Cuban
question, and declared that the United
states had adopted the policy CT Spain
in putting everything off until to-mor.
row.
Sharp replies to Mr.. Mnson's charges
were made by Mr.. Wolcott of Colorado
and Mr. Lodge of Massachusetts. Mr.
Wolcott declared that mot a patriotic
citizen In this broad land has not the
fullest and most splendid and glorious
confidence in every department of this
government, and in the department of
the navy particularly" Mr.. Wolcott
thought this was a time when we
should refrain from gratuitous insult
to friendly nation and from unjust
and ignorant criticism "War NAV
come" said he. 81 think myself the
day may not be far distant. When
that day comes our course must be
entirely grounded in the right. War is
Il grim decision, and when it comes it
must come so that the people of the
world can Mt least respect cut conduct
and our position. And above all it
must come under circumstances which
make lis respect ourselves"
Mr.. Lodge, In brief but brilliant
speech, defended the honor of the navy
and Secretary Long and Assistant Sec
rotary Roosevelt and the naval officers.
The resolution WHICH precipitated the
discussion finally welt on the calendar.
The house debated the bankruptcy
bill until noon and then Immediately
after the reading Of the journal Mr..
Routelle of Maine, chairman of the
naval committee, asked unanimous
resolution prepared by the navy de-
partment and passed by the senate.
The mere mention of the Maine dis
aster on the floor brought members ia
crowds from the cloak rooms and lob
bies and they thronged down the
aisles to listen. The spectators in the
galleries leaned over with breathless
interest as Secretary Longs letter
was read.
Washington, Feb. p. After four
days Of consideration the house passed
the bankruptcy bill reported by the
house committee on judiciary as sub
stitute for the Nelson bill passed by
the senate at the extra session last
summer. The bill is known as the
Henderson bill and contains both vol
untary and involuntary features. 1t
is considered less drastic than the
measure passed by the last house by
vote Of 157 to 81. The involuntary
feature, however, had but sixteen ma
jority. A motion to strike out the in
voluntary feature was defeated by
majority of 10 and the bill was passed
by majority Of % Eighteen Repub-
leans voted against the bill and twelve
Democrats for it. Tine Populists, with
one exception voted against it.
Washington, Feb. @. - For three
hours the senate had under considera-
ton the bill providing for the taking
of the twelfth and subsequent >er
suses. 1t was so amended as to place
the census bureau under the secretary
of the interior, but the extended dis
cussion which followed disclosed so
wide a divergence of views on the part
of senator's as to the various features
Of tie measure that no further action
was taken. A resolution offered by
Mr. Allen of Nebraska directing the
committee of naval affairs to make an
investigation of the disaster to the
battleship Maine was adopted without
debate.
1t was private bill day in the house,
hut little was accomplished owing to
the fact that most Of the time was
consumed in the passage of private
pension bills coming over from the
Friday night session three weeks ago.
The feature of the day was the spir
tied contest over the bill to pay New
berry college, a Lutheran institution in
COulu CuIOlllit, P1O,OOO lOI uuudSto ny
federal troops. 1t was finally passed.
On motion Of Mr.. Bailey, the Demo-
cratic leader. the house voted-5S to
35-to observe Washington's birthday,
but Mr.. Dingley raised the point Of no
quorum and before further action
could be taken the house recessed un-
der the rule until 8 o'clock. The Re-
publicans desire to 60 ahead with the
sundry civil appropriation bill.
Washington. Feb %. - AS soon as
the reading Of the historic farewell adj
dress Of Washington was concluded by
Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts in the
senate Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut.
chairman of the military affairs COM
mittce, called up the bill providing for
the enlistment of two additional regi
ments of artillery for service in man.
ming the heavy coast defense batteries
which congress has provided during
the past two years. After some little
discussion the bill was passed. Mr..
Morgan of Alabama secured the adop-
tion Of the following resolution:
THAT the committee on naval af-