Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-01-20
INAUGURATION DAY.
A Constitutional Amendment for
Making It April 80.
I'KEyyA'S CONFIRMATION HELD UP.
Tho House Considers Claim Mills ON the
Private Calendar Bill to Make Some
Indian Reservations into an
<Aklahoma County.

transaction OF some routine business
in the senate yesterday, Senator Hoar,
OF Massachusetts, presented the fol-
lowing joint resolution, proposing an
amendment to the constitutions.
That the following article be proposed to the
legislatures Of several states as an amendment
70 the constitution OF the United States:
The term Of Office Of president and the Fifty
Sixth congress shall continue until the Both day
Of April In the year 1901, at noon The sena-
tors whose existing term would otherwise ex-
pire on the 4th day Of March, In the year 1901.
or thereafter, shall continue In Office until noon
Of the 3Oth day OF April succeeding such expira-
tion; and the 30th day OF April at noon shall
thereafter be substituted for the 4th OF March
ss the commencement and termination OF the
OfIicinl term OF the president, vice president,
senator's and representatives In congress
The resolution was referred TO the
committee on privileges and elections.
Senator Quay, Of Pennsylvania, Of
1ered the following resolution, which
was referred to the committee on In
dian affairs:
Resolved, That the secretary OF the Interior
shall be and is hereby instructed to investigate
the facts attending the recent alleged atroclous
burning to death Of two Seminole Indians by a
mob in Oklahoma territory and make report
thereon TO congress.
That the sum OF 5000 or 80 much thereof as
may be necessary Is hereby appropriated out
Of any money In the treasury not otherwise ap-
proprlated for the investigation, apprehension
and punishment Of the guilty persons, to be ex'
pended under the direction Of the secretary OF
the interior
Almost the entire four hours Of the
executive session OF the senate yester.
day were devoted to the indirect con-
sideration of the nomination Of Hon.
Joseph McKenna, now attorney gen.
eral, to be associate justice Of the su.
preme court The discussion was the
result OF an effort on the part OF Sen.
ator Allen, OF Nebraska, to secure
postponement for two weeks. In the
end a compromise was reached defer.
ring consideration until week from
yesterday, on the condition that the
Nebraska senator should agree to al.
low q vote to be taken on that date.
The Hawaiian treaty was not touched
upon during the session. The debate
upon Mr.. McKenna's nomination was
precipitated by Senator Hoar, chair
man Of the committee on judiciary,
who called up the nomination, in ac-
cordance with his notice, and asked
for immediate action. In doing this,
Senator Hoar spoke briefly Of the oppo-
sition to Mr.. McKenna, saying that
the judiciary committee has investi.
gated most Of the charges made, and
had reached the conclusion that they
we're without foundation. He said
that the greater number Of charges
had been made for the members Of the
American Protective association and,
q they had been founded solely on the
fact that Mr.. McKennp was a Catholic
in religion, they had not been deemed
worthy Of serious consideration.
The senate committee on privileges
and elections have decided to make an
adverse report upon Hon. W. II. Cor
belts claim to seat from Oregon.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10. -ltwas the in
tention Of the house managers to pro-
ceed with the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill yesterday, but,
owing to the excited condition Of
affairs In Havana and the widely ex-
sggerated reports afoat they decided
TO avoid the possibility Of opening up
aCuban debate by relinquishing the
day to the committee on claims, in
charge Of bills on the private calen-
dar. Before this order was entered
upon the agricultural bill was passed.
Most Of the day was consumed in a
tilibuster against bill to pay the pub
fishing house Of the Methodist Episco-
pal church, south, at Nashville, Tenn,
ea68, 900 on account of seizure and use
OF the property Of that corporation
during the war.
When the house adjourned Thursday
the amendment to the agricultural ap.
preparation bill providing for the pub
lication of another edition of the Horse
Book was pending. Yesterday the
friendsof the amendment compromised
with the appropriations committee by
agreeing to reduction of the number
10 be printed from 1900 to Is, 900. As
amended, the amendment was adopted
and che bill was passed.
The resolution accepting the invita-.
ti0n OF the government of Norway tc
participate in the international fish
cries exposition at Bergen from May
to September, 1898, was called up by
Mr.. Simpkins, republican, of Massa.
chusetts and after a short debate
adopted
Delegate Callahan has introduced {
bill which has for Its purpose the or
ganization of the eastern Shawnee
Modoc, Ottawa, Miami, Seneca, Wyan
d0tte and Quapaw Indian reservations
into county, and attaching the sam,
to Oklahoma territory. These reserva
tions, IT is estimated, contain tota
OF 9l2,29S acres. The county is to b,
known MS Quapaw, and the county sea
is TO be located at Miami. The bill
was referred to the committee on In
dian affairs.
The Lacey bill, extending the home
stead laws to Alaska and grantin,
right of way to railroads, was favora
bly, reported to the house from the pub