Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-03-12
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
DISCUSS THE NATIONS AFFAIRS
Lenders in Both Branches of the Ma
ttonaI LegisIature Consume Time
in Talk rs Well Rs Transact Some
Public Business-Whnt Has Been
Done.

Public Business-What Has Been
Done.
A resolution was passed by the senate
Friday authorizing the printing of $4,000
copies of the pamphlet by Commodore
George w. Melville, on the commercial,
military and strategic advantages to the
United States of the Nicaraguan canal and
the Hawaiian islands. BY vote of As to
7 the paragraph in the Alaska bill reserv-
ing to the government the right to pur-
chase any railroad, tramway or wagon
road at its actual cash value, was stricken
cut. The Alaskan bill passed the senate
Senator Morgan announced that it was
his purpose to introduce a resolution at
an early date making a second call upon
the president for consular correspondence
bearing upon the condition of affairs in
Cuba. He said the resolution proposed
by him would be couched in terms de-
handing the submission of the correspon
dence.
Before the regular order the bin
of the conference committee on pension
appropriations was agreed to in the house.
Mr.. Hit chairman of the committee on
foreign affairs presented the report of the
committee on the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill. 1t recommended the
adoption of all the senate amendments.
which was agreed to- Both pension and
diplomatic bills now go to the president.
The house then took up consideration Of
bills on the private calendar.
Artillery Bill Passed.
Chairman Hull, of the military commit
tee, in the house Monday moved the pas
sage. under a suspension OF rules, of the
Hawley bill creating two additional regi-
ments of artillery Debate on the bill de-
veloped nothing exciting, but there was
great outburst of enthusiasm when Nj.
Hav. democrat, of Virginia, declared he
stood ready to vote for the measure in
view of the emergency which confronted
the country. Mr.. Jones of Virginia and
Mr.. Cox of Tennessee spoke against the
bill. which was passed without division.
Mr.. Norton of Ohio introduced in the
house resolution, which was referred to
the committee on rules, setting aside
! Thursday and Friday for consideration of
Joint resolution to recognize the indie
pendence of the republic of Cuba,
Defense Bill Passed.
The appropriations committee of the
house, at a meeting Tuesday morning,
unanimously agreed to report favolably
the bill appropriating S50000000 for ma
! tional defense There was practically no
discussion iii the committee. Members
/ had informally discussed the bill and it
met with the approval of all. The bill
was reported as deficiency bill and in
Guided in addition to $50,00O,000 for ma
/ tional defense, the following items: For
printing, $4,000; bureau of medicine and
surgery. naval establishment, $4,000; bu-
/ reau of equipment, naval establishment,
! 100000; bureau or ordnance naval estab-
/ lishment. $1,000; total $50, $4,000 The
debate closed at APO, when the question
was put on the passage of the bill. Mr.
/ Cannon asked for the roll call. so that
every member could 90 on record. The
bill passed by unanimous vote.
The senate considered the District Of Co
lumba appropriation bill.
Defense Bill Law.
At the conclusion of the morning bust
ness in the senate Wednesday Senator
Hale quietly rose and said:
Il report from the committee on appro-
priations without amendment an act to
supply urgent Deficiencies for the current
year and for other purpose, and ask
that it be placed on its passage. The
bill. which was the measure appropriating
$50, 1879, 900, of which S5O,0OO,OOO was
placed at the disposal of the president
for national defense. was then, amid III
tense silence read. At the conclusion
of the reading, there being no amend
ment to the bill, it was placed on its pass
age Senator Hale asked that yeas and
nays be called. Such unanimlty as the
roll call developed was as unusual as 1t
was significant. Within 26 minutes after
the senate had convened the roll call had
been completed and the vice president an
nounced the bill passed, rs senators voting
in the affirmative and not one III the
negative. Later in the day the bill was
signed by the president and Is now
law.
Representatives Jones and Lewis sue
ceeded in the house in retaining the sen
ate amendment to the Indian appropria-
ton bill providing for the opening up OF
the south half of the Colville reservation.
The bill will 90 to conference with this
provision in it. With Senators Turner and
Wilson both working for it from the SEN
ate end and Messrs. Jones and Lewis tax
inc care of it in the house, the chances
o lnrnnl,, in farn1 of It's retention in |