Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-02-17

On Monday the House passed the mill
tary academy bill with only one important
amendment. The debate on the measure
was desultory and touched a variety Of
political topics. The bill carries $453, $40,
being $4,000 less than the amount car
ried by the current law. The bill to limit
the period for the refunding Of the GER
tifcates Of deposit or 1879 to Dec. 81,
1899, was passed. In the Senate Mr..
Chandler presented a memorial prepared
In 1874 by the late Admiral Worden, who.
as lieutenant In the navy, commanded
the Monitor in the historic fight in Hamp-
ton Roads between that vessel and the
ironclad Merrimac. Mr.. Chandler said
that Admiral Worden conceived the idea
that il would be proper for the Govern
ment of the United States TO pay to the
officers and crew of the Monitor the sum
of 5000 each. in the nature of prize money,
but after having prepared the memorial
concluded not to present it to Congress
lest his motives might be misconstrued
The Hawaiian question consumed most
of the day.
In the Senate on Tuesday Mr.. Allen
offered as an amendment to the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill rcsolu-
ton recognizing the belligerency of the
Cuban insurgents. Mr.. Cannon offered
resolution urging the President to notify
spain that ifiit did not recognize the in
dependence Of the Cuban republic before
March the United States would recog-
nize the belligerency of the Cubans and
within ninety days thereafter would as
sert the independence of the Cuban repub-
lie. Mr.. Mason followed with resolu-
ton requesting the President to notify
Spain that the Cuban war must cease at
once and to declare the intention of the
United States to restore and maintain
peace on the island. The House enter
ed upon consideration OF the Aldrich-
Plowman contested election case from the
fourth Alabama district. The majority
of the committee reported in favor Of
seating the Republican candidate on the
ground of conspiracy, an allegation vgor-
ously denied by Democrats. Mr.. Plow-
mans plurality on the face cS the returns
was 1867. The majority revised the fig.
ures so as TO give Mr.. Aldrich plurality
of 342. Messrs. Taylor of Ohio and Mann
of Illinois spoke for the majority, and
Messrs. Fox of Mississippi and Settle OF
Kentucky for the minority.
In the House on Wednesday the AL
drich- Plowman contested election case
from the Fourth Alabama District was
| settled by the passage of resolution de,
claring Mr. Aldrich (Rep.), the contest,
ant, entitled to the seat. The vote was
on party lines. Cuban debate consumed
the whole day in the Senate. Speeches
were made by Messrs. Cannon, Mason
and Hale.
The House was in a very bad temper
Thursday, and the whole session was con.
sumed in filibustering against two bills
of minor importance-one to issue a dupli,
cate check, and the other to make Rock.
land, Me-, a SUPPORT of entry. Neither
got further than the engrossment and
third reading. Finally, when it became
evident that no progress could be made
with the bills presented, an adjournment
was taken until Monday. During almost
the entire session Of the Senate the Indian
appropriation bill was under discussion
The reading of the bill was completed, and
all Of the committee amendments were
adopted. Subsequently several amend
ments of minor character were attached
to the measure. Mr.. Allen Of Nebraska
enlivened the proceedings a few minutes
before adjournment by making an attack
upon Speaker Reed for preventing the en-
actment. as the Nebraska Senator declar-
ell, of meritorious legislation, sent to the
House of Representatives by the Senate.
He denounced the Speakers action in this
regard as disgrace" to Congress and
to the American people.
Consideration of the Indian appropria-
ton bill was resumed in the Senate on
Friday, and, after being amended to some
extent, the measure was passed. The
most important amendment was that Of
fered by Mr.. Pettigrew, which, IL finally
enacted, will restore the free homestead
law so far as it relates to Indian lands
coded to the United States, for which
lands the settlers have been obliged to pay
the purchase price paid to the Indians.
The bill carries appropriations aggregat-
ing nearly SS.000.000. The Senate adj
journed until Monday. The House was
not i'm session