The Monticellonian., 1898-05-06
NATIONAL LAWMAKERS.
A Condensed Report of the Dotngs of On' senators and Representatives in
 Washington.

THE senate on the 25th received a message from the president urging formal declaration Of war + was referred 10 the foreign rela- tigns committee. Senator Allen fNcb.) intrO- dueed joint resolution declaring that war ex- istcd and had existed since February b be- tween the United States and Spain. II was re- 1 ferred Co the same committee Consideration of the naval appropriation bill was then re- sumed and il was finally passed. The commit- tee amendments to the army reorganization bill were aqreeI to and the bill was placed upon it's passage aud passed within 70 minutes of its introduction. The house bill declaring that war existed with Spain was received and after an executive session it was passed Soon
 after the presidents message was received in the house the committee framed q resolution declaring that war existed between the United
 States and Spain and 1t took the house but ono minute and fl seconds 10 pass it. The election
 case of Wise ys Young from the second Nir- Eiuia district was debated The house refused to concur n the senate amendments to the army reorEdnizatIon'hill and il WIS sent to con ference District of Columbia business was then taken Hp.
 THE seHale on the 26th agreed 10 the confer- chce report on the army reorganization bill. Judge Day Wds confirmed us secretary of state
 in place of John sherman resigned Seventy four private pension bills and numerous meas.
 ures from the general calendar were also paSsed,.. The war revenue bill was reported
 to the house and an arraugement made to take
 vote on it on the 29th The contested election case of Wise ys Young. from the Second Vir
 ginia district. was decided i'll favor of Wise trep} by party vote. The senate amend
 ments to the naval appropriation bill were uon-eoneurred in and conference committee
 was appointed A bill was passed granting to
 the Santa ife < Grand Canyon Railroad com pany q rtght-of-Way through the Grand Can yon forest reserve.
 HE senate Was in session for only an hour and half on the 21th Senator Stewart (Nev) introduced T resolution asking that the secre- tary of war furnish an estimate of the money needed to equip and feed the Cuban army until the Spanish troops shall have been expelled from the island The resolution was referred to the committee on military affairs. A bill
 was passed for the sale of public lands in Mis- souri No other business of any importance was transaeted....The general debate on the war revenue bill was opened up in the house by Mir ptngleF, chairman ef the ways and means committee He was followed by MT. Bailey eHex.l, who argued for an income tax, the coinare of the silver seigniorage and the
 issue of 5s 011,010 of legal tender notes instead of the bond proposition Mr. Savers CTeX) argued that the money to be raised by the bill l was excessive and would breed reckless prof lsaey Mr. Deliver lIa) made an eloquent speech ia favor of the bill. which aroused the | house and galleries to cheers Speeches on the measure were also omado at the evening session. < FEW bills of an unimportant character were | pt~ssd in The senate on the 2sth. Senator | PaSco 6EIa.7 presented memorials from Florida boards of trade concerning the interference with the p5astWise trade hg the present war. The If morals were referred to the committed on commerce. Senator Butler GN e. intrO- | dgced resolution providing thai the United l States bonded indebtedness should not be in- 1 creased. hut the cost of the should l be defraEad by taxing incomes and coining l the silver sGieniorage It went over..... | In the house the general debate on the war | revenue bill was closed after eight and a half | hours of speeehmakiIG It lacked both spirit l and interest There was little discussion of l the internal revenue features of the bill Tho | democrats continued their assaults on the bond | feature and their adyoeaey of the income tax | An urgency war measure Was passed by unani-
 nous consent to repeal the limitations upon | the purchase of quortermasters' supplies dur | iug the existing war with Spain
 TIE senate on tho 29th agreed 10 the report l of the coafefees on the naval appropriation | bill Tha measure as perfected carries little more than aa1Ql1O0l. Several unimp9rtaut bills were passed and at l:45 D n. the senate
 ad burned autil Che 2J-.-. The house passed the | War revenue bIt Ag a vote aG Isl te 13l. the | democrats and popuistS with six exceptions, | voting sohals against it. Many amendments were offered to the bond feature of the bill ranging from proposition farthe substitution | of an Income Lax provision to an authorization | for an issue of Hf50 ODD 001 ereanhaefs but all were voted down. Delegate Callahan iutro- | dHtel HiIl tt aBth0rizH the If8Hsass Oklahoma | and Gulf Railway company to construct d rail- wag through tae Chuoceo reservation in the Indian territory and also through Oklahoma | territory Hhe conference report aH the naval | bilI eBS presented and Mr Cannon dlI) made
 point Of order that the conferees had cXceej-
 cd their jurisdiction by adding certain pro visions. but an adjournment was taken with
 the point of order pending.