Griggs courier., 1898-12-15
AEAHYf|F|Ag1Ia|fSS
The National Law-1ralrers Assemble
In Washington for the Third
and Last Session.
BOTH HOUSES MEET PROMPTLY At NOON

Attendancc-Public Interest GFeat-
er Than Usual-President Mcikin.
/. ley's Message Rcad-Bills and Res
olutions In the House.
Washington. Dec. 6.-The third and
last session of the Fifty-fifth congress
began yesterday at noon. The attend
ance of senators and representatives
was unusually large for the opening of
short session. Public interest in the
meeting of the nations lawmakers. if
cne could judge by the throngs of eager
and expectant visitors, seemed to be
much greater than usual.
In the senate.
Promptly at the stroke of 12 o'clock
Vice President Hobart entered and
raped for order. Rev. Mr.. Milburn,
the venerable blind chaplain, offered
prayer, after which a call of the SEN
ate developed the presence of 81 MEM
| bers.
The reading of the message occupied
two hours and eighteen minutes, and
at its conclusion the senate adjourned
until to-day.
Washington, Dec. I'm the senate
yesterday Senator Vest (Mo.) intro
duced joint resolution against the
acquiring of territory to be held and
governed permanently as colonies. Pc
titions were presented for reviving the
grades of admiral and vice admiral and
recognition of Rear Admiral Dewey.
Washington. Dec. s.-The appoint
ment of John Hay as secretary of state
was confirmed by the senate yesterday.
The deaths of Representatives North
way, of Ohio, and Love. of Mississippi.
were announced and the senate ad-
iourned as mark of respect to their
memories.
Washington, Dec. 9. - Senator Vest
introduced bill in the senate yester-
day for joint inquiry into the war
scandals and also a bill opposing the
appointment of senator's on presiden-
tial commissions. Senator Mitchell in
trduced a bill amending the existing
law in regard to volunteer soldiers
homes so as to admit volunteer soldiers
who were disabled by the war with
Spain. The nomination of Assistant
Naval Constructor Richard r. Hobson
to be naval constructor was received
from the president. Twenty-six pen
sion bills were passed. Adjourned to
Monday.
In the House.
Washington, Dec. G.-Speaker Reed
| received a warm welcome from both
| sides of the house when he ascended
| the rostrum to call the house to order.
The chaplain offered prayer, after
which the roll call showed 267 members
present. New members were sworn in,
and then the presidents message was
| read.
Gen. Wheeler (Ala.) introduced a res
olution providing that the thanks of
congress be rendered Miss. Helen M.
Gould, of New York. in recognition of
her patriotic devotion and bounteous
benevolence to the soldiers of the army
of the United States during the war
| with Spain. Bills and resolutions were
also introduced as follows:
BY Mr.. Cousins ua.). providing that the
standard of value in the United States Is
hereby declared to be and Is the standard
gold dollar of Is $40 grains Of standard
| gold 800 fine.
By Mr. Meyer Ga.). appropriating s12.-
| 600. 600 for the construction of wide chan
/ mel from deep water of the Mississippi river
| to deep water in the Gulf Of Mexico via
| Southwest pass.
BY Mr.. sulzer IN. ~, to reestablish the
| American merchant marine and to regulate
International trade and transportation.
BY Mr.. Brewer (Ala.), to repeal the act
providing ways and means to meet war ex-
penditures approved June 13. 1895.
BY Mr.. Sulzer IN. W. a resolution "au-
| thorizing and directing the committee on
military affairs to investigate the war de-
| partment and the conduct of the Spanish
| American war"
Washington, Dec. Tin the house
| yesterday the urgent deficiency appro-
priation bill ($66, ,2s0, ,393) was reported.
The report of the Hawaiian commits
sion was referred to the committee on
territories, together with bill offered
by Mr.. Hit to carry out the recon-
mendations of the commission.
Washington, Dec. s.-The house yes
terday passed the anti-ticket scalping
bill by a vote of 119 to 101. This action
is the elimination of ten years. strug-
gle on the part of the railroads to put
an end to the business of ticket scalp
ing. A bill was introduced increasing
the regular army to approximately 1oo,-
GOO men. also resolution rendering the
thanks of congress to the officers and
men of the North Atlantic squadron
and the army of Cuban invasion for the
meritorious service performed by them.
Washington, Dec. 9.-The urgent de-
fciency bill, to provide for the support
of the military and naval establish
ments, was passed in the house yester-
day. Adjourned to Monday.
Under Tons of Coal. =.
West Superior, Wis.,. Dec. s.-The
dock of the Lehigh Coal company here
caught fire and caved in and four men
were buried under thousands of tons
ct burning coal.
| q Poisoned Six Husbands.
Lawrence, Kan, Dec. 12.-Mrs. Lulu
Johnston, of Pond Creek, O. T., is in
Jail and will be tried on the charge OF
poisoning her sixth husband in this
city.