Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-04-01
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
Something Of the Talks and the Acts
of Both Branches.

The stirring scenes of the Fifty.first
congress. when the members of the minor
ity were charging down the aisles pro-
testing the rules of Speaker Reed, were
recalled Friday in the turbulent scenes
and protests made by the minority
against the chairs rulings during the con-
sideration Of the naval appropriation bill.
The ruling in effect compelled the men,
bers to contine their remarks under the
five minute rule to the subject before the
house. and was made against MIR. Hart
man of Montana. who attempted to make
political speech The ruling was de-
nounced as usurpation and appeal after
appeal was taken. When all else failed,
every expedient was rcsorted to to block
progress with the bill. As IL result but
four pages were disposed Of
During the debate on the naval appro-
priation bill Saturday in the house every
utterance in favor of aggressive action
against Spain was applauded to the echo
by the crowded galleries. A strong ef-
fort was made to increase the appropria-
ton for the naval reserves. but it failed.
Another effort to have the government
uniform the naval militia also failed. The
main contest of the day was over a prop
osition to decrease the number of timber
drydocks authorized by the bill from four
to three. Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the
appropriations committee, who made the
motion to discuss the whole question of
war preparations and to nveigh against
undue extravaganza, was voted down. No
point of order was made against the pro-
posed timber docks. but Mr.. Cannon gave
notice that he would raise point against
the proposed steel dock at Algiers. La, on
the ground that a dock necessarily in
volved in the future the establishment of
a navy yard. There was some further
discussion of the relative merits of large
battleships and smaller craft, in which
the temper of the house seemed about
equally divided, but the paragraphs rela-
tive to the ships had not been reached
when the house adjourned
Presidents Message Received.
Every available inch in the senate pub.
lie galleries was occupied Monday and all
the senate galleries were packed to the
doors by O'Clock. In the diplomatic gal
'ery were Abner Mckinley. the presidents
brother. and Mrs. Captain Sigsbee. The
attendance of senators was unusually
large. At the conclusion of the reading of
the presidents message, Senator Davis of
Davis of Minnesota, chairman of the com.
mlttee on foreign relations. amid buzz of
whispered conversation, rose and request
cd that the findings of the court of inu,iry
be read. At the conclusion of the reading.
senator Davis moved the message of the
president, the findings of the court of in.
quiry and the testimony taken before the
court be referred to the committee on for
e'sn relations and ordered printed
a big crowd was present in the house.
AZ exactly II O'Clock the speaker called
the house to order There were no nre.
ilmlnaries. While the journal was being
read, Chief Executive Cluerk Pruden an.
peared with the message, which was an
no"heed as soon as the reading of the
Journal was concluded. When the read.
ing OF the message was concluded, a wave
OF applause swept over the floor and the
galleries. The speaker Immediately an
hounced the reference of the message to
the committee on foreign relations. under
'"e rule Mr. Bailey, the democratic lead.
en- asked if the report of the board Of in.
curry had not accompanied the message
! ne speaker replied that foot note to the
message contained the information that
'he testimony had been transmitted to the
senate. WIG