The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-12-22
WORK OF CONGRESS

4
two questions, each of interest and i'm
portance at this time, was begun by
the senate at it's session yesterday.
Territorial expansion and the construc-
ton Of the Nicaragua canal occupied
the attention of the body during the
greater part Of the afternoon. As
soon as the routine business had been
disposed Of Mr.. Vest called up his res
OlutiOn offered last week declaring it
TO be unconstitutional for this govern
ment to acquire foreign territory ex-
cept for coaling stations or for some
like purpose unless it's intention was to
confer statehood upon the territory
and citizenship upon its inhabitants.
Mr.. Vest declared that it was a basic
principle Of this government that the
powers Of the government were de-
rived from the consent Of the gov
erncd, and maintained that the federal
government had no authority either In
morals or in the constitution to go be-
yOnd that principle. He held that the
principle had been sustained by the
supreme court in various decisions and
that no public man Of prominence and
no recognized tribunal had ever been
reckless enough to controyert 1t. Mr..
Plat of Connecticut took issue with
Mr.. Vest and announced that at some
convenient time in the near future he
would offer some remarks upon the
resolution. in the course Of which he
would endeavor to show that the Mis-
souri, senator was wrong in his inter-
probation of the constitution and mac
curate in his deductions from the law.
Mr.. Morgan opened the debate on the
canal bill with three-hour appeal for
action at this session. The whole
! country he said would be disappointed
/ IL congress did not act. He was will
ing to take any measure which would
result in the building Of the canal. In
the course Of his remarks he agreed to
accept an amendment specifically ex-
cepting the canal from neutrality with
regard to any country with which the
! United States might be at war.
In the House.
| The house spent the larger part Of
! the day on District Of Columbia bust
ness. The bill to relieve the condition
of American seamen was taken up but
Z nothing was accomplished.
Washington, Dec. IA. - Yesterdays
session of the senate was largely con-
sumed in discussion Of the Nicaragua
canal bill. Mr.. Turpie made the prin-
cipal speech in opposition to the bill.
| attacking 1t on the ground that it is in
J the interest of the Maritime company,
which he characterized as q fraud and
bankrupt. He moved a postponement
OF the matter until after the holiday
. recess. Mr.. Morgan defended the bill
and the Maritime company and op.
posed the motion to postpone. Messrs.
Berry and Rawlins both offered
amendments materially affecting the
/ bill. Previous to the proceedings upon
the canal bill Mr.. Morrill, made an ad-
dress in support of the bill authoriz-
Ing the purchase Of a site for SUI
preme court building, and this and
several other bills were passed.
In the House.
The house passed the District Of
Columbia appropriation bill without n
single amendment. The bin carries
$685. $50, which is less than the es,i-
mates. The house also passed the sen.
ate bill to amend the laws relating 10
seamen. All the amendments were re-
jected.
Washington, Dec. 10. - The house
yesterday, for the second time during
this congress, refused to consider the
Lodge immigration bill. At the last |
session an attempt was made TO take |
IL from the speakers table, but it was
defeated by large majority. MIR. |
Danford Of Ohio, chairman of the i'm |
migration committee, thought the bill |
would be stronger after the elections
were over, but yesterday when he tried |
again to secure consideration the |
house declined-10O to 103-to take il |
up. An interesting but brief debate on
the rules was preclpltated during the |
session by Mr. Grow of PENNSYLVANIA.
during which Mr.. Dearmond made a
speech on the decadence OF the priv |
ilege of debate in the house. and held |
Speaker Reed responsible for the fact |
that the house had had no opportunity
to adopt new system Of rules at this |
session. The speaker replied with a
sarcastic speech in which he referred !
TO the complaints Of John Randolph in |
the early days of the century to show
that the same remonstrances were
made then that were being heard now.
In the Senate.
The Nicaraguan canal bill held its |
place as the principal subject before |
the senate again yesterday. Speeches |
were made by Messrs. Harris, Money, |
Stewart end Morgan. Mr.. Money |
urged postponement Of the question In |
order to permit an opportunity for ne
gotiations with Great Britain for q |
modification of the Clayton-B ulwer |
treaty, and Mr.. Morgan antagonized |
the proposition. An agreement was |
reached to vote on the Turpie post |
ponement motion to-day. Other ques. |
lions before the senate were: The gov |
ernment's pension policy and the bill |
regarding the registry of foreign-built
vessels wrecked on the American |
coast. The pension discussion was |
precipitated by Mr.. Vest. The regis |
try bill went over until to-day.