Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
CONGRESS-.
SRnafa.

Senate.
A feature Of the session of the Senate ON
the 14th was speech in advocacy of the
free coinage of standard silver dollars by
Mr.. Allen. Mr.. Harris introduced a resolu-
ton calling for information regarding the
abandonment Of the governments purpose
to bid in the Kansas Pacific railway under
a guarantee of the full amount of the prin-
cipal of the debt. On Mr.. Chambers objec-
ton it went over until the next day
A resolution was passed in the Senate on
the 10th after spirited debate, calling for
information regarding the sale of the Union
Pacific road.
discussion upon coast defenses was the
interesting feature Of the Senate on the 10th.
Many senators took the ground that the APP
Preparations should be for the full amount Of
the estimates by the war department instead
Of some 81 100000 less. Senators Perkins
and Hale said that it was the policy Of the
appropriations committee to make an annual
expenditure of $10,0O0,OO0 a year for forti-
fications. Senator's Stewart, HawIey, Chand-
Ter and Lodge spoke in favor of increases
Senator Teller also advocated liberal eX-
penditures, and during his remarks made
significant illusions to Cuba and Hawaii.
In the early part of the day there was dis
cussiOn of the Kansas Pacific railroad sale,
but no action was taken.
By vote of "a to % the resolution Of Mr.
Turpie declaring the Senate's opposition to
the confirmation Of the sale of the Kansas
Pacific railroad was agreed to in the Sen
ate on the 18th. The Corbett senatorial case
was discussed by Mr.. Pettus and Mr.. Hoar
An agreement was reached to take a final
vote upon the case February -.
The Maine disaster and the Cuban question
occupied the entire day in the Senate on the
18th A debate decided in its sensations
was Unexpectedly precipitated over the con-
sideration Of the. resolution Of Mr.. Allen
(Neb) directing the committee on naval af-
fairs to investigate the disaster to the battle
ship Maine. An arrangement had been
made for the adoption of the resolution with
a minor amendment, without debate Mr..
Mason Qll.) however, proposed a substitute,
providing for an investigation to be con-
branches of congress Upon this the Illinois
senator, disregarding an appeal not to force
discussion at this time of so melancholy
affair, delivered a speech in which he
said that the people demanded the truth con-
corning the explosion and declared that they
would not be satisfied with the investigation
to be conducted by the officers Of the navy,
who would virtually try their own case.
Sharp replies to Mr.. Mason's charges were
made by Mr.. Wolcott Coli and Mr. Lodge
CMass.). The resolution offered by Mr.. Hale,
appropriating 5000 900 for raising the battle
ship Maine and saving what property could
be saved, was passed by the Senate without
objection being amended to authorize
the secretary to direct that the remains of
officers and sailors be brought to the United
States for interment.
House.
4 resolution calling for information as to
the concentrates in Cuba was adopted by the
House the 18th. Another resolution call
ing for the correspondence relating to the eX-
cluSion of American fruit. beef and horses
from Germany adopted. The remainder
of the day was devoted to District of Co.
lumbia business
The time in the House on the 18th was de-
voted to the consideration of bills and joint
resolutions and sixteen of more or less pub
lie Importance were passed. An order
entered by unanimous consent for the con-
sideratiOn Of the Loud bill relating to second
class mail matter, on March 1, and 3, and
the order for the consideration of the bank
ruptcy bill, which begins tomorrow, was
modified SO that the final vote shall be taken
on Saturday instead of Monday, as arranged
last. week. The Senate bill amending the
navigation laws was passed, as was the bill
to make it lawful to transmit through the
mails private postal cards with a 1-cent
stamp affixed.
The debate on the bankruptcy bill, which
is to continue until the 10Th, when q vote
will be taken, opened in the House on the
10th, but it attracted little attention, the
interest Of the members being entirely alb
SOrbed by the disaster to the Maine. At
times the hall of the House was almost de-
serted, the members being congregated in
the Hobbies or clOakroOms discussing the
cident and speculatlng upon its probable
consequences Just before the House adj
journed Mr.. BOutelle chairman of the naval
committee, presented Il resolution, which
was unanimously adopted. expressing regret
for the disaster, coincidence with the families
of those who lost their lives and sympathy
with the injured The speakers on the bank
ruptcy bill We're: In favor of the measure,
Messrs. Henderson Rep, la. Lanham
opposition to it, Messrs. Underwood Dem,
Ala.), Bell Pop, COLI, Henry Dem, Tex,
McRae Oem., Ark, and Cochran (Dem.,
Mo-.
The debate OH the bankruptcy bill con-
tinued in the House on the nth. Messrs.
Moody Rep.. Mass.), Alexander (Rep n.
y, Broderick rep, KEasl, Mccall daep..
| (Rep., Ind, and DOlliyer (Rep.. la, spoke
for it, and Messrs. Little Dem, KY,
Smith Dem. KY, Wilson Dem, S. g.,
and Bartlett Dem, Ga), against it.
Aside from adoption of the resolution Civ
ing the secretary of the navy permission to
use $500, 900 in the work of raising the bat
tIeship Maine, the day in the House on the
18th was devoted to a continuation of the de-
bate on H1o the bank5rnptcG bill The speakers
Rep., Neb.), Connolly Rep., Ill.), Rixey
dem, Ya), Grosvenor rep, o., Savers
| Dem, Tex and Ray rep, n. " in favor
Of the bill, and Messrs. Kitchens (Rep., n.
Bali Dem, Tex, Henry Dem, Miss),
Mcguire Dem, CALI, Bland Dem, MOI,
Bell pop, COLI De Almond Dem, MOI
Wheeler Dem, Ala) and Lloyd Dem, MOI
against it.
| After four days Of consideration, the House
| on the 10Th passed the bankruptcy bill, re-
| ported by the committee judiciary as
substitute for the Nelson bill passed by the
| Senate at the extra session last summer. The
bill is known as the Henderson bill and con-
| tainS both voluntary and Involuntary feat
ureS. 1t is considered less drastic than the
measure passed by the last House by a vote
| of 157 to 81. The Involuntary feature, how
ever, had but sixteen majority. On the 10Th
a motion to strike out the involuntary feat
ures was defeated by majority of 10. and
the bill was passed by a majority of %, the
vote standing: Ayes, 15S; nays 125. Eight
cen Republicans voted against the bill and
twelve Democrats for it. The PopuliStS with
one exception voted against it.